New Hobby: Bee Keeping - Page 17

icehog3 · 11-09-2017, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

Yes, but I wanted to go old school for the sake of experience

Just like Tupac!

massphatness · 02-11-2018, 10:19 AM

Sad news in the world of bees: as I feared, the ladies did not survive the brutal cold snap we had to start to the winter. I peeked in the hive yesterday as temps got up to 50* and was concerned I didn't see any activity. Even in the winter months, the bees will leave the hive when the temps get way enough in order to make cleansing flights to relieve themselves.

Looks like the entire cluster froze to death in a big ball.

Plenty of honey stores in the hive, so I know they didn't starve.

Grace & I are going to give things another shot this spring. Going to order a nuc instead of a package. A nuc is a working mini-colony of bees: 4-5 frames of bees who have already drawn out comb and are working with their queen. You slide the frames into the hive, and away they go. They'll have a head start on honey stores from last years hive -- I think I have 6-8 full frames of honey still in the hive -- so the hope is this helps them to rapidly build up & strengthen the hive.

Look forward to continuing the adventure, but kinda' sad about losing the bees.

markem · 02-11-2018, 10:23 AM

Sorry about the bees, Vin. Glad that you are going to continue.

BigAsh · 02-11-2018, 10:25 AM

I'm strangely saddened by the news...thru this thread, and personal conversation, invested in the project from afar... anything that would've prevented the result?? ...looking forward to the next round

MarkinAZ · 02-11-2018, 10:37 AM

Sorry to hear about Grace and your loss of the colony, especially after all of the nurturing given to the bee's.

Maybe before next Winter set's in, some form of wind break with a heat lamp pointed in the direction of the hive. That is, just enough heat to keep the freeze off the hive. Just a thought...

icehog3 · 02-11-2018, 10:47 AM

You'll tweak it a little and have better success next winter, I am sure, Vin.

massphatness · 02-11-2018, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAsh

I'm strangely saddened by the news...thru this thread, and personal conversation, invested in the project from afar... anything that would've prevented the result?? ...looking forward to the next round

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkinOR

Sorry to hear about Grace and your loss of the colony, especially after all of the nurturing given to the bee's.

Maybe before next Winter set's in, some form of wind break with a heat lamp pointed in the direction of the hive. That is, just enough heat to keep the freeze off the hive. Just a thought...

May look into planting some shrubs as a wind break. I knew going in that could be an issue, but I thought the area was wooded enough to provide a natural break. Need to research what kind of shrubs do well in heavy shade.

Not sure a heat lamp is a solution. As I understand it, artificial heat can cause the bees to think it's warmer outside the hive than it really is, and they venture out and die.

CigarNut · 02-11-2018, 11:43 AM

Sorry to hear about this, Vin — I hope your next attempt is much more successful!

As others have said, I really looked forward to reading this thread and am saddened. Looking for to future updates later this year.

AdamJoshua · 02-11-2018, 12:17 PM

Sad news indeed, maybe their memory bee a blessing.

Seems like they didn't give their tiny lives in vain as you are already researching and looking to improve next time!

Dave128 · 02-12-2018, 08:52 AM

Sad news, Vin. May round two bring better success.

8lug · 02-12-2018, 10:36 AM

Vin, sorry to hear that you lost the hive. I'm sure you'll have much better luck this time around.

shilala · 02-12-2018, 01:35 PM

Sorry to hear it, Vin-Bob. That sucks.
You can wrap the hives come winter, insulating them.
Or build a break with hay bales, or do a lot of other stuff.

Think about the size of the hive vs. the size of the colony (which I think you already have a good grasp on).
There's gotta be enough bees to keep the heat up in the hive. If the little buggers are already chilled, they'll bite the dust on cleaning trips even though they'll shorten them.
Consider maybe even a styrofoam cover you can cob out of blue construction foam and tack on, or remove a section?

Dux · 02-12-2018, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

Sad news in the world of bees: as I feared, the ladies did not survive the brutal cold snap we had to start to the winter. I peeked in the hive yesterday as temps got up to 50* and was concerned I didn't see any activity. Even in the winter months, the bees will leave the hive when the temps get way enough in order to make cleansing flights to relieve themselves.

Looks like the entire cluster froze to death in a big ball.

Plenty of honey stores in the hive, so I know they didn't starve.

Grace & I are going to give things another shot this spring. Going to order a nuc instead of a package. A nuc is a working mini-colony of bees: 4-5 frames of bees who have already drawn out comb and are working with their queen. You slide the frames into the hive, and away they go. They'll have a head start on honey stores from last years hive -- I think I have 6-8 full frames of honey still in the hive -- so the hope is this helps them to rapidly build up & strengthen the hive.

Look forward to continuing the adventure, but kinda' sad about losing the bees.

Vin, sorry to hear you lost the bees. fingers crossed for the next attempt!

massphatness · 05-15-2018, 12:09 PM

Bees 2.0

Having successfully managed to freeze my bees to death over the winter, I was left with a hive full of comb and a lot of usable resources like pollen & honey, but no ladies to work their bee magic.

The pic on the left shows the bees basically frozen in place between frames all bunched together as you might expect for warmth. Pic on the right is after I pulled the frames apart.

This time around, since my first batch of bees had already laid a lot of the groundwork, I opted to go with a nucleus (or "nuc") which is basically a mini working hive of five frames complete with bees and a queen already making brood and storing honey and generally doing bee things.

It comes in a box like this, and thank god I brought bungee cords because one big bump on the road and that top comes flying off. Then voila -- bees in the Jeep!

And with that, I was ready to transfer the frames from the nuc to the hive ...

More later.

stearns · 05-15-2018, 12:18 PM

The hive is alive!

Dave128 · 05-15-2018, 01:33 PM

Sweet! Maybe you should let the new hive winter in the Jeep?

BigAsh · 05-15-2018, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by massphatness

Bees 2.0

More later.

so much win here!

sigsauer · 05-15-2018, 02:48 PM

I will definitely buy honey

sigsauer · 05-15-2018, 02:59 PM

man I would love to have the time to do this

icehog3 · 05-15-2018, 03:03 PM

Can't wait to meet the new bees!

02-11-2018, 10:19 AM	#322
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sad news in the world of bees: as I feared, the ladies did not survive the brutal cold snap we had to start to the winter. I peeked in the hive yesterday as temps got up to 50* and was concerned I didn't see any activity. Even in the winter months, the bees will leave the hive when the temps get way enough in order to make cleansing flights to relieve themselves. Looks like the entire cluster froze to death in a big ball. Plenty of honey stores in the hive, so I know they didn't starve. Grace & I are going to give things another shot this spring. Going to order a nuc instead of a package. A nuc is a working mini-colony of bees: 4-5 frames of bees who have already drawn out comb and are working with their queen. You slide the frames into the hive, and away they go. They'll have a head start on honey stores from last years hive -- I think I have 6-8 full frames of honey still in the hive -- so the hope is this helps them to rapidly build up & strengthen the hive. Look forward to continuing the adventure, but kinda' sad about losing the bees. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

02-11-2018, 10:23 AM	#323
markem Bunion Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Second Star on the Right Posts: 22,621 Trading: (47)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sorry about the bees, Vin. Glad that you are going to continue.

02-11-2018, 10:25 AM	#324
BigAsh Don't knock the Ash... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Keith Location: Yardley, PA Posts: 5,046 Trading: (46)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I'm strangely saddened by the news...thru this thread, and personal conversation, invested in the project from afar... anything that would've prevented the result?? ...looking forward to the next round __________________ Keith

02-11-2018, 10:37 AM	#325
MarkinAZ Formerly MarkinOR Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Sun City West, AZ Posts: 6,221 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sorry to hear about Grace and your loss of the colony, especially after all of the nurturing given to the bee's. Maybe before next Winter set's in, some form of wind break with a heat lamp pointed in the direction of the hive. That is, just enough heat to keep the freeze off the hive. Just a thought... __________________ "Don't worry, God will work out His plan for your life..." Psalm 138 8

02-11-2018, 10:47 AM	#326
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,266 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping You'll tweak it a little and have better success next winter, I am sure, Vin. __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!

02-11-2018, 11:43 AM	#328
CigarNut Fck Cancer! Join Date: Jan 2009 First Name: Michael Location: Clermont, Florida Posts: 18,042 Trading: (111*)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sorry to hear about this, Vin — I hope your next attempt is much more successful! As others have said, I really looked forward to reading this thread and am saddened. Looking for to future updates later this year. __________________ 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.

02-11-2018, 12:17 PM	#329
AdamJoshua Article 4 Free Inhabitant Join Date: Jan 2013 First Name: The Other Adam Location: Satellite Beach Posts: 14,787 Trading: (40)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sad news indeed, maybe their memory bee a blessing. Seems like they didn't give their tiny lives in vain as you are already researching and looking to improve next time!

02-12-2018, 08:52 AM	#330
Dave128 Sexy Dave Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Dave Location: Voorheesville, NY Posts: 3,922 Trading: (4)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sad news, Vin. May round two bring better success. __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin I "heart" Boobies and Beer!

02-12-2018, 10:36 AM	#331
8lug Smoking with the Chief Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Masshole Posts: 798 Trading: (14)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Vin, sorry to hear that you lost the hive. I'm sure you'll have much better luck this time around.

02-12-2018, 01:35 PM	#332
shilala Dear Lord, Thank You. Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Scott Posts: 13,721 Trading: (252)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sorry to hear it, Vin-Bob. That sucks. You can wrap the hives come winter, insulating them. Or build a break with hay bales, or do a lot of other stuff. Think about the size of the hive vs. the size of the colony (which I think you already have a good grasp on). There's gotta be enough bees to keep the heat up in the hive. If the little buggers are already chilled, they'll bite the dust on cleaning trips even though they'll shorten them. Consider maybe even a styrofoam cover you can cob out of blue construction foam and tack on, or remove a section? __________________

05-15-2018, 12:09 PM	#334
massphatness Where's my buffaloooo ... Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Vin Location: MassHolia Posts: 12,690 Trading: (206)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Bees 2.0 Having successfully managed to freeze my bees to death over the winter, I was left with a hive full of comb and a lot of usable resources like pollen & honey, but no ladies to work their bee magic. The pic on the left shows the bees basically frozen in place between frames all bunched together as you might expect for warmth. Pic on the right is after I pulled the frames apart. This time around, since my first batch of bees had already laid a lot of the groundwork, I opted to go with a nucleus (or "nuc") which is basically a mini working hive of five frames complete with bees and a queen already making brood and storing honey and generally doing bee things. It comes in a box like this, and thank god I brought bungee cords because one big bump on the road and that top comes flying off. Then voila -- bees in the Jeep! And with that, I was ready to transfer the frames from the nuc to the hive ... More later. __________________ *Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE*

05-15-2018, 12:18 PM	#335
stearns Dogbert Consultant Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Ben Location: Park Hill Posts: 5,384 Trading: (50)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping The hive is alive! __________________ "Ignoring all the racket of conventional reality" - Keller Williams

05-15-2018, 01:33 PM	#336
Dave128 Sexy Dave Join Date: Feb 2009 First Name: Dave Location: Voorheesville, NY Posts: 3,922 Trading: (4)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Sweet! Maybe you should let the new hive winter in the Jeep? __________________ "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin I "heart" Boobies and Beer!

05-15-2018, 02:48 PM	#338
sigsauer Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,370 Trading: (63)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping I will definitely buy honey

05-15-2018, 02:59 PM	#339
sigsauer Have My Own Room Join Date: Dec 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,370 Trading: (63)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping man I would love to have the time to do this

05-15-2018, 03:03 PM	#340
icehog3 Admiral Douchebag Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tom Location: Clermont, Kentucky Posts: 71,266 Trading: (60)	Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping Can't wait to meet the new bees! __________________ Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!