Search results for query: *

Rainy and cold here. Made two splits last week to stop swarming, bees are moving forward in spite of the weather. I'll have to split the overwintered nucs this week. Drones are starting to fly now but Im just not feeling the queen rearing yet until we start getting better weather. Took out...

The queen came in a typical 3 hole queen cage with attendants. Queens need attendants for shipping or holding for an extended period of time. For introduction into a colony removing the attendants increases the chances for acceptance. Taking her out of shipping cage and putting the queen over...

The queen was available sooner than expected so in between rain and sleet storms I was able to take out the TempQueen and put her under a push in cage today. The TempQueen did its job, no laying workers. The cage is 4"x6" so it will fit on both deep and medium frames and can cover emerging...

I have an overwintered nucleus colony that went queenless. The queen may have been poorly mated or maybe the result of a virus, I dont know but it happens. It's still too cold and early for queen rearing here and typically I would just write it off as a loss. The nuc is still fairly strong...

Did you go through the deadouts and find out why they didnt make it?

Interesting to see the bees just shut down and stop foraging during the eclipse.

Since you direct released the queen I would think that you will have capped brood by next weekend. You could wait until then or do a quick inspection this weekend for eggs. You dont need to smoke them, just start from the outside frame and move in until you see eggs. Put the frames back and...

I would re set about 3 or 4 weeks.

It doesnt hurt to put it in your traps. Bees are attracted to it. Put a few drops on the end of a cotton swab and wipe a little on the entrance, then place it on the bottom of the trap. You dont want to overdue it. Old brood comb works best. You can also dissolve propolis in alcohol and...

At the end of the day, Strachan queens are one of the best you can get. I didnt care for them. I do think Lemon Fair Honey Works (Andrews queens) are excellent. Troy took a real beating in 20-21, he bought packages to replace his deadouts. Do you know what bees he has now?

Fast, but not significantly different from Carniolans. Like most bees when pollen rolls in its quick build up. The big difference is lower mite counts, overwintering, less mite treatments and health issues. Symptoms from paralysis virus disappeared. No greasy bees. I found that dead Italian...

Well, he is a perfect example of a poor breeder! I wouldn't buy any bees from him. I work my Russians gloveless all the time, I do wear a veil almost all of the time. BTW, Im a dog breeder and have puppies for sale, but be careful! They may attack your wife and kids when they get big...

Russian bees aren't for everyone but they worked out great for me. Fantastic overwintering on a fraction of the honey that other bees need. Great wax and honey production. Most impressive is the disease resistance. After several years Im not sure how much of the original genetics I have but...

Funny thing is Canada imports bees from all over the world. Unfortunately thats how North America will get more deadlier diseases and Tropilaelaps mite. https://www.albertabeekeepers.ca/bee-imports-2023-now-thats-more-like-it/

Plan to have at least 3 or 4 hives with some combination of production and nucleus colonies, like the snow photo I posted. If a colony fails to requeen after a swarm or supersedure you have spare queens, eggs, and brood to get them back on track. I dont like buying bees and chickens so I...

Perfect timely subject. If they have queens for sale that they produce thats good. On the other hand if the seller buys bulk queens its sometimes hit or miss, just like packages. Personally I would rather raise a daughter queen from your overwintered hive. They should cover that in the meeting.

From pollen coming in to this! Oh well.

Brome laughs at my weed eater. I end up just digging it out around the garden fence too.

Could be, there's several different kinds of milkweed. Here its native and if you mow it in May most of the time it wont come back so they encourage people to leave some for monarchs. In the photo you can see the poor girl got both her rear and front legs stuck to the pollinia and died trying...

It is nice to see your bees on stuff you plant but to make any impact on colonies you need to plant acres of forage. Planting trees like black locust and basswood will make a difference. A hated plant that produces a lot of great honey is knotweed along with golden rod in the fall. My...