Beekeeping Blog 2007 http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com Logging the two test hives Tue, 29 May 2007 05:08:28 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.2 en 5/28 check http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/28/528-check/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/28/528-check/#comments Tue, 29 May 2007 05:08:28 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/28/528-check/ Well, I checked the hive today.

Both are doing well.  I put another box on both.
I found the queen in both hives, they are not laying as well as they should though, as I forgot to feed them.  Tomorrow I am going to give them about a gallon apiece of sugar water to tide them though this dearth period.   I have some pictures I will post when I get the chance.

Wax moths got into 1 of my stored boxes, totally ruined it.  I will post a pic later.  Thank God they only got that one, for some reason they skipped the others.

The hives are really quite gentle.  Hive 1 is very gentle, hive 2 is okay.  I think everytime I am done with hive 1 “I could have done it with out a suit”, but since I am alergic to bee stings I take it on the safe side. :)

]]> http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/28/528-check/feed/ The Queens http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/03/the-queens/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/03/the-queens/#comments Fri, 04 May 2007 03:25:36 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/03/the-queens/ Well, I released the queens without a problem. (well, I have not checked them again yet.)
It was pretty quick, took me about 10 minutes to put my suit on, and release the queens and get out of there.
The first hive was pretty gentle, I did not use smoke on either one.  The second hive was real quiet when I opened the hive.  Then as soon as I touched the frame to pull the queen out, they just exploded.  Bees were everywhere, bouncing off my veil, stinging my gloves, etc.  I just moved real slow and they calmed down a good bit.  As soon as I finished I walked off, and no bees followed me, which was strange.  Oh Well, you can never totally understand bees. :)   

Micah

]]> http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/05/03/the-queens/feed/ Hiving Packages http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/29/13/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/29/13/#comments Sun, 29 Apr 2007 13:54:54 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/29/13/ Hiving Two Packages             I got two packages today from Tim Bueler down in Snohomish.  They are both Italian bees and queens.I brought them down at about 7:00pm to the spot at the farm where I am putting them.   I sprayed them two separate times with Sucrocide to kill any mites that might be on them.  Then I brought one box per packages down to the area.   Everything went well and I now have two hives more than I did yesterday.  I am going to outline the process to hiving a package for those that have never done it before.1.     When you get the package, place it in a cool shady place for a few hours to let them calm down.2.     Try to hive them in the late afternoon.  That way they will not be as active and are easier to handle.3.     Get the boxes and tools ready to go and bring them down to the place where you will hive the bees.4.     Open up the hive box, take the four middle frames out, (you can take four from anywhere, I just like the middle)5.     Then firmly take the package that is going in that hive box, and shake it HARD downward.  That way the bees fall to the bottom. 6.    

Then take the package and turn it upside down and carefully take out the feeder can out just enough so you can take the queen cage out.  Be careful that you do not drop the queen cage in the package, as you will then have a mess on your hands.  Then quickly put the Jar back in.  See the photo for the queen cage and feeder jar.

hiving-packages-04-28-07-004.jpg (Click this link to see the picture)

7.     Then put the queen right next to the entrance of the hive.8.     Now take the Jar out and put it next to the entrance of the hive.9.     Now that the top of the hive it open, turn it upside down and shake the bees into the gap where the four frames where.10.  After you have shook out as many bees as you can, then put the package next to the front of the hive facing the opening.  They will find their way in to the hive. 11.  Now take the queen cage, (this next part you need a Marshmallow for) and take out the cork very carefully and slip in a piece of Marshmallow that is the size of the opening.  That allows the bees to chew the queen out.  (Sadly, I forgot to do that, and will have to go release her in about 2-4 days)12.  Now take the queen and get a frame that you took out.  There are two ways you would do this next part.  1. If you have all new foundation, you will need to use the wire and wire the cage to the top of the frame.   2. If you have drawn out comb then you would take the cage and press it slightly into the wax with the screen facing alongside the frames, then place the other frames back in.13.  Now wait a few minutes until the bees are getting settled, then put the lid on the hives.  You will want to feed them for a while, until they can build up enough stores.Now do the same for the rest of the packages. 

End Result!  (Almost, just need to put the lids on)  Click for larger photo.

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 And just as a treat, since you read this, here is a macro I took of one of my bees.   Cute little thing, ay?
Click on it for a bigger picture.

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]]> http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/29/13/feed/ Some of the pics http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/05/some-of-the-pics/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/05/some-of-the-pics/#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2007 04:30:13 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/05/some-of-the-pics/ bees-012 ]]> Here are couple of the pics.

Bees-008

bees-012

]]> http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/04/05/some-of-the-pics/feed/ First hive check this year. http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/29/first-hive-check-this-year/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/29/first-hive-check-this-year/#comments Fri, 30 Mar 2007 04:39:48 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/29/first-hive-check-this-year/ Well, I checked my hives for the first time this year. Two dead and one 5 frames of bees with 5 frames of eggs and brood. The two dead hives (well, they are not totally dead) One has about 200 bees in it, no queen, the bees are just huddled. The other hive has a few bees scattered about the hive, no queen. There is no robbing even though there is honey and sugar water in both dead hives. It almost looks like CCD, which I do not want it to be.
The hive with 5 frames has about 4 frames just packed with eggs, and one frame packed with brood, I am hoping to see a double in population in the next three weeks.

I took a couple of pics of the bees landing and flying, will put them up tomorrow.

]]> http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/29/first-hive-check-this-year/feed/ Well, its up! http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/27/well-its-up/ http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/27/well-its-up/#comments Tue, 27 Mar 2007 22:56:06 +0000 Micah Klesick http://beekeeper.creationtidbits.com/2007/03/27/well-its-up/ Hi Guys,
The blog is now up. I will be logging all the beekeeping activity over the year here. :cool:
So keep an eye out, keep buzzin’ and just wait and watch. :lol:
Micah

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