Archive for February, 2012

February Bee Activity

Friday, February 17th, 2012

I was very depressed about the hive named Fanny dying. That meant that my two best honey producers from last summer died. I figured that since they were my strongest hives that the other hives would soon be dead.

I was wrong.

I went out today and the hive that I bought as a nuc from New Jersey was showing lots of activity at the entrance. The Christine hive had some activity and even Connie, who I’ve had for three years now has bees around the front entrance.

The temperature hit 53 degrees today and it looks like it will do it again tomorrow, so I filled up a front feeder for each of these three and fed them. When I took out the entrance reducer they were very active.

I hope that I didn’t hurt them by feeding them. I don’t want a big buildup before the nectar flow stars, but I don’t want them to starve. I will keep feeding them as long as the temperature goes above 50 degrees. I think that if I do this I will have some strong hives in the Spring.

Top 10 Reasons to Become an Urban Beekeeper

Wednesday, February 8th, 2012

I like this reason:

8. You get to be known as the “crazy beekeeper friend” by your peers, which gives you carte blanche to act like a nut.

Top 10 Reasons to Become an Urban Beekeeper.

Master Beekeeper Program

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

Cornell University has a Master Beekeeper program up in Syracuse each Spring and Fall. My brother has already reserved a space. I am thinking of signing up myself. These would be for the Apprentice level courses. I should be worth while. I have read quite a bit about bees, but I keep making terrible mistakes. Maybe a course like this would cure me.

http://www.masterbeekeeper.org/masterbeekeeper.htm

Another Hive Gone

Tuesday, February 7th, 2012

This week I checked my hives. Another one has starved to death. This was one of the best hives that I’ve ever had and I had three supers piled up on it in July. I must have taken 50 pounds of honey from it.

I never touched the bottom deeps, but in September I noticed that the hives were all nearly empty. This one had some honey in it, and I though she would make it.

The two other hives still have some life, but I am not optimistic. Connie, my oldest hive, seemed quite, but there were no dead bees on the bottom board. This is a Russian hybrid, and she can live through the winter with short supplies, so she may make it. I did not open up the hives that I think might be alive because it is under 40°.

I was a little worried that I might not have enough wood for 8 hives. I ordered 5 packages and 3 queens. I as going to split any hives that lived through the winter. Now, I guess, I’ll use some bees from the packages to make small hives for the queens that I ordered. if I take a cup or two of bees from each of the 5, there should be enough to start the three queens in hives of their own.

I am gong to order some fondant for winter feeding on the three hives that are left, and I’ll put on the top feeders as soon as the weather starts to get above 50° regularly. With luck, I will have two hives live through the winter.

What I have learned is that next August I have to watch the bees until winter sets in. If they start using up their honey I have to feed them as much as I can. It is cheaper to feed a hive $20 worth of sugar than to have to buy packages at $90 each.