New Hobby: Bee Keeping - Page 14

massphatness · 06-30-2017, 09:15 AM

I suppose that's better than hearing "And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee" as I lie on the ground being stung ...

All better today, btw, thanks for asking.

massphatness · 07-11-2017, 06:27 AM

I don't mow the front lawn/clover field as often anymore to give the girls a chance to work the flowers (at least that's what I tell Grace when she asks why the yard looks so shaggy).

CigarNut · 07-11-2017, 09:13 AM

Nice excuse!

sigsauer · 07-17-2017, 09:18 AM

I am loving this thread.....and I am JEALOUS!

icehog3 · 07-18-2017, 10:29 AM

I met the Bees! They were Buzztastic!

357 · 07-19-2017, 04:04 PM

Great thread Vin. I took up beekeeping in spring 2016. I would highly recommend having a second hive. There are so many ways you can fix one hive using resources from the other, even if the second hive is just a nuc (pronounced nuke, short for nucleus hive).

Also, check out beesource.com. It's the closest thing the beekeeping world has to Cigar Asylum. Some of the biggest names, scientists, large commercial outfit owners, and a ton of very experienced beekeepers post there. If you haven't watched them yet, check out the series called the Sustainable Apiary by Michael Palmer. It's easy to find on YouTube. I've watched it twice and plan to again. I learn more each time as I have more experience under my belt. I would also recommend joining a local beekeeper club. Mine has been a huge benefit for the costly sum of $10/year/family.

If you haven't yet, you also need to do mite level checks. Powdered sugar or alcohol tests to need to be done periodically to know your mite/bee ratio. Even if you treat, you need to know your levels. Most die-offs and absconding happen due to high mite levels aka PMS. No, not that one. It stands for Parasitic Mite Syndrome. It's where the colony weakens due to various viruses introduced by high mite levels. If you ever have questions or want talk bees, please let me know.

AdamJoshua · 07-19-2017, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icehog3

I met the Bees! They were Buzztastic!

I guess you didn't have a Plan Bee?

massphatness · 08-06-2017, 06:17 PM

Had been leaving the bees to do their thing and just before we left for vacation last week, I noticed a precipitous drop off in activity around the hive.

Returned from vacation yesterday and did a hive inspection this afternoon. The bees that are in the hive continue to be working away, but the colony as a whole seems to have plateaued. They haven't really come close to building out comb on all the frames in the second box. Consulted with some other bee keepers in the area, and they suggested a supplemental feeding to re-stimulate activity since the spring/early summer flowers in our area are now past blooming and the late summer flowers haven't come in yet to speak of.

I took out two of the empty frames and replaced it with a feeder frame that holds about a gallon of sugar syrup. Will check on things later this week and add additional feed if needed.

Hoping the girls are just hungry, and there's not some larger problem at play.

icehog3 · 08-07-2017, 10:18 AM

It will bee OK, Vin.

markem · 08-07-2017, 02:50 PM

Thank you for doing your part, Vin! Do some more for me.

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...-food-macneal/

Tio Gato · 08-08-2017, 03:03 PM

Hi Vin. Two days ago I drove by a big farm by me. They have 8 hives. I thought "what do they collect this time of summer?" I haven't seen a fresh flower in a month. I think you're right on that they're hungry. (Much like Roger! Ha) Good luck!

massphatness · 08-17-2017, 08:33 AM

Did a hive inspection when we got back from vacation last week, and I continued to have some concerns about the general lack of activity in the hive. Prepared a feed solution using a 1:1 sugar to water ratio, and filled a half gallon feeder frame with it. When I checked in on it a few days later, the frame was bone dry. The girls were HUNGRY! Gave them another half gallon, and they went through that as well!

The hive activity picked up significantly since I added the sugar syrup, and on Sunday I replaced the feeder frame with regular frames in the hopes that the bees are re-energized and will ramp up the building of comb. Will check on their progress this weekend.

The hope is that they build out comb sufficient that I can add a honey super in time for the upcoming fall honey flow.

Fingers crossed!

pnoon · 08-17-2017, 09:44 AM

Hoping for the best, Vin.

CigarNut · 08-17-2017, 11:16 AM

Now you know: they NEED their crack, er candy!

357 · 08-17-2017, 02:08 PM

Good luck Vin. You want those two deeps overflowing with bees before the cold hits. You may need to get an entrance feeder if there is no room left inside.

massphatness · 08-17-2017, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 357

Good luck Vin. You want those two deeps overflowing with bees before the cold hits. You may need to get an entrance feeder if there is no room left inside.

Thanks - the bottom deep is banged out pretty good. The top deep had ~7 frames built out when I replaced the feeder frame.

Entrance feeder on standby, but I really don't want to overfeed with the sugar syrup if I can avoid it.

markem · 08-27-2017, 03:12 PM

Tio Gato · 08-31-2017, 07:13 PM

Just had to share this.http://nypost.com/video/idiot-puts-b...ees-for-money/

jonumberone · 09-01-2017, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tio Gato

Just had to share this.http://nypost.com/video/idiot-puts-b...ees-for-money/

Looks like the coming attractions for next year's Hog Herf.

icehog3 · 09-01-2017, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jonumberone

Looks like the coming attractions for next year's Hog Herf.

You going to dare Roger, or Keith?

06-30-2017, 09:15 AM	#261
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I suppose that's better than hearing "And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee" as I lie on the ground being stung ... All better today, btw, thanks for asking. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

07-11-2017, 06:27 AM	#262
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I don't mow the front lawn/clover field as often anymore to give the girls a chance to work the flowers (at least that's what I tell Grace when she asks why the yard looks so shaggy). __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

07-11-2017, 09:13 AM	#263
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Nice excuse! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

07-17-2017, 09:18 AM	#264
sigsauer Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,371 Trading: (63)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I am loving this thread.....and I am JEALOUS!

07-18-2017, 10:29 AM	#265
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,440 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I met the Bees! They were Buzztastic! __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

07-19-2017, 04:04 PM	#266
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Great thread Vin. I took up beekeeping in spring 2016. I would highly recommend having a second hive. There are so many ways you can fix one hive using resources from the other, even if the second hive is just a nuc (pronounced nuke, short for nucleus hive). Also, check out beesource.com. It's the closest thing the beekeeping world has to Cigar Asylum. Some of the biggest names, scientists, large commercial outfit owners, and a ton of very experienced beekeepers post there. If you haven't watched them yet, check out the series called the Sustainable Apiary by Michael Palmer. It's easy to find on YouTube. I've watched it twice and plan to again. I learn more each time as I have more experience under my belt. I would also recommend joining a local beekeeper club. Mine has been a huge benefit for the costly sum of $10/year/family. If you haven't yet, you also need to do mite level checks. Powdered sugar or alcohol tests to need to be done periodically to know your mite/bee ratio. Even if you treat, you need to know your levels. Most die-offs and absconding happen due to high mite levels aka PMS. No, not that one. It stands for Parasitic Mite Syndrome. It's where the colony weakens due to various viruses introduced by high mite levels. If you ever have questions or want talk bees, please let me know. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

08-06-2017, 06:17 PM	#268
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Had been leaving the bees to do their thing and just before we left for vacation last week, I noticed a precipitous drop off in activity around the hive. Returned from vacation yesterday and did a hive inspection this afternoon. The bees that are in the hive continue to be working away, but the colony as a whole seems to have plateaued. They haven't really come close to building out comb on all the frames in the second box. Consulted with some other bee keepers in the area, and they suggested a supplemental feeding to re-stimulate activity since the spring/early summer flowers in our area are now past blooming and the late summer flowers haven't come in yet to speak of. I took out two of the empty frames and replaced it with a feeder frame that holds about a gallon of sugar syrup. Will check on things later this week and add additional feed if needed. Hoping the girls are just hungry, and there's not some larger problem at play. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

08-07-2017, 10:18 AM	#269
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,440 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping It will bee OK, Vin. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

08-07-2017, 02:50 PM	#270
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,625 Trading: (47)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Thank you for doing your part, Vin! Do some more for me. http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2...-food-macneal/

08-08-2017, 03:03 PM	#271
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Hi Vin. Two days ago I drove by a big farm by me. They have 8 hives. I thought "what do they collect this time of summer?" I haven't seen a fresh flower in a month. I think you're right on that they're hungry. (Much like Roger! Ha) Good luck! __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba.

08-17-2017, 08:33 AM	#272
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Did a hive inspection when we got back from vacation last week, and I continued to have some concerns about the general lack of activity in the hive. Prepared a feed solution using a 1:1 sugar to water ratio, and filled a half gallon feeder frame with it. When I checked in on it a few days later, the frame was bone dry. The girls were HUNGRY! Gave them another half gallon, and they went through that as well! The hive activity picked up significantly since I added the sugar syrup, and on Sunday I replaced the feeder frame with regular frames in the hopes that the bees are re-energized and will ramp up the building of comb. Will check on their progress this weekend. The hope is that they build out comb sufficient that I can add a honey super in time for the upcoming fall honey flow. Fingers crossed! __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

08-17-2017, 09:44 AM	#273
pnoon YNWA Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Peter Location: San Diego Posts: 29,919 Trading: (20)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Hoping for the best, Vin. __________________ Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are. -John Wooden

08-17-2017, 11:16 AM	#274
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Now you know: they NEED their crack, er candy! __________________ Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags? 2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.

08-17-2017, 02:08 PM	#275
357 Will herf for food Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mike Location: Home is where I park it Posts: 4,075 Trading: (9)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Good luck Vin. You want those two deeps overflowing with bees before the cold hits. You may need to get an entrance feeder if there is no room left inside. __________________ “Eating and sleeping are the only activities that should be allowed to interrupt a man's enjoyment of his cigar;” Mark Twain

08-31-2017, 07:13 PM	#278
Tio Gato Uncle Kitty Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Jeff Location: Casa Grande, AZ Posts: 2,075 Trading: (11)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Just had to share this.http://nypost.com/video/idiot-puts-b...ees-for-money/ __________________ "You stink like cigars Uncle Kitty!" Said my Boo age 3. "Kid, take care of your family and the hell with anyone else" My Grandpa Bubba.