The Honey Factory

[R2elk]

Merry Christmas!!!​

 

[CLSranch]

We have been in some strange warm weather patterns here. Upper 70's the other day. I'm going with the don't take the honey and you don't have to feed method. Yet with these warm temps and my/our late start I keep thinking I need to make another batch of sugar water.

 

[Apis mellifera]

We have been in some strange warm weather patterns here. Upper 70's the other day. I'm going with the don't take the honey and you don't have to feed method. Yet with these warm temps and my/our late start I keep thinking I need to make another batch of sugar water.

With your current daily temperatures, it would be fine to check if they are light on stores. If they are light, I would get a block of fondant. Cut off a 5 to 10 pound slab and put it on top of paper with a shim and just check if they need more every couple weeks. The general rule of thumb is to have syrup feeding done before freezing nighttime temps begin.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I ordered my package of bees. Husband said only 1. Total bill was $214 for only 1 package.

 

[duluthralphie]

I ordered my package of bees. Husband said only 1. Total bill was $214 for only 1 package.

Ouch!!!!!

 

[R2elk]

Ouch!!!!!

For those of us that have to have our bees delivered that is the going rate. If a person lives where you can pick up bees locally, they are much less expensive.

I can't drive round trip to the nearest places where package bees can be picked up for the difference in the price of delivered bees.

 

[Apis mellifera]

I ordered my package of bees.

How many frames of drawn comb do you have?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

How many frames of drawn comb do you have?

Not any unless I take some from the hive I have, and hope is still alive.
I had to get rid of all of my foundations that were in the hive with the sick bees with the laying worker, because they had Nosema and crapped all over the foundations.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Not any unless I take some from the hive I have, and hope is still alive.

That's not a bad idea, it helps to rotate out combs and can slow down swarming. Did you test the dead bees for Nosema?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

That's not a bad idea, it helps to rotate out combs and can slow down swarming. Did you test the dead bees for Nosema?

No, I didn't. They had just defecated all over the inside frames/ foundation and the outside of the hive. I figured it was.
Those bees were sold to me in a nuc with a laying worker too. They didn't have a chance, even though I tried everything I could think of.