Hope to setup a hive in 2015 in the back yard or behind the fence.
* need to clear the area behind the fence
* setup a flat / level place for hive
* build hive stand for two hives just in case...
Saturday, November 1, 2014
Sunday, May 5, 2013
5 May, 2013 - 2:15 pm
Replaced the feeder jar on the package bees. The hive did not seem very busy. There was very little activity at the entrance. There were alot of ants all around the edges of the hive.
The other hive that is an established hive also had very little activity at the entrance and there were also ants all over the hive.
I put down insecticide on all the posts of the hive stand.
Replaced the feeder jar on the package bees. The hive did not seem very busy. There was very little activity at the entrance. There were alot of ants all around the edges of the hive.
The other hive that is an established hive also had very little activity at the entrance and there were also ants all over the hive.
I put down insecticide on all the posts of the hive stand.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Country Bees
28 April, 2013 - 2pm
The hive that was not thriving has perished. Today I found roaches, ants and many other bug types in the hive. Disassembled it and put the various hive pieces in the freezers at home.
The package hive - replaced the quart jar today, did not inspect this weekend, weather permitting I will do that next weekend.
The remaining hive - Removed a honey super to crowd the bees down into the lower supers.
Applied insecticed around the hive stand legs. Might have to use commercial stuff if the homebrew doesn't work.
The hive that was not thriving has perished. Today I found roaches, ants and many other bug types in the hive. Disassembled it and put the various hive pieces in the freezers at home.
The package hive - replaced the quart jar today, did not inspect this weekend, weather permitting I will do that next weekend.
The remaining hive - Removed a honey super to crowd the bees down into the lower supers.
Applied insecticed around the hive stand legs. Might have to use commercial stuff if the homebrew doesn't work.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Honey Harvest
21 April, 2 pm 2013
Harvested 7 frames from a honey super today from one of the hives. The honey has been extracted and is settling and will be bottled in a day or two.
The package bees still did not release their queen when I checked today. So I went a head and released her into the hive. I put a fresh quart jar of sugar water on the hive and will not open the hive for a week or so but I will replenish their sugar water as needed.
I did not do any inspection on the third hive.
Harvested 7 frames from a honey super today from one of the hives. The honey has been extracted and is settling and will be bottled in a day or two.
The package bees still did not release their queen when I checked today. So I went a head and released her into the hive. I put a fresh quart jar of sugar water on the hive and will not open the hive for a week or so but I will replenish their sugar water as needed.
I did not do any inspection on the third hive.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
New Queen
At 6:15 this morning I received a call from the local U.S. Postal office. They informed me my bees were ready to pick up.
Country Bees
It was about 72° with clear skies.
At the hive I removed the other queen cage and found that they bees had drawn several pieces of comb. I removed those pieces and installed the new queen cage, put everything back together and put a fresh 1 quart feeder jar on the hive. I will take a look at the hive in 3 days or so...
Monday, April 15, 2013
15 April, 2013, 10 am
While putting the package bees into the hive body found out the queen was dead. One of the attendents was too but the others were fine. The company that sold the bees is sending me a replacement queen! Should be here in a couple of days.
Pic of a 2 pound package of bees with a queen.
I went ahead and put a jar of sugar water on the hive. Hopefully the new queen will arrive alive!
While putting the package bees into the hive body found out the queen was dead. One of the attendents was too but the others were fine. The company that sold the bees is sending me a replacement queen! Should be here in a couple of days.
Pic of a 2 pound package of bees with a queen.
I went ahead and put a jar of sugar water on the hive. Hopefully the new queen will arrive alive!
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
7 April 2013, 1:30 pm
Country Bees
The hive named hotel is not doing so well. Opened up the hive today for the first time this year. The top honey super was empty, no bees no drawn comb, but there were alot of roaches in and around the frames of this top super. The next 2 supers had the 4 middle frames covered with bees but the brood pattens were spotty and no signs of new eggs or old eggs. The bottom hive body has 6 frames covered in bees and spotty brood patterns. There were drones scattered about on all frames that I checked. I did not see new eggs or a queen. I also did not find any queen/supercedure cells. There was not much honey stored or pollen in any of the frames I examined. I noticed that the bees were very very calm no matter what I did to the frames while examining them. Also noticed that some of the bees were trembling or twitching as if poisoned or stunned.
The hive named India seems to be doing good. The top honey super is full of honey! Most is being capped! I put another honey super on that one and left it alone. I will inspect that one next weekend, hopefully.
Next weekend I will be picking up a 2 pound package of bees with a marked queen and putting them in a nuc box with the country bees.
Country Bees
The hive named hotel is not doing so well. Opened up the hive today for the first time this year. The top honey super was empty, no bees no drawn comb, but there were alot of roaches in and around the frames of this top super. The next 2 supers had the 4 middle frames covered with bees but the brood pattens were spotty and no signs of new eggs or old eggs. The bottom hive body has 6 frames covered in bees and spotty brood patterns. There were drones scattered about on all frames that I checked. I did not see new eggs or a queen. I also did not find any queen/supercedure cells. There was not much honey stored or pollen in any of the frames I examined. I noticed that the bees were very very calm no matter what I did to the frames while examining them. Also noticed that some of the bees were trembling or twitching as if poisoned or stunned.
The hive named India seems to be doing good. The top honey super is full of honey! Most is being capped! I put another honey super on that one and left it alone. I will inspect that one next weekend, hopefully.
Next weekend I will be picking up a 2 pound package of bees with a marked queen and putting them in a nuc box with the country bees.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Saturday, January 26, 2013
2 "New" Hives at the Country Bee site
26 Jan 2013 6:30pm
Since the mid summer I have not had any bees. Today my Dad and I went over to a local beekeeper's and picked up the two hives he was giving away.
We picked up the hives and drove them to the hive stand at my parents property. Since it was after sunset, I opened up the hive entrances but I put some grass and vegatation at the entrance areas and left the bees
Since the mid summer I have not had any bees. Today my Dad and I went over to a local beekeeper's and picked up the two hives he was giving away.
We picked up the hives and drove them to the hive stand at my parents property. Since it was after sunset, I opened up the hive entrances but I put some grass and vegatation at the entrance areas and left the bees
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Bees
All the hives(backyard bees & country bees) have perished. I will wait until next spring to get back into beekeeping.
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Mike's Bees
Yesterday we harvested about 5 gallons of honey from Mike's bees. Here are a few pictures...
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Saturday, May 26th, 2012 - 10:30 am
Country Bees
Skies were clear, temp was about 85 degrees, very little wind.
Harvested the top hive deep of the three deeps. Noticed on May 20th that the top deep looked like it was completely full of honey but did not want to disturb the bees until today. Turns out the top deep was full of honey. The harvest yielded just over 3 gallons. It will be settling for a day or two and then it will be bottled. Currently the Country bees have 2 deeps and 2 honey supers.
Bottled 28 and 1/2 pint jars from this harvest.
Skies were clear, temp was about 85 degrees, very little wind.
Harvested the top hive deep of the three deeps. Noticed on May 20th that the top deep looked like it was completely full of honey but did not want to disturb the bees until today. Turns out the top deep was full of honey. The harvest yielded just over 3 gallons. It will be settling for a day or two and then it will be bottled. Currently the Country bees have 2 deeps and 2 honey supers.
Bottled 28 and 1/2 pint jars from this harvest.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Friday - May 25th, 2012
Backyard Bees
Checked on the feed jar and found that the bees are not using it. Removed it and will monitor the hive.
Checked on the feed jar and found that the bees are not using it. Removed it and will monitor the hive.
Monday, May 21, 2012
May 21, 2012 - 9 a.m.
Backyard Bees
Hive swarmed. Hive had two deeps, which was too much space. Put bees in one deep and started feeding sugar water. Put the deep frames in the freezer.
One of the hives perished. Went through the hive components, salvaged one complete medium super and one deep hive body. Put the recovered honey super in tbe freezer.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
May 20, 2012 - 10 AM
Beta Hive
Harvested 2 medium supers, put 2 empty supers back on hive. Extracted the honey today and it is currently settling. Should be able to bottle the honey on Monday or Tuesday.
The empty supers are in the backyard and the bees are cleaning them.
Need to check on backyard bees this week.
Bottled 26 pint jars and 8 quart jars from the harvest.
Harvested 2 medium supers, put 2 empty supers back on hive. Extracted the honey today and it is currently settling. Should be able to bottle the honey on Monday or Tuesday.
The empty supers are in the backyard and the bees are cleaning them.
Need to check on backyard bees this week.
Bottled 26 pint jars and 8 quart jars from the harvest.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Beta Hive Incident
The hive was completely knocked off the hive stand and was in pieces on the ground. More info later...
Saturday, September 10, 2011
10 September, 2011
It was about 83º at the Bee Yard in the country.
Beta Hive
The hive had two honey supers. I removed nine frames from one super and 2 frames from the second honey super. I left the remaining frames in the super and added empty frames to fill it up.
Back Yard Bees
Epsilon Hive
The hive had two honey supers. I removed both honey supers.
Eta Hive
No activity from hive. Will look into it tomorrow.
Zeta Hive
Fair amount of activity, will look into that hive tomorrow.
Extracted the honey and it fills the 5 gallon honey bucket to the top lip. I will let it settle and bottle honey on Monday or so.
The harvest filled 26 pint jars and 8 quart jars.
Eta Hive is no more. The hive failed to flourish for whatever reason. I will keep a closer watch on the remaining hives
Beta Hive
The hive had two honey supers. I removed nine frames from one super and 2 frames from the second honey super. I left the remaining frames in the super and added empty frames to fill it up.
Back Yard Bees
Epsilon Hive
The hive had two honey supers. I removed both honey supers.
Eta Hive
No activity from hive. Will look into it tomorrow.
Zeta Hive
Fair amount of activity, will look into that hive tomorrow.
Extracted the honey and it fills the 5 gallon honey bucket to the top lip. I will let it settle and bottle honey on Monday or so.
The harvest filled 26 pint jars and 8 quart jars.
Eta Hive is no more. The hive failed to flourish for whatever reason. I will keep a closer watch on the remaining hives
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Honey Harvest from June 26, 2011
The harvest from June 26 yielded 25 pint jars and 5 quart jars of honey. Thats about 45 pounds of honey.
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