This is my 4th year. What I learned this year is that you have to treat for mites in the Fall. I am also thinking that Italian bees may be too fragile for a bad New York winter.
My brother started with bees and he swears by feral brown bees. These are descended form the European brown bees that came over with the early settlers. They have been breeding with Italians and Russians and other bees that have been brought in over the years. They are hardy and make it through the winter. They do not produce as much honey as Italians and may not be as gentle. If you can find a local guy with hives from captured swarms, you can try this.
I am going to stick with Italians and try to nurse them through the winter. They are gentle and produce huge amounts of honey. If the winter is mild, they make it easily.
Keith
]]>Given there are decades of experience on this site, can you tell me the top five mistakes rookies make and how can I avoid them.
Thanks!
]]>I’ve been keeping bees since July 2008, so we started around the same time.
]]>It is heartbreaking to lose a hive through disease or pests, but it is frustrating and angifying (to use my grandfather’s word) when ignorant brats do it.
Keith
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