Archive for November, 2011

Time to order bees for the spring

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

Adam at AZapiaries is starting to take orders for next spring’s bees. I am concerned that my bees won’t make it, but I am also worried that this is a losing proposition. My bees are doing poorly and I am not sure that I want to spend $450 to replace all my colonies.

I have time, but I have to decide before Christmas.

Storm Damage

Tuesday, November 1st, 2011

The early October snow storm has done some damage.The bees are cold and inactive. One hive has a huge tree limb sitting on it, but the hive did not collapse. One tree limb hit my stack of supers and broke the top one up.

I fed the bees the day before the storm. It has been cold since. Some of the hives did not touch the sugar syrup. One of the hives finished it. The rest have finished some of the sugar. I am concerned about the hive that did not eat anything. I am wondering if there are any live bees in there.

The weather should warm up into the mid 50s for the next week. I hope that the bees find the sugar and store it away.

If the bees die this winter, that is it. I am selling the equipment and finding another hobby.