Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: yukonjeff on May 20, 2017, 12:48:45 am

Title: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 20, 2017, 12:48:45 am
Greetings from western Alaska  62.0856 N.  163.7294 W.
I am located on the Yukon river south of Nome in a small native fishing village of 800 mostly Yupik Eskimo.

This is my second year attempt at bee keeping ,last year I flew in one four lb package with a Russian Hybrid. my first contact with a bee keeper was treatment free and didn't feed,so that kind of set down the wrong path from the get go, it ended up swarming, laying worker, mites, I made all the mistakes and then some. They didn't make any honey and did not make it through the long winter.

I hived two more packages April 8th flown in from Cali,to Anchorage, to Saint Marys AK, where I  picked them up on my Honda Atv in a cardboard box 15 miles away, at around 30 degrees. they are Carni queens and doing great so far.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrgkDOxQ.jpg&hash=53f56c7436fa041d2f49cfedb169c2ad574f859b)

We are now into spring and they have a lot of cat Willow pollen.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FTjttJzN.jpg&hash=c55a30a1a418c8f3fd991db8d08b3ee30a16bc9d)

And these Alder have pollen dropping.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBEK16YE.jpg&hash=6fb33af3a190c07698a22cdda9272d7a873eede8)

And nectar from blue berry flowers.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fbo9StpI.jpg&hash=6586a872f885db78d95094a4c7533ba4490e64e0)

And Cranberry.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbUTINFp.jpg&hash=465d259d1863638f14abd0d80c1976aad6e82a93)

Labrador Tea Blooming

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FErAB7Kj.jpg&hash=9bac712ed6ff6cbaa14d7d97d9b973732cc1d1fc)

Bees were sucking nectar from these today, not sure what they are.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FtvNKg1e.jpg&hash=b245bb50851cc7d9293415ac9c0644e00af07412)

These are blooming again not sure.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FoNmv2j7.jpg&hash=5e602b4738f726a5c955c1721832851675821a59)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnzlJWig.jpg&hash=321e97cac47667110cb0cc33f2e9a0e78e03d992)

And I have Brown bears around, had one in the front yard the other day,still working on my bear fence, the ground is frozen and cant drive post yet.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FNbkEkn7.jpg&hash=f90f57edb2e0f1dde1b7fa12015e3f6b7319f0f4)

Well if you all don't mind I will update this from time to time and ask a few questions from you knowledgeable beekeeps,and happy to answer any you might have as well.

Thanks in advance.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Nugget Shooter on May 20, 2017, 02:10:13 pm
Welcome and great photos and looking forward to updates  :yes: Bears can sure make a mess of things and I hope you are able to get a fence installed soon.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 21, 2017, 12:42:14 am
Thanks for this thread Jeff!  How many hours of daylight do you have now?    :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 21, 2017, 02:50:38 am
Thanks Nugget Shooter, I am hoping the frost goes out soon so I can drive poles.

And Lburou, sunrise is 5:45 am and sunset is 11:55 pm ,we are gaining light fast now till the solstice.

I did an inspection today of the weaker hive since we are on a flow its doing real good and has four frames of capped brood now and three frames of honey/nectar, I saw a queen cup and thought it might be a good time to add a second deep since we are on a heavy flow at the moment and they are getting honey bound fast, they filled all the drawn comb,and just had a couple of undrawn frames on one side.

I only put one frame of capped brood and a frame of honey as bait up in the second undrawn deep, I hope they can draw comb now rather than swarm like my bees did last year at this time.

Should I have taken down the queen cup ? its on a frame of nectar, why not on a brood frame ? I couldn't tell if a egg was in it. I didn't look real good for swarm cells, I might check again soon.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FCsN7xje.jpg&hash=9e681e9f518640c30f2d108dda76eb54bbbf0654)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: CBT on May 22, 2017, 07:43:48 pm
It's Normal to have emergency queen cells on the side of the frame. All is well if their empty.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 22, 2017, 07:56:58 pm
It is true that queen cups can be found in almost any bee hive.  When you get those Russian hybrids, you will likely see more.  I've read that they have active queen cells most of the time, just in case they are needed.

Have you made any mite counts yet Jeff?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 24, 2017, 01:53:52 am
Thanks guys, I will keep an eye on them and hope they don't make a queen cell, that was the beginning of my problems last summer.

And no I have not done a mite count I hate to kill bees yet while I am trying to build them up, but I do plan to do MAQ treatment after the main flow in August unless I see deformed crawlers around, and then sooner.

Well we have had great weather here this spring, my bees flew almost everyday since I hived them, still getting down to the mid 30s f and high as 60,supposed to get a little snow flurries in the next few days.

Here is my bee's on the blooming Labrador tea and another flower not sure what it is.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fp9tqXji.jpg&hash=3ea37e4fd8bc3f1d92d8bf19674851a029b47427)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fuy654LV.jpg&hash=70502b6b508a9728a7ff90c4812bd03727d9e351)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on May 24, 2017, 02:46:07 am
That last picture looks to me like a species of Rubus (rasberry).  There is plenty of it all over Alaska.

In the early summer  (May-June) of 2010 my wife and I did some extensive touring of Alaska.  Nowhere did I see any honeybees in action, in spite of looking really hard.  BUT there was an awful lot of flowering plants to see everywhere. 
I wouldn't want to be discouraging, but, in  my opinion, the only way to keep bees in Alaska would be "migrating".  Bring them in for the summer season and take them down south, where they will have a reasonable chance to survive the winter.  If you try to keep them in Alaska all year long You might, with a great deal of effort, be able to get some hives to a stage where they will have enough honey to survive the winter, but I don't think you would be able to produce enough honey to share it with them. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on May 24, 2017, 07:12:44 am
Amazing.
You could always just set up some sawhorses or something like that with wire on them to keep bears out till the ground softens up a bit.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 24, 2017, 11:57:07 am
The bear is a real threat to your bees, I hope you get that sorted out.  as long as it comes in the daylight and you are there, the 7mm fence will be effective.  I would expect the bear to smell the brood and curing of the nectar into honey...get ready for that Jeff   :o   

Ef has good points about overwintering.  In my Alaska experience, the one hive did not make any excess.  However, I have since learned that feeding in spring makes a huge difference, plus, we did not have the deluge of blooms available to you on the tundra.  Your results may vary.  You mentioned on another forum something about a shed.  A shed could help you overwinter for sure.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 24, 2017, 02:03:13 pm
Thanks for the responses and ideas guys, I sure can use them.

Efmesch There is a good reason you could not find any honey bees , there are no feral bees here in Alaska, I believe I am the first bee keeper this far north/ west in Alaska that I know of. The Anchorage area has bee keepers that import package bees,( where mine came from.)

Perry, That's an idea I might try,we are getting rain now so the ground is thawing once I get passed the frost line it will be easy going, hopfully soon. I have three dogs tied near the house and hives and they let me know when bears are out there,had one the other night but they get shot at around here and not as bold as Yogie the Bear in other places,so it left, far so good, but I will get it put up as soon as I can drive post.

Lburou

The bee supply guy that I ordered packages from had a 70 % overwinter rate this year of his hives, so I need to chat with him more, but he is a pretty busy guy and in the Anchorage area 450 miles by air, away.

I am still considering the shed for this winter. I think that might my best bet,

Does anyone have an idea how long they can go without a cleansing flight in winter, Russians raise bees, so it must be possible with the right breed of bee,so I am hoping the Russian queen makes it and gets a good build up by winter.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 24, 2017, 09:17:43 pm
Jeff, riverbee will give you some pointers on Russian bees.    :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on May 25, 2017, 12:24:37 am
jeff, i keep russians as lee said, i read on your welcome thread your russian hybrid queens are coming from iowa? i think i might know the supplier?

anyway, the russians do well for me here in wisconsin. i get my bees from an rhba member in iowa; queens when i need them and are available.  when i get hives that build up and do well, i use swarm cells in the spring for divides, or divide in summer months and utilize a frame of eggs or order a queen or two as i said if available.  russians are slow to build up, when they do, they do very well; a good queen will lay very well and one must keep ahead of them;  they do need both natural pollen and nectar coming in. (pollen subs will probably be ignored). one or the other missing you will see a slow down. they will shut down in nectar/pollen dearths; early in late summer months/ very early fall as nectar and pollen sources dry out. also, russians tend to be very conservative on stores, they pack it away, and can survive in a smaller cluster than most other bees with ample stores.  i think they are an excellent choice for northern climates and will probably do well for you jeff.

as far as how long any bee can go without cleansing flights? i can't answer that.  our winters can be brutal, with subzero temps for extended periods of time. last winter was pretty mild compared to others, but i have seen my bees fly on sunny wintry days at 35-45 degrees (cleansing flight). some don't make it back in. russkies are hardy little buggers if healthy, even mutts of. 

russians can be a little on the cantankerous side sometimes, but it is a trade off for their survival rate imho.

bears and bees...........always had a fence erected in montana around hives. we have black bears here in the river valley where my bees are in wisconsin. i made the mistake of not erecting a fence/fencer. it was costly. equipment, fullly drawn frames, bees and queens.  if you were to lose your hives where you are located in alaska, much more costly because you just can't order a package of bees or buy a nuc from a local supplier. 

happy to have you here on the forum!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 25, 2017, 03:10:41 pm
Thanks Riverbee for the insight on the Russian's

Last year my first package was supposed to be a Russian Hybrid, she laid a round of brood and then swarmed on me before the single deep was even drawn, from backfilling.(I was feeding too much) I did catch the swarm and quit feeding, then she promply shut down egg laying and did not lay again until the main flow started up, and never built up much after that, and didn't put any stores away, and didn't make it through the long cold winter we had.

Most of all that was my fault I was a new beekeep and didn't understand Russians or even bees for that matter, now I hope I have enough experience and forsight to give them another chance, and I should have a Iowa Russian queen coming next week (I think.)

So you mentioned making splits with a queen cell...here is the question of the day. Is it possible since I have no feral bees here except in my own bee yard to make queens? I have two hives and with the new queen that will make three will  they breed and make a laying queen. ?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on May 26, 2017, 12:42:59 am
"So you mentioned making splits with a queen cell...here is the question of the day. Is it possible since I have no feral bees here except in my own bee yard to make queens? I have two hives and with the new queen that will make three will  they breed and make a laying queen. ?"

great question jeff, didn't even think about what would be 'practical' for you and your available drone population and how successful a queen could mate with a limited drone population. the bees can make a queen, but can she mate and mate successfully in your environment and limited drone population? 

i don't have an answer..........you have me thinking about this.  this would also go to supersedure of one of your queens.

as you have already observed, russians queens quit laying in a nectar dearth. in a pollen dearth there will be no drones, and what drones exist are tolerated, and in some years here in pollen dearths, i have seen drones being drug out and not being allowed back in the hive.

lee kept bees in alaska, perhaps he has some better insight than i do, or anyone else have thoughts on this?

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on May 26, 2017, 12:56:16 am
We should all send him a few drones?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 26, 2017, 08:39:18 am
Very interesting information about the way Russian bees work riverbee.  The frugality with which they (Russian bees) operate is very interesting and a trait I would value.  :)

My view about getting queens mated where there are no feral hives would be to  order queens from different sources, providing a mix of genes available when the emergency/new queens need to mate.  Having queens from different gene pools would give Jeff's bees  the best chance to produce a fecund queen when they need it.

If you can afford it Jeff, order a queen from a different source for your split.  This will give you a start on the diversity you need in the beginning.  Is anyone in the village interested in your bees?  If another beekeeper had bees from a fourth or fifth source, then your problems would be a lot less when it comes to getting a good mating for your new queens.

Just think, if Jeff could get rid of his mites up there...   :yes:

Quote from: Jeff
Does anyone have an idea how long they can go without a cleansing flight in winter, Russians raise bees, so it must be possible with the right breed of bee,so I am hoping the Russian queen makes it and gets a good build up by winter.

The biggest variable I am aware of concerning the length of time bees go between cleansing flights is the food they eat.  Low ash food (read food with less residue/fiber after digestion) results in fewer flights.  Russians go months and months confined underground for the winter in Siberia.  The Siberian beekeeper who visited my bees here in Texas said he puts the hives about 3 meters underground and does not take them out until spring.  There was a language barrier and I didn't get much more than that.  I believe commercial beekeepers in Canada put their bees in warehouses and keep the temperature around 39 degrees F for the winter.  That temp conserves honey reserves while slowing their metabolisms to reduce cleansing flights.  I'm sure Apis can expand on this better than I, as he knows what he is talking about.  ;)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 26, 2017, 08:17:46 pm
Thanks again folks.  I had planned to purchase queens for now, but,It would be a real shame if I did get a good queen that over wintered, I would sure want to have some of her daughters to keep around. I imagine at some point I will get to put it to the test and see if it can be done.

Perhaps ordering at least a new package every spring with the different drones might be enough? If I can overwinter one yet. I still hope I can with strong hive and a quilt box and a wrap of some kind, underground is not an option here would flood during the snowmelt. I do have a shed and might try one hive in there this winter.

Having some cool temps come in again and snow showers, the bees still flew when the sun came out in-between snow showers and hail.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXEwElyD.jpg&hash=e590bcaceb0748a8bfb784c3c04d3b3c5a13a643)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on May 26, 2017, 10:14:34 pm
Nice picture Jeff...Any hooligan coming up that riverbank in the spring?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 27, 2017, 03:55:55 am
Thanks ,Yes we have some but have to travel about 30 miles downriver and its hit or miss, mostly miss for me. They started catching a few salmon I hear, I need to launch my boat soon, we have a commercial dip net fishery starting next month, and then use gillnets later.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 29, 2017, 02:44:05 pm
Here is where Q-tips grow in case you didn't know.  ;)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXimpBNF.jpg&hash=a9865fd70940c38e86ee8999e2310cf3bb50e971)

And I thought I was done making rookie mistakes but NOOOOOOOOOO..  lol

And of course it was all laid with eggs when I cut it off, so I stuck it back in on a undrawn end frame, see if they move the eggs or hatch them.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5B86FGV.jpg&hash=148370dccedafecdc8c8c520da1583745224b42e)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 31, 2017, 02:09:20 pm
Well my queen from Iowa is in the mail and supposed to be here by Thursday, (I kind of doubt that because of my location)

Anyway I have one mostly drawn comb I saved and will be stealing a couple frames of brood.

Should I take 1 frame from both hives?  will they fight? or both frames from one hive ?


*I was planning on hanging the queen cage in between frames like installing a package, will that work ok ?  Shake extra bees ?

Thanks
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on May 31, 2017, 11:56:22 pm
yukonjeff......
am really enjoying your posts and pictures!  thank you very much! also a very interesting learning curve for me for your beekeeping 'environment'.

about your new queen.......(russian hybrid)
you can take 1 frame of brood from both hives, the bees on the brood frames will be nurse bees, they shouldn't fight. you can shake extra bees in from frames, and maybe use some sugar syrup spray on them. yes, you can place the cage in between the frames but with the russian hybrid queen, i would leave the cork in the cage for at least 24 hours. then go back in and remove the cork/cap from the cage to expose the candy for her release, and when you do pay attention to their 'attitude'.  lol.......... :D   

EDIT AND ADD:
feed them syrup
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 01, 2017, 01:38:18 pm
Thanks Riverbee. I will install her like you said ,sounds good to me, I was considering a push in cage but I don't have the right screen here and also afraid she would fly away while I was trying to get her under the cage.

I don't have a nuc box so I am taking five frames out of a ten frame deep and put in follower boards.

Fingers crossed, I might have another hive and that will make three ! and hope at least one gets through the winter.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEIvXcqW.jpg&hash=144f135d8abc8bc3278cdad28b32388ad871c50e)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on June 02, 2017, 01:28:31 am
great photo!

please let us know on the queen acceptance and keep us posted!

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on June 02, 2017, 02:48:19 am
One dodge if you need to get a Q or attendants out of a traveling cage, is to open the cage with it and your hands in a suitable clear plastic bag.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 03, 2017, 06:13:20 pm
Thanks Barbarian ,that's a great idea !

Well she made it today four days in travel on second day express mail. I do give them credit its a small miracle I can get it that quick considering my location.
I gave them a drop of sugar water on the cage and put her in the dark for an hour.

I took two frames from the strong hive (after locating the queen to make sure I didn't take her) my other hive is a bit weaker so I didn't want to slow her down anymore although she is doing great now and both were laying in the top box I added two weeks ago.

I put the cage and very lively queen and attendants between the two frames of mostly capped brood and one drawn empty I have been rat holing since last year. and two empties on the end.

There was only the candy end and says to release in two days for smaller hives and takes three to eat the candy, so will check in two and see how they are acting towards her.

Probably should of shook some extra bees, but didn't.

Feel free to advise on anything I did or didn't do

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FUkc8z6w.jpg&hash=c3c1d266c8c586ce1fcd1cc28eff0337c308627a)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FxlSzbom.jpg&hash=73a4989ebe78ab943e883c118859562b61e96ab0)

I have a jar of sugar syrup on under a super but we are in a flow of blueberry ,cloudberry, cranberry,and dandelion that I know of for sure.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FENee1Bi.jpg&hash=5a54e1471d6db7a21779ba65abbbb2ac952e9c6d)

I am pretty proud of my decision to leave the chunk of comb in so they could remove the eggs,and they did, but also welded it to the frames, but bees lives matter  :)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPmERYjU.jpg&hash=4e09e91c6c58638ecee4331a5566d3000c08ac12)


Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 03, 2017, 07:18:58 pm
Looks good to me Jeff, feed, feed, feed that new hive!  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: CBT on June 03, 2017, 09:36:00 pm
I'm curious about your following board. Can the bees get over the top if they want into the open section?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 04, 2017, 01:54:35 pm
Thanks again Lbouru will do if they take it, I imagine they wont have foragers for awhile.

And CBT yes they might be able to go over the top of the follower board, I will check when I remove the queen cage, they are home made and I am not much of a carpenter. I did order a set of follower boards last fall from Mann Lake and they didn't go up to the inner cover or to the bottom board (after they assured me they did) and were quite useless, so made my own.

We have been in the 70 s F. here yesterday and today supposed to get up to 75 ! that's a hot summer day here.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Nugget Shooter on June 04, 2017, 05:46:56 pm
Looks good Jeff.... 75F? that is sweater weather here and 106F for us today  :laugh:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on June 06, 2017, 01:48:58 am
thanks for your update! feed as lee said.........again, great photos, enjoying your posts!

nugget.....75 d f is sweater weather for you? .......... :D
i wear shorts and flip flops or go barefoot at 50 d f........so happy i guess to get out of a deep freeze  :P
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 06, 2017, 02:06:16 pm
Nugget shooter I live here with Eskimo's they complain about the heat when it hits about 70.

Well I released the queen on the morning of the third day, she walked across the frames and quickly dove down in between,so looked like all went well.

Since it was so hot out :) I could see they were standing around on the porch and I realized they had no one brining in water, so I set up a little brook for them to drink, they seamed to appreciate it.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FKfrnHdC.jpg&hash=f2b28c392197d9180e630f1aea9b48ae6fe088f4)

I set up a swarm trap in case my bees swarmed. I caught some bees in it !!.......

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIFErkIr.jpg&hash=e78cf20e70f26afa17d3165bcf53263d55634ecb)

Wrong kind though.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZZyVcdA.jpg&hash=00fa39fb833dd6030ea6b943df1c8c224c0b0bfd)

Some of the blooms going on here now.

The hills are full of these.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FrGd6frc.jpg&hash=8ba27851db8be1c589922a2f480aed97d8512e2f)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FwdsqlOt.jpg&hash=769cfc9f5712075a7a49487568bc034cc67ee18a)


When I am not bee keeping I am a commercial salmon fisherman, and just fished last night for my own personal use to make dry fish so getting busy here.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F8OUTOGd.jpg&hash=8723d147759d84718396ba7ad5650ebc4e5fded1)






Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on June 07, 2017, 04:32:59 am
Jeff ... re your last posting.
1, The bees at the entrance look to have an "on guard" attitude.
2, Is that the start of a wasp nest in the bait hive ?
3, Water for bees is better a flight away from the hive, mucky and with floats to prevent drowning.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 07, 2017, 10:09:00 pm
Barbarian.

Those bees on the deck are nurse bees it was right after I put the two frames in, they would just walk out and go back in, there was no foragers going in the hive, so I believe they were hot and thirsty, and wanted to go home :)  I do have a water bucket 8 ft away, but none were flying to it so I made a small temporary creek at the door.

They also have the river 100 yards away.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFCuVeG3.jpg&hash=a710de7fa3cf7d5cd52a6ac983daad181363a430)

And yes that is a yellow jacket nest I removed out of my swarm trap ! :o

I see my bees all over the comfrey flowers, we have a lot of them here blooming now.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FHsuXSMv.jpg&hash=a84dc94700eb800bed1651cd246e0e6839f03dd4)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 07, 2017, 11:05:06 pm
Enjoying the pictures Jeff!  Are those Jack silvers?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 07, 2017, 11:08:42 pm
Thanks Lburou. Those are Yukon river chums, (dog salmon), the one bigger one is a King. both are fine dining, I am drying some now.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 08, 2017, 12:09:52 am
Thanks Lburou. Those are Yukon river chums, (dog salmon), the one bigger one is a King. both are fine dining, I am drying some now.
I see.  That container is much larger than I thought.  I see the black lips and the side markings now, thanks.  I didn't think you would keep any Jacks.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 10, 2017, 04:23:00 am
A few more pictures.

Blue Iris

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F38piUpZ.jpg&hash=f2536e787f7452c157d86bb0fa3d7a97d29916a5)

A lot of these blooming here in the village, invasive I imagine.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFj3A5uK.jpg&hash=9c12115ad9d81766c62c4bb043d2d2844f3699a9)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fvw08ZRG.jpg&hash=448ef03c3bc66e89d1e9d7348e785d14a7ffe63e)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FisAiRbt.jpg&hash=1c67fb2fe023387039f06ebe57145dfc28e1e06b)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 10, 2017, 03:21:58 pm
Dandelions make great honey!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Nugget Shooter on June 10, 2017, 06:30:56 pm
Really enjoy the photos, thanks  :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 11, 2017, 04:22:10 am
Thanks ,glad to share them.

Well here is the Russian queen, she is doing great and has two part frames of brood already, so hoping she builds quickly.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcYMmFq0.jpg&hash=bfe17366b5edd061cb9c1160c3fbb82722d99b51)

The other two hives are exploding and filling the second deep fast.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Frs1AgRw.jpg&hash=060325f862464b12f20e9c74f685161544dadf93)

I had a slight panic attack after seeing this, but after I cut it out I see it was only a cluster of drone cells.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FJGnhDlY.jpg&hash=d083c8712aa4001383bed7869f35ba7440b74bfe)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FeBfXYbs.jpg&hash=48f8628d492551617371287d4933ed39686b1358)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on June 11, 2017, 06:03:42 am
You live in a remarkable and beautiful part of the world! :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on June 11, 2017, 07:34:02 am
Let's hope that people with the wrong attitude to nature don't spoil it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 11, 2017, 10:19:04 am
...I had a slight panic attack after seeing this, but after I cut it out I see it was only a cluster of drone cells...
Jeff, are you referring to the small pieces of comb hanging down from the bottom of the frames?   If yes, that is called 'burr comb' or 'ladder comb'.   Bees commonly build it, and queens use it to lay drone eggs.   

When you leave frames foundationless, the proportion of worker to drone comb is variable, but about 20-30% drone size (wild brood nests have a lot of brood comb too).  When you use foundation, that percentage of drone comb goes down closer to 10%.  Bees supplement their drone population by raising drone brood in the burr comb.  This is normal.  The only reason I remove it, (and I do), is to prevent squashing bees when reassembling the hive.  When the drone brood hatches, bees often fill those cells with honey.   HTH    :)

Now, burr comb can take many other forms that give bees, (and pests & potential brood disease), a place to hide during inspections.  If you look at the first picture below, the comb on the frame to the right was built entirely on the side of the foundation, (caused by the beekeeper's violation of 'bee space').  Bees have made an entire honeycomb on the side of the foundation.  You can't find the queen if she is back there, you can easily squash bees with pressure on the outside of the comb, and if there was a brood disease hiding back there you couldn't see it to know there was a problem that needed action.

(https://s3.postimg.cc/jawimgi33/Burr_comb_-pintrest.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jawimgi33/)

(https://s14.postimg.cc/5czd58nel/burr1.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/5czd58nel/)

Burr comb like this is caused by too much space between the frames.  You can read about bee space here (http://articles.extension.org/pages/44117/what-is-bee-space-and-why-is-this-important-to-beekeeping), or you can do a search, it's an important concept in modern beekeeping.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 11, 2017, 01:39:53 pm
Thanks again guys this place has its ups and downs that's for sure, but is an amazing place just the same.

And thanks Lburou,so it was a ladder of burr combs, that makes sense.I saw it hanging off the bottom and had flashbacks of last year when my package swarmed after seeing something that looked a lot like that. I have been inserting frames into the brood nest and looks to be helping with the swarming tendencies so far.

I like that picture, that's one mistake I have not made yet, but I will I am sure.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on June 11, 2017, 04:42:49 pm
that's one mistake I have not made yet, but I will I am sure.  :)

If you keep bees long enough you will eventually make all the mistakes, if you don't believe me just ask me. :laugh:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on June 11, 2017, 05:55:26 pm

If you keep bees long enough you will eventually make all the mistakes, if you don't believe me just ask me. :laugh:

I'm trying to work my way through all of the mistakes quickly, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Nugget Shooter on June 11, 2017, 06:22:21 pm

If you keep bees long enough you will eventually make all the mistakes, if you don't believe me just ask me. :laugh:

I'm trying to work my way through all of the mistakes quickly, and I think I'm doing a pretty good job of it.

And I am right there with ya  :laugh:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 14, 2017, 01:03:27 pm
Well we have blooms everywhere here now, its just like a botanical garden here in the summer with all the flowers its quite impressive .

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdQH6PSd.jpg&hash=9b78966601b21e6e59f1deda8190906cba0a2c65)

The bees are bringing in different colors of pollen, I noticed white yesterday, there is also yellow ,orange ,brown and tan.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FI3tv2HH.jpg&hash=c922b78e1aa7cabadf4c69162ea4ccbad8fa8e0c)

I suspect from these.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FR1khtdh.jpg&hash=2706efac44234818b044cce95617980935f066aa)

And we had another cranberry bloom of high bush cranberries and they are all over it, they have been blooming since mid April, and going strong.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FfxAirqO.jpg&hash=8a83c5d87ef8e8422e52cccc3ef6280b61c92236)

Also on the Cloud Berry flowers too.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2hVz9IF.jpg&hash=971584d53a3a3c7cbf657b0fdef2d53e1389df76)

Our main Fireweed flow will start in about two weeks and it will last two months. My second deep was getting full on my last check so was going to add another deep on Saturday  to see if they would keep drawing wax. And have some same size frames of honey to feed other hives if necessary.

I was wondering the best way to add a upper entrance ,I now have a notch I made in an inner cover for a upper entrance, but the telescopic lid covers it unless I add a super on top. Can I add a three inch shim instead?  I will need the supers for honey( I hope)

And also I am trying to figure what I need as far as supers, how many per hive? since I need to pre-order them and have them on hand when I need them. Also any tips on supering would be appreciated I was going to use deeps mostly.

Thanks again
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on June 14, 2017, 04:26:01 pm
A shim should be fine---you could even prop up the telescoping roof with a block of wood or a stick of the proper dimensions.

I was wondering---if you were to successfully overwinter your hives in Alaska, do you think the bees would be able to build up their populations fast enough to be able to take advantage of the early honey flows?   Would russian bees make the difference?  Would importing bees from further south be a viable, profitable alternative?

BTW, your pictures are great!!!

As to supering:  It's hard to know just how fast the nectar is coming in.  That's where neighboring beeks with experience from previous years can be very helpful with advice---but it looks like your on your own and will have to give advice to those who follow you.  Personally, I like to place new supers below the top super or above the brood nest, but from what you are telling us, I  would assume you would have a lot of heavy lifting to do at uncomfortable heights if you try that method.  My suggestion would therefore be to place new supers on top, it is easy, fast and effective when the honey is coming in profusely.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 14, 2017, 06:28:33 pm
Quote
...My second deep was getting full on my last check so was going to add another deep on Saturday  to see if they would keep drawing wax...

I was wondering the best way to add a upper entrance, I now have a notch I made in an inner cover for a upper entrance, but the telescopic lid covers it unless I add a super on top. Can I add a three inch shim instead?  I will need the supers for honey( I hope)

And also I am trying to figure what I need as far as supers, how many per hive? since I need to pre-order them and have them on hand when I need them. Also any tips on supering would be appreciated I was going to use deeps mostly.
If bees are covering 70-80% of the frames in the second super, add another super.  Sometimes, I drill a hole in a super above the hand hold, making it the same size as a wine bottle cork; you can plug the hole anytime you wish.  I don't know how many supers you could need, it depends on the honey flow and how much it produces.  Best to have more than you need...Two or three more for each hive...?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 15, 2017, 02:25:26 pm
Efmesch
Thanks for your thoughts, I will try a shim, I am a bit leery of opening up the top for an entrance in our terrible weather, we get raging storms and hate to have them open during one of those.

 To answer your questions: Yes I do hope to overwinter a hive or two and take advantage of the early bluberry,cranberry and wildflower flow. I had dreams of that last season but my hive had enough of me and didn't make it through winter, hopefully next year and I will have the Russian hive and hope that makes it this time. The bees I have now are Carnies from California.

I will top super then, I dot think those deeps will be a problem when I know they are full of honey :)

And Thanks Lburou I will order a few more to have on hand, I am concerned of running out of room while they dry and cap it,I guess I could swap out frames with empties and freeze them if needed.

Also do I need to bring up a frame of brood to get them started in the third deep ? or can I just throw the box on? also is it ok to use previous brood comb for honey extraction after its backfilled ?

PS. I have another queen flying in from the east coast and going to try start another nuc. as late as it is I hope to get them to fill a deep and try some overwinter indoor experiments with them, and have extra genetics on hand.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQIYRkfJ.jpg&hash=41b0c1539fdb7ef71805a866b407fb28333d4efd)

The Russians are doing great  for less than three weeks, I will add a few more frames on my Saturday inspection.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FzABoDxh.jpg&hash=73f593e631c804705e3cf0f068543b7d591a6ba1)







Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on June 15, 2017, 03:25:08 pm
When the nectar is coming in fast there is no need to persuade the bees to start moving in and building in the super you place on top.  Their need for room and instincts will get them to build up there.
Frames that have had brood in them are perfectly suitable for honey storage---perhaps even more desirable than new frames.  Frames from brood are stronger than new frames because of the exuviae that the growing larvae press against the walls of the cells.  The more cycles of brood raised in the frames, the stronger and darker the combs will become. These combs are a lot easier to extract because they don't come apart during the spinning process.  However, dark frames have a tendency to darken the honey stored in them, but the extracted honey is still quite useable.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 15, 2017, 09:13:43 pm
Quote from: Ef
"exuviae" In zoology an animal's cast or sloughed skin, especially that of an insect larva.
Had to look that one up again Ef.   :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 16, 2017, 01:20:34 pm
Thanks again efmesch, I will throw one on and see if they start on it.

Well I figured out where the white pollen is coming from.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0TvgsMi.jpg&hash=087f7e9eb0170b50a9ce774d65721272cad0d6c9)

 (https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQbaygJF.jpg&hash=60bd5bc7f3672792d057d3b5a85976186e45e654)

These big white flowers( wild celery) are about ready to open, and I remember from last year,  bees love them.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9AKUMmZ.jpg&hash=395bfdacc906551a6fdc5f81c234b46acccdc8a6)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 22, 2017, 09:06:42 pm
Well, I am having a bit of trouble with the Russian Nuc.  The weather here got cool again, west winds from the Bering sea direct from Siberia had us in the lower 40s f and cloudy with a cool breeze. The Nuc was not flying and now these came out and appear lethargic and chilled and trying to warm up , not sure what up with the dead. they are walking real slow, I don't think they are getting robbed out? starving ? they have a feed jar on.

They were doing so well too.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FQlyu38N.jpg&hash=675f8fbd2a736b472076ec072829caee649e56f1)

 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 23, 2017, 02:48:34 am
I now think they starved to death,even with a nut jar feeder on !  Its on a screen under a super on a inner cover with a hole. Lots of dead bees inside too. might of lost the whole hive will do an inspection tomorrow and see if the queen is still alive and add a frame of honey from the other hive.

I brought some of the lethargic bees in the house in a jar and gave them a dab of honey and they are good as new, got lively again

Can I add a shake or two of bees from another hive or will they ball the queen ?

I have another queen should be here any day,was going to start another nuc.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FLMlWKH4.jpg&hash=a4f2e94cdcfb89228f80afe8a6bec25699a7faad)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 23, 2017, 09:32:56 am
Jeff, at 40 degrees, bees wouldn't be flying much or taking in much sugar syrup.  That would be normal.  Without looking inside to see the number of bees on the combs, it is hard for me to say how concerned you should be about that many dead bees.  A member here called 'Apis' is back online again and maybe he will offer an opinion.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 23, 2017, 12:42:17 pm
Thanks Lburou

I am sure now that they would not break cluster and starved with the feed jar an inch above their heads. Some are alive still but the bottom was covered in dead bees and their was only about three frames of bees.

I will go in after it warms up this morning and add another frame of honey if their is enough bees left, I did put in a half of frame,once, I thought with the feed jar and the flow going on they would be ok, I guess it would of if it didn't get cold again.

Well its warmer today so that's better.

Just when I think I am starting to get this bee keeping figured out, I realize how much I still don't now.

God save the queen. :sad:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 23, 2017, 07:20:52 pm
After the realization last night that they were starving, I went up the hill and sprayed the cluster with sugar water from the plastic feed jar and closed it back up till this morning.

I first went into my strong hive to get a frame of honey/nectar for the starving nuc but not a spare frame to be found, they ate up the extra during the cool snap and apparently they are just getting by. It amazes me because I literally walk through a blooming flower garden to get to them and its like that everywhere here.

So I put feed jars on all three hives, and will feed till the fireweed bloom here in about a week and then they should be good and making honey.

The nuc would not break cluster and many starved, its warmer now, the queen was ok and still had a couple frames of brood, I hope she didn't quit laying, they had a feed jar the whole time. I put a few more holes and sprayed them down with it again and they revived and are back to normal, danger averted for now. :-\\

 Still a decent few frames left so I caught it in time.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FbmBMOXt.jpg&hash=7ee87a1c0a2a5b4da4362e0b4be3534d7fc93261)

I cleaned the bottom board and got a plate of dead bees and sprayed them with sugar water and many came back to life after setting in the sun.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FaxqVSZI.jpg&hash=5cabe9e57d8605431c72a283a7af599ed42d371a)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F0Zc9azC.jpg&hash=c328babca9abd3cf01c9b4bbb79921da053a2abd)

Will monitor closely and spray them again with sugar if they quit flying in and out during bad weather.



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on June 23, 2017, 11:13:13 pm
Spraying can be dangerous for the bees it they do not have time to warm up before night and the temp drops again. In Dec or Jan  I  have taken nucs and put them in a dark place in the bassment the bassment is about 62 degrees and i use a red light so i can see but it doesn't  excite the bees. It is warm enough for the bees to take feed and they do not cluster to tightly to keep the brood nest at 95 degdegree. Keep in mind that the bees will not move off the brood to get to the honey. If it got cool enought for the bees to get latharget and chilled, there is a good chance that the brood will have also been chilled and the bees will be cleaning out chilled brood.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 24, 2017, 02:07:53 pm
Thanks apisbees. Yes I did realize that getting them wet was not good ,but the alternative was they were falling over dead from starvation so it was a last ditch effort to save them, and I got lucky and it seemed to work out this time anyway.

The brood are ok so far, they afre not hauling any out, so that's good. Hope it don't do that again because there are not a lot of bees left.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FY1vH5dL.jpg&hash=5fb8ab5eee2b38164578e72622f435331156fadb)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on June 25, 2017, 07:36:25 am
If the feed is via a central hole in the inner cover/crown board the bees may not move away from the brood during cold weather.
Position the brood frames below the hole and put a follower/dummy board at each end of the bunch of frames.
Provided there is enough space on the frames it is unlikely that the bees will build wild comb outside the boards.
As a "belt and braces" tactic you could fill the space outside the boards with insulation board or loose hessian sacking.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 25, 2017, 01:11:25 pm
Jeff, it just occurred to me that your new package could have had that many 'old' or winter bees in it.  Winter bees don't last long in spring.  Just a possibility...that would mean you haven't done anything to kill them.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 25, 2017, 01:34:11 pm
 Thanks Barbarian I think you are right. In the cooler weather they would not leave the brood to get the feed right above them. It is a feed jar through a inner cover hole. I do warm the syrup every day in cool weather, but forgot about doing that when the weather got cool again since its summer. I will monitor closely now.

Lburou, this was my new split not a package. My new queen made it in from the east coast, four days again on second day air. It was cool again like 45 degrees F. with a cool breeze.

I warmed the hive in the house and used a spray bottle to add a honey band of sugar syrup to a partial drawn frame, and added three frames of brood from the same hive again, That hive  is cranking out brood frames, I hope I don't tax her too much.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FmGPDpFt.jpg&hash=25f865f078e58827a4a283055140fa4d0b510799)

Well the transfer was not that fun the bees were mad since it was cold and cloudy and were all up in my face while I looked for the queen to make sure I don't grab her. I didn't find her so have to make double sure I don't have her in the split before I release the caged queen.

Hopefully it will warm up again into the 60s today and my bees will be happy campers again.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 25, 2017, 02:07:08 pm
...Lee, this was my new split not a package...
Doh!    :o    I guess I should practice my reading skills, eh Jeff?    :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 25, 2017, 02:13:27 pm
In a moment of wishful thinking, I thought/hoped the same thing until I remembered it was the split. :-[
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 28, 2017, 03:28:07 am
I live right on the beach of the Yukon river and I walked down the other day and heard a lot of buzzing in the grass, and was amazed at the amount of bees that were there apparently sucking something out between the blades of grass. Paying no attention to the flowers that were also growing there. there was so many I started looking for a swarm.

 This is a bog grass that grows on wet swampy areas.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fa6kBGfr.jpg&hash=b4fafef6805b4688c97a053aaa1e4d5304a8ec95)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fn9dd885.jpg&hash=14497fb7f66fffd3f1eb6231e092944d473f2d03)

Here is a random weird flower unknown to me.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FRUTzHHT.jpg&hash=367e942f9a649e0918ce4e48adf4063fce9546f6)

This is the first Fireweed blooming here now. What we have been waiting for, its our main flow. They grow everywhere here. They bloom starting from the bottom up, and they say here in Alaska, the summer is over when they reach the top around late August.

I bought some fireweed honey last fall from a Alaskan Bee keep (after my first summer beekeeping failure) it was the best honey I ever had $30 a pint I paid, and was worth every penny.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9YaEyZN.jpg&hash=11f44dca143a4b54f88848e82d24011cc77952ba)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 29, 2017, 10:00:21 pm
 Me and a buddy walked to my hives about ten feet away and we started to get bumped. We just had street jackets with hoods up, no gear on so I suggested we start walking down the hill and take a few steps and my buddy starts freaking out that a bee is in his hood. He falls over and I pull his hood off and see no bee.

I said its gone and he said no its IN MY EAR !! and sure enough I saw back legs in his ear canal and very much alive going up in deeper disappearing !!! ...and then I would see the back legs again.

I grabbed a alder twig and was lucky it had kind of a hooked end, I held his head and watched for the back legs again and stuck it in and hooked the bee and pulled it out and it stung him outside the ear on the cartilage ,didn't get the stinger in all the way but drew blood.

Was really a bad deal. he is not a bee keep but has been assisting me ,and took it pretty good. he said when he fell down it was because the bee in his ear messed with his equilibrium and he lost his balance.

Good thing it didn't sting inside the ear, we had a good laugh after words but wow... didn't see that coming.

I wonder if anyone else had this happen or even worse inhale one.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on June 30, 2017, 12:04:31 am
wow, bee IN the ear canal...............!!!!
geez, just reading about your description i am thinking how far will a bee go into the ear canal before she decides to back out? or not?
i think i might have panicked a little on that one!

i have never been stung in the ear, but have been stung outside on the cartilage, and it smarts. 

thanks for sharing the story yukonjeff!

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 30, 2017, 12:55:23 am
Yes it sure was crazy, and a bee fits perfect in the ear BTW :no:

I am getting head nets for any guest that want to see the hives from now on. and considering wearing my bee jacket more often on cloudy days.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 06, 2017, 03:16:01 am
Well we have some steady warm weather coming in the next few days it should stay in the 50-65 F  so I decided to  do a full treatment with MAQS pre-flow and get it out of the way since we might have a rainy ,cool, summer here at any time.
(God save the Queen)

My two NUCs are getting robbed by the bigger hives so I had to whip up a couple of robbing screens fast.

I am what you might call a Red Green Bee keeper, so this was my first prototype.  I made it from a bee package.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FWDY2Gwd.jpg&hash=c2fa51ecec09f56b3ca97eb62a242ecef1deeb77)

This is a better version, aluminum hardware cloth, and bee package wood, held on with push pins.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F2sL4VKE.jpg&hash=ba7c56da60356b92b6228620e774412fbbac91c6)

The vultures were hanging out eating my  bees. We have a lot of these around here. Big as your hand, and take down YJ,s and  bumble bee's too.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FPeDb11N.jpg&hash=050aa5df307f7952a20f0a032e35ec468669df49)

Bees are still working these.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FEH0Vxrz.jpg&hash=d3f4fd01cbd29fadc81c90bc313ac2f5be801a4a)








Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 06, 2017, 07:46:10 am
OMG!  Jeff, I just read the story about the bee trying to enter your friends ear canal. You need ear muffs to work your bees!
I was curious about what your bees are working.  You said they were thick "between the blades of grass".  Were they on the actual grass blades or were they on the ground.  If on the ground in a boggy area, they were probably getting nutrients from the soil as well as moisture.
The last picture you posted looks a little like queen anne's lace.  It might be wild carrots or something.  It probably isn't.  Honey bees don't work queen anne's lace.  I am familiar with fireweed.  It's just beautiful.
Thanks for the pictures.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 06, 2017, 02:44:22 pm
B.D. The bee in the ear episode was a good one  :-X I have head nets coming for any guest from now on.

And yes they were sucking something out of between the blades of  beach grass, I think you might be right. The ground there is wet and rusty water looking so they must be getting some minerals from it, but I was amazed at the amount of bees on it, and after checking again the other day they are not on it anymore.

The plants they are on now is Cow Parsnip.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heracleum_maximum

They are everywhere here. This is the front yard. They seam to gather both pollen and nectar.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F9l0jApC.jpg&hash=5a45095cd827b973ce326282fa73546fb8780e7c)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FAARyd1U.jpg&hash=8998aad22cf306023aa38785e06c9c1a95f1fcce)

We also have a lot of poison Hemlock that grows right in amongst the CP. I going to watch this year and see if any bees are on those white poison flowers that look almost exactly like Cow Parsnips.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fi9mzaOs.jpg&hash=f27cc2803a50d8b4bf2ef751a342a0856320784f)


Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on July 12, 2017, 12:48:04 am
"I am what you might call a Red Green Bee keeper"

............... :D :D :laugh:

jeff, i have used that metal tape for a variety of things it works pretty good!

thanks for the pix! 
parsnip, we have a wild variety here, very invasive, it is yellow, worst i have seen it in our river valley (agricultural area). we have planted areas for native species (restoration) and this stuff is really encroaching or growing into the fields we planted and is of no value to my honeybees.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 13, 2017, 03:07:06 am
Thanks Riverbee, I have several rolls of the foil tape and its very handy stuff !

What a difference week can make. Today I took out the MAQS strips I put on a week ago just at the start of the Fireweed bloom, and the instructions said to put on a super for them to expand into if the vapor gets bad, so I did put on an undrawn super, and low and behold they had it half drawn and filled ! So I put another deep on under the medium on both the strong hives.

The two Nucs had been starved and robbed, it set them back a bit, but they are both a few frames of bees and doing good again. I even was able to remove the robber screens because we have peace and harmony in the bee yard again.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FZ2J8D04.jpg&hash=7fd2ee923a3e152df9beb699319dfd6b0dd4ed80)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FK8CcM8t.jpg&hash=5e63e25e7d613f7a315f11184991540ab85243a1)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FvLfeHpv.jpg&hash=93cf0836667037ec71faff779bc37a3e61b774d1)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fa9Rog1i.jpg&hash=37237523b6800e2947fd0a31f8433ac2b22a30a5)


Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on July 13, 2017, 03:26:26 am
yukonjeff: The two Nucs had been starved and robbed, it set them back a bit, but they are both a few frames of bees and doing good again. I even was able to remove the robber screens because we have peace and harmony in the bee yard again.

efmesch:As a general rule of thumb, robbing takes place only when flowering is inadequate.  Once the honey flow gets going in earnest, bees will prefer to get their nectar from the flowers and forget about such dangerous things as robbing.  You did wisely by removing the robbing screens.  Coming and going is easier for the hive's bees and they can make more trips back and forth in a given amount of time.  Of course, having 20+ hours of daylight during which they can collect, is an advantage we southerners can't compete with.
Keep those great pictures coming.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on July 13, 2017, 06:49:58 am
Million dollar views! :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 13, 2017, 12:46:08 pm
Thanks for your insight guys, much appreciated.

I also wanted to show you all a drone I picked up off the flight deck the day after I installed the MAQS. He looks blind ? Could it have been from the treatment? Sure is nasty stuff.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F5bpIwjx.jpg&hash=cc691df234eb764cc506b2c36b4182528db3a279)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on July 13, 2017, 12:55:25 pm
Jeff, those white eyes are actually a genetic mutation.  Read about it here  (http://ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=7337)& here (http://www.glenn-apiaries.com/bee_photos_4.html).
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 13, 2017, 01:41:10 pm
 Thanks ..Very interesting. So they are born blind. that's amazing that they take care and feed them ,rather than drag them out. Shows compassion? or they just don't know they are blind perhaps.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on July 13, 2017, 05:42:59 pm
That drone doesn't look very old and if it was already on the hive entrance it was the workers that left him there.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 14, 2017, 01:38:10 pm
Your right, it does look like it just hatched.  Also the nuc was hauling out chilled brood( after they got stronger) like you said. I will remember to put a shake or two of bees with any splits from now on.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on July 14, 2017, 01:54:37 pm
It's good to have you back Apis!   :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on July 14, 2017, 11:21:23 pm
jeff, lee is right on, the drone is blind and it is genetic. i haven't seen this in my russian hives but have seen the white eyed drones in other races. great photo you took of that drone and great info from lee.
at some point they will perish because they can't see to feed themselves or will perish because of flow stoppage/dearth and they will be drug out and not allowed back in.  it would be interesting to know if the workers, like apis mentioned drug him out and left him there.....meaning the bees recognize an abnormality?  similiar to hygenics?  don't know! maybe apis does?

btw, all your photos are awesome and i sure enjoy your pictures and posts! 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on July 14, 2017, 11:32:11 pm
Why bring me back into the discussion! I don't know, I just don't think he at his age wondered out side the hive on his own. But He is Blind so anything is possible.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on July 15, 2017, 12:29:27 am
............... :D

apis thanks! 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 23, 2017, 01:00:59 pm
Welcome back  ;)

Things are good in Alaska, my bees stopped building in the supers when I added a deep under, I didn't put any combs to get them started moving up, so they quit and went back to packing the brood chamber :no:

So I went back in and moved two up and they are back to building comb and filling both super and 3 rd deep.

So I really don't want to have three deeps of bees, they are backfilling the two combs I put up so I am hoping they will just store honey in that one, what do you all think will it get laid with brood and become part of the nest or will they backfill it with honey by fall and move down ?

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F511sFdD.jpg&hash=94cd704443b01603369fc80c9101c276a9545650)

My bear protection for now. still working on the fence

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fezffozo.jpg&hash=49f6fa498e70738a332056bad6f7a77a3349dac9)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FN28kUGt.jpg&hash=e8798ad7e1e7ab1e07cde6f08294b1203d4580cf)

Fireweed honey  I hope I get to taste it this year.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdtM7jOG.jpg&hash=422caeef6119eb7c76965c6b6766a9d5c37dde34)

I waste way too much time on that stump watching bees.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2Fi5LvtEq.jpg&hash=a7cddc9fe8a48f97450e470d7b5bd84446074171)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on July 23, 2017, 03:59:51 pm
Jeff why the extra brood box why not just the honey super on top of the 2 brood boxes?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 27, 2017, 04:19:33 am
Jim, they had the super half full in a week. we are in a heavy flow and good weather, they packed the two brood boxes and drawing and filling fast, so I hoped to take advantage and get them to draw the deep as well to slow them down. anything to keep them from backfilling the brood nest completely.

I might add a super of medium foundationless here soon and see if they can make comb honey. I will check tomorrow and see how they are coming along.

I am now thinking I might leave it on and run three deeps for overwintering, will be mostly honey I imaging.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on July 27, 2017, 07:14:23 am
Jeff, this year I have learnt that drawn out comb is worth it weigh in gold. It rains here this year 4 out of 7 days a week. The swarming had me running flat out and without drawn comb sets the bees back.
Always next year.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on July 27, 2017, 10:58:51 am
Jim, they had the super half full in a week. we are in a heavy flow and good weather, they packed the two brood boxes and drawing and filling fast, so I hoped to take advantage and get them to draw the deep as well to slow them down. anything to keep them from backfilling the brood nest completely...
Your honey flow is what we all dream about as beekeepers Jeff!  Rarely, for me, has it worked out like that because I've never lived in an area capable of that kind of production, I've lived in areas that are comparatively dry. 

When you are in those heavy flow conditions, keep plenty of extra supers on the bees.  The extra space helps them process the nectar into honey faster and you end up with more honey than they would make with less working/processing space.    If they don't need the extra space, they won't draw the combs out...if they need space, they'll draw the combs.  Best to have the foundation available just in case.

Personally, I do not go foundationless except for the occasional single frame, in a pinch. If you go foundationless, mix every other frame with capped honey to insure the frames are drawn correctly, otherwise you can get a big mess of chaotic combs.  JMO   :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 29, 2017, 04:33:13 am
Jim I started this spring with two packages and only 6 drawn comb, we had a beautiful spring and summer here, stays between 45-65 F and these two did good. I believe painting the hives black had a positive solar effect and increased fly days.

I  have been inserting two empty undrawn frames to open up the brood nest about every time I go in once a week. It has kept my swarming at bay so far.

Now I am moving honey frames up to the third box and replacing undrawn frames below. I believe the third box will help with room to manipulate frames a lot better to control swarming too.

Lee I was just going to try set a medium super of foundationless on for cut comb honey, and watch it close and if they mess it up ,or make one big block, I will sit down with a spoon and invite everyone over for honey day. :)

This time of year as you well know, can turn to  monsoon rains here in western AK, we get storm after storm and can shut the bees down for weeks, so its fingers crossed we have more good weather to take advantage of this awesome flow. But I will keep throwing boxes on as they fill them and try to keep ahead.

The garden.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FhXpLK4s.jpg&hash=207bf287c218351f2629424f3c1c5cffb7a1ed51)

I like to think my bees had something to do with this.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FM1Zx2G9.jpg&hash=5684bad1db850c567e3019a51aab3110f6acec96)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F1dztq6C.jpg&hash=dca967f0c3f57efd3b078b8ca4c66d4b562d32b1)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 11, 2017, 12:50:35 pm
Well we did get our fall storms starting so we had two weeks of wet stormy weather right in the middle of the Fireweed flow so that slowed them down some, still wet out and the Fireweed are almost done.

I did get my electric fence up and running ,any tips would be appreciated, I am keeping out brown bears mostly.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FcUEmk5n.jpg&hash=591360c6ceb61337f02b2684dc5ea5eacb337903)

I did add a fourth deep last week in hopes they might draw and fill some ,so I can divi the frames up between the Nucs for winter.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FiG4yxxr.jpg&hash=8b5e70131770da3d151f548a66e8085af9d60df3)

We are starting to get our fall colors here, Frost by the end of the month, but we do have long drawn out wet fall, usually freezes for good around  late Oct/Nov.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FDkiYFAg.jpg&hash=10a4d4882b6bf509b45974bdbbc00e5c7c220553)

I am thinking of wintering in three deeps, I would like some honey, but I don't want to buy bees again next year so see what they end up with at the end of the month and see if I can rob any,or feed. Nothing much was capped yet anyway.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2F6e5qmet.jpg&hash=03d06e62e3187539033458f9bdd66d156314cbba)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on August 11, 2017, 02:06:44 pm
The fireweed still has some bloom remaining, you could have a few more good weeks of nectar flow.  I think you have done well this summer Jeff.   :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 11, 2017, 03:17:52 pm
Thanks Lee. I didn't kill them all yet anyway. :-[

Could get another two weeks of bloom on the Fireweed but the storms will most likely shut them down. We have another one brewing now.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on August 11, 2017, 08:38:06 pm
More wires and closer to the ground the first wire 8" off the ground then a grounded wire then a hot next another ground followed by a hot top wire. Each wire 8 inches apart.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on August 11, 2017, 09:53:23 pm
i will chime in with apis on the fencing jeff, we have black bears so like apis said more wires, 8 inches apart from the ground up.  what unit are you using and how many volts?

btw, awesome pictures and sure enjoying your thread jeff!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 12, 2017, 01:50:09 am
Thanks guys, looks like I will have to order in more wire. Its a Zareba 10,000 v  I believe.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FH9DPq4U.jpg&hash=1509eab624040ce6e3ae16dd576638c1a5d7942c)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on August 12, 2017, 07:56:01 am
It does not need to be heavy solid wire the 1/8" poly with the wire strand woven through it will work just as well It is not the wire that is going to stop the bear but the shock he gets from it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on August 12, 2017, 02:25:16 pm
Jeff,
How do the long nights of winter effect the charge of the fence? 
If the charging is from solar energy do the few daylight hours provide enough electricity to maintain the charge during all the dark hours. 
If the charge is from a battery, does the cold reduce the available current below needed operational levels?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on August 12, 2017, 06:58:00 pm
During the coldest part of winter till spring the brown and black bears Hibernate so the battery's can be disconnected and stored in a warmer environment. Freezing weather is hard on battery's
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 13, 2017, 03:05:15 am
It does not need to be heavy solid wire the 1/8" poly with the wire strand woven through it will work just as well It is not the wire that is going to stop the bear but the shock he gets from it.

Good point. I will scrounge around and see what I might have. Perhaps I might have enough of the 11 gauge to make one more round.

And yes the bears go to bed here around late October when the ground starts freezing. The lack of food is what triggers the hibernation. the berries get a killing frost then and the salmon are done.

Right now we are are at 16.5 hrs of daylight . Gets dark around11:30pm I see my bees working till 11:00 pm on warm summer sunny nights. the bumbles and YJ's stay out till after 1:30 am.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 13, 2017, 03:11:03 am
I have been finding a few larva on the flight deck. I need to treat these nucs. Not sure they are big enough for MAQS yet might use just one ? Looks like hygienic behavior since they are hauling them out.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FnbZxMOX.jpg&hash=aa331e93eba0a077a5e1f61063f7bf3b2219c272)

I did get a OAV wand and wood bleach, how much of the powder would I use ? and is it better?

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on August 13, 2017, 09:11:01 am
Jeff, the OAV treatment dose is one gram per full sized super.  In Europe, it is my understanding that it is legal to use oxalic acid treatments with honey supers on...But not in the USA.  I have taken a piece of plywood and put it on top of the super with honey you plan to leave for the winter and then temporarily put the honey supers back on top of that for the treatment.  Remove the plywood when the treatment is complete.  Or some variation from that.

The drone pupa on the landing board could signal hygienic behavior, or the end of summer, or, may not have much significance at all.  As long as the pupa isn't hard, I wouldn't put too much emphasis on it. If you have a smartphone, download the free 'Bee Health' App.  It will give you a leg up as you work through the possibilities.

 I wouldn't use formic on a NUC myself.   HTH   :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 13, 2017, 01:38:46 pm
Thanks Lee. I treated the two big hives with MAQS right before the flow, so about a month ago. I was going to treat again before winter sometime.
The Nucs have not been treated yet, those need it soon. The MAQS say they need like 6 frames of bees to safely treat. They might be getting there.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 21, 2017, 08:01:12 pm
Well I did my first oav last week on the nucs. I guess I should do another here soon?

After last weeks inspection of the two big hives ,it seams they quit drawing wax and didn't build out the fourth deep so I removed it. I also noticed they both turned the second and third deep of honey, into mostly capped frames of brood. (Was not my intention) The bottom deeps on both hives are just  pollen and recently hatched out brood and empty comb.

It was 32 here the other night and we got a frost. The fireweed are pretty much done, some thing looks like Queen Anns lace and a few others, one looks like Golden rod,but not sure they are on it or not.

Our temps are about 40-55 f fall has come a bit early here this year. so I am figuring I better pull the supers that don't have much of anything in them, and feed them all they will take for a month ? or wait and see if they bring in any thing yet? 

Also anyone have a good place to get winter wrap material ? I will be wrapping three deeps and a shim with a medium quilt box.

Thanks for all the help so far, kept my bees alive and hope to have them alive in the spring to take advantage of the  Cranberry and Blueberry flow.

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FFm5D8QP.jpg&hash=40b81ed93280cf6856c630e1d85b6e83e1e9e0c3)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FdsIEOZA.jpg&hash=bdc5c34c25ac2ef80a27816d336f6ca30be97941)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on August 21, 2017, 08:22:20 pm
You must have taken a photography class, those are fantastic pics! :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on August 21, 2017, 11:09:38 pm
"Also anyone have a good place to get winter wrap material ? I will be wrapping three deeps and a shim with a medium quilt box."

hi jeff,
this is what i use to wrap two deeps in (and the wrap one can also purchase for 3 deeps).  i also use a vent box that i sometimes use in summer months and place 2 inches of foam insulation(the pink stuff, whatever it is......polyethylene?) in it under the outer cover come winter months.  works for me.

winter quilt wrap for 2 deep:
B & B Honey Farm Colony Quilt 2 deep (http://www.bbhoneyfarms.com/store/c-58-beehive-winter-packing/p-486-colony-quilt-1--two-deep-colony)

if you are interested in this stuff, i do have some of it for 3 colony deeps.........just can't remember how many i have? maybe 3 or 4 (can't remember)? i'd be willing to gift and send whatever i have up to you. i did an experiment for a couple years keeping 3 deeps. i have pulled the box out i store them in a number of times and was thinking i would cut them to fit 2 deeps but have plenty for a 2 deep configuration, so the 3 deep quilts are and have been stored in a box and still in great shape. let me know.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on August 21, 2017, 11:51:42 pm
...so I am figuring I better pull the supers that don't have much of anything in them, and feed them all they will take for a month ? or wait and see if they bring in anything yet?...
That sounds like a plan to me.  But, keep in mind that bees don't take much sugar syrup below 50 degrees F, (I suppose you figured that out last year though).  Did you try feeding granular sugar or fondant last winter? It seems like you made some fondant...
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 22, 2017, 02:23:18 am
Thanks Perry, just a hobby, its a old Kodak point and shoot , great little camera. No formal training.


And thanks Riverbee. Very generous offer. I  was looking at those wraps but they were out. I would be happy to pay for a couple of them three deep, plus flat rate shipping if your willing to send them.

And how did your three deep experiment work out ? would they have made more honey if I would of stacked medium supers instead of a deep ? it seamed they were filling the first one pretty fast, then stopped when I added a deep, but did build that out and lay it with brood.

And lburou. I have been warming syrup every morning all spring from April till about June , and now I am warming it every morning for the two nucs been about two weeks now, in the 40s at night. I guess I will pour the sugar to the big hives in quart jars with a bunch of holes.

 And yes I did make some round sugar bricks with tin pie pans, I will add those again too when I wrap them.

 I also noticed they were hauling out drone brood today.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on August 22, 2017, 08:17:22 am
Whether or not you over winter 2 or 3 high will depends on how much winter stores are needed to over winter on. This is influenced by how much and for how long the bees will take syrup in the fall and how long the winter is till there is forage or feeding can be done for the bees. Also as more insulating is done to the hive in general the bees will consume less honey to generate heat. So a 2 super hive may not have enough stores saved up to over winter successfully when left ill prepared, but wrapped and insulated the hive will come through the winter with out a problem. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 22, 2017, 01:23:44 pm
Thanks Apis. at this point I am not sure where I will end up but I am shooting for three deeps on two of the hives. but your right, I still need to see where they end up at the end of feeding season, as with the nucs ,I am trying to decide to split one of the three deeps to supplement the empty space in the nucs.

I am planning on putting a deep underneath them,  to get them off the ground for winter.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on August 22, 2017, 05:07:26 pm
Jeff, are you on permafrost?  What is the temperature if you dig down three or four feet?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on August 23, 2017, 01:20:46 am
"And thanks Riverbee. Very generous offer. I  was looking at those wraps but they were out. I would be happy to pay for a couple of them three deep, plus flat rate shipping if your willing to send them.

And how did your three deep experiment work out ? would they have made more honey if I would of stacked medium supers instead of a deep ? it seamed they were filling the first one pretty fast, then stopped when I added a deep, but did build that out and lay it with brood."


jeff, i am certain i have two, i will dig them out this weekend. will send you a pm.  i won't ever go back to 3 deeps. and no problem, if someone else can use them can send off to you.

the 3 three deep thing really is based on the university of minnesota's practice of overwintering. (dr. marla spivak) publication; 'BEEKEEPING IN NORTHERN CLIMATES.'  the three deeps  are for brood rearing and the third deep converted to honey storage come fall/winter months for the bees consumption and to move up into. medium supers are added to harvest honey.  the original concept of this was based on dr. basil furgala's research and practice........he referred to it as the 2 queen horizontal system, although 2 queens were not in the three deeps, the three deeps were divided into two units in the spring.  lol, i am keeping this short and not going into detail!
many beeks keep three deeps here in the midwest to try and follow the u of m's practice, but i really think they don't  follow the exact practice as outlined or taught. it is very management intensive. 

i did find with a good queen, good honey/pollen flows, i did well.  without this, plus other challenges it did not work for me.  what i would say to anyone, keep to two deeps, add mediums for honey supers.  we have had some members here who have kept 3 deeps; two deeps for brood and 3rd deep for honey for them to take off. if it works for you in your environment, great!

i like to stick to two deeps, and add mediums for me to harvest the extra honey. our weather and blooms have been so up and down; dearths, rain, floods, etc......also, deeps are too heavy for me to lift off and in some years the bees would be hard pressed to fill a third deep of honey because of aforementioned weather conditions.  two deeps give me the best wintering than 3, even if i have to add a feeding shim. 

then there is finding a queen in 3 deeps when need be............... :D :D :D

overwintering 3 deeps? you must have a good adult bee population covering 10-15 frames or more and a very  productive queen. mite, pest, disease free, and stores packed in that third deep to get them to your spring. 

even under the 'right' conditions and our 'right efforts' there is no guarantee.  learning curve can sometimes really be crappy as to what works and then we figure out what we think works, and then......? ??!!!

lol, just do what we do and keep rolling with the curves!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 23, 2017, 01:04:06 pm
Lee, I did think of that but the ground is very rocky and might be permafrost as well. not sure it would work anyway, we have so much water running on top the ground during the snowmelt, that it would fill any hole and drown the hives, or entomb them in ice.

And thanks Riverbee. I appreciate you doing the experiment and sharing the outcome. I am hoping the three deeps gets them through winter. the bottom box is all pollen so its not really three deeps of bees, and they are laying and eating their way through the third deep so I agree and don't think this is the best management style, unless you want more bees.

I think by spring, if they make it ,I will remove the bottom deep if still empty and keep double deeps instead.
Thanks again !
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 13, 2017, 02:01:21 am
 Well after closer inspection, The third deep I thought was laid with brood was actually honey with browner cappings in the middle ,compared to the outside of the frame that was nice and white cappings.

(https://i.imgur.com/2sdJIWM.jpg)


Sooo... I stole a couple of partial frames to try out my extractor. :)

(https://i.imgur.com/kfuSxta.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yqvAMV9.jpg)

More than getting  the honey, I wanted the experience of robbing the bees to see how they react, and the extracting, because I never got that far last year.

P.S> Fireweed honey is to die for ! it is very floral almost like roses smell, very sweet and has several after taste. its pretty special stuff, I have never had any honey like it. My favorite was that acacia honey until now.

(https://i.imgur.com/nbbHpxC.jpg)

This is the other reason they call it fireweed.

(https://i.imgur.com/8F6vvfF.jpg)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on September 13, 2017, 10:43:57 am
The color of that fireweed honey looks quite intriguing but not consistent.  Do I "read" the pictures correctly?--the first and fifth bottles are liquid honey whereas the middle three have crystallized honey?  If I am corrrect, I would suggest that you try stirring the honey crystals well and then place the bottles in the fridge for a week or two.  That should give you what is called "creamed honey".  It spreads nicely, like cream and doesn't drip or make a mess like usual honey.

Considering the great progress you have made since the beginning of this year's season, I have the feeling that it won't take long before you "outgrow" your three-frame extractor.  Get ready to upgrade  :goodjob:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 13, 2017, 12:52:35 pm
Thanks Efmesch.

The lighting has an effect on the jars in the picture, its all liquid and the same color, must be a shadow.
And yes I hope I out grow the three frame extractor, it worked pretty good though once I got things warmed up, the first spin nothing came out, was too cold.

I did an experiment making creamed honey out of some crystalized honey I had, and it worked great. I will make more for my own use when ever I get any again.











Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on September 13, 2017, 02:17:48 pm
Wish we could all give you a 'high five' to celebrate this honey!   :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 13, 2017, 11:50:07 pm
"P.S> Fireweed honey is to die for ! it is very floral almost like roses smell, very sweet and has several after taste. its pretty special stuff, I have never had any honey like it. My favorite was that acacia honey until now."

Although there is fire weed in the honey, I doubt that it is very pure. The ("very floral almost like roses smell"  "and has several after taste") are not observations describing pure fire-weed honey. Also Pure fireweed is water white in color. It can some times have a slight greenish huge. In general the clearer the purer the honey is with fire weed. I would call it a fire-weed wild flower mix.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 14, 2017, 02:05:53 am
Thanks guys. Would of been no harvest at all without the support I have gotten from Beekeep's here online.

As far as the honey.I bought a couple jars last year and it was similar to what I got mine is a bit darker ,although you can read through it. Also seams very light textured as well, kind of thin, but its not fermenting so its low enough.

When I added the third deep the hills were ablaze with fireweed, and I watched as them and every bumble and YJ worked them from July to mid August. I assumed it was Fireweed, but they could of moved some up from below, and we do have a plethora of wildflowers. It made a nice mix that's for sure.

Will see if I can get a second opinion. ;)

I put the frames back and have been feeding steady, they took about 40 lbs of sugar 2-1 so far,  I have to warm it every morning.

still in the 50s here and pretty wet, but they are still bringing in pollen from some daisy looking flowers and Icelandic Poppy, we do have something that looks like Goldenrod blooming now too.

(https://i.imgur.com/u21Xg1J.jpg)

 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 14, 2017, 03:27:25 pm
I am not criticizing at all, this is all written with the view of education. Your honey looks absolutely lovely and I can imagine the taste. I have tasted fireweed, wild flower mixed honeys many times over the last 19 years of judging honey. In the Okanagan it is rare to get the purest of waterwhite fireweed honey. There is always something else in bloom while the fireweed is in bloom. I have judged many honeys that were collected from fireweed areas but have only come across 3 that I would call fairly pure fireweed honey. Waterwhite in color, Very sweet, Very mild in taste, hardly any aftertaste.
It is the aftertaste that takes away from the sweetness. As you place the honeys on your tong the sugars are immediately sensed.  As the sugars get thinned down with the saliva, the floral aftertastes overtakes the sweet sensation produced by the sugars. Generally the stronger the aftertaste the less sweet the honey tastes due to the honeys not being needed to be thinned down as much for the flavor to over take the sweetness.
Just the way bees collect and store nectar, with scout bees always searching out new nectar sources and telling the bees in the hive where to find it and giving samples, It is almost impossible to get the bees to work a single floral source.
This is close to the color of pure fireweed honey. I have judged lighter honey than this thou.
https://onceinabluemoose.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=4123&zenid=sb5kiknp7mmfktfvh1j2kpb042
Purer Fireweed has the sweet taste but does not have much of the nice fruity aftertaste as ones that are a mix of floral sources. I would much prefer your honey over a pure water white fireweed honey because of the floral overtones.
http://www.alaskawildhoney.com/category-s/1814.htm
Texture is what you would use to describe if there was crystals forming in it A better word to describe how thin the honey is, is Density. Density is the water content reading using a refractometer. 17.8% moisture is the maximum reading allowed for non-pasteurized honey.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on September 14, 2017, 04:04:17 pm
 I love the answers that Apis gives---they are so completely thorough and clear.  :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 15, 2017, 02:19:11 am
Thanks Apis. I never turn my nose up at a free education. And coming from a honey judge as well. I am sure they mix nectar sources all the time, so can anyone really say their honey is pure ? is clover pure clover ? I would call it what ever the predominant flower/ flow is on at the time, if my bees are working it, and sell it as such. They were in a dearth until the FW bloomed, so I assume it was mostly FW.  They could of moved some up from below and I am sure they had a few dandelions in there as well.

The link with the 12 oz bear for $9.95 is most likely not Fireweed honey,  especially coming from a gift shop, ingredients  say Fireweed AND honey remember sugar syrup is clear too :)

Most Fireweed honey(what very little of it their is in Alaska) is usually $25-$30 a pint or $50 a quart
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 15, 2017, 05:19:36 pm
You bring up a good point about honey source. It comes down to truth in advertising and labeling. There is talk of stricter regulations being put in place for this. If this does come about in order to sell honey as a specific type of honey you would have to send a sample away to be tested before it could be sold as a certain type. The reasoning behind this proposed change to the rule is that with out testing and analyses of the honey one can not be sure. Another change for commercial producers that are importing honey into the USA is that they have to keep information on where the hives that the honey was collected from where located, Address, GPS location, and that information is encoded into the label bar-code data base.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 16, 2017, 01:41:52 pm
I think testing and truth in labeling is long over due. I would love to know what's in those plastic bears that had imported honey from China.

I would also bet that they would be finding a lot of insecticides, and other Ag. chemicals/pollutants as well.  I would love to have mine tested just to see whats in it.

 Keep in mind I don't have a real job, ;) I spent the last two summers literally following my bees around, to see what they were foraging on. We started the season with cat willow. it seamed to me they were bringing in pollen and nectar from it ?( coming in loaded.)

Then the tundra bloomed, we had blueberry, salmonberry, cranberry, mountain raspberry flowers. I saw them working in the spring.

Then we had a bloom of Blue Iris, I only saw them getting pollen from them( I think) along with the alder.

Next was the Cow Parsnips they worked heavy but such small flowers I am not sure they were getting much more than they were eating/ feeding brood...But those were also still in bloom when the Fireweed bloomed, so that could be what would be mixed with the FW honey, of course I could of missed something, we also have Goldenrod and Queen Ann's Lace, and some white Clover I planted, but I have yet to see one of my bees on any of those three flowers.

I will watch more close this coming year and pull a little honey at different times and see if it changes color or flavor at any other time.

We also have a couple kinds of fireweed, one is the Dwarf FW is smaller and it is a bit different shade of flowers, It could have different nectar color as well.

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 16, 2017, 04:03:43 pm
I am sure they mix nectar sources all the time, so can anyone really say their honey is pure ? is clover pure clover ? I would call it what ever the predominant flower/ flow is on at the time, if my bees are working it, and sell it as such.

I could never claim a specific floral source for my honey.  Around here there are far too many nectar sources blooming at the same time.  We give it the generic name "Wildflower Honey".  When I harvested, I did keep some supers separated from others because they were filled with the early fruit tree nectar.  I have told folks that, but I also tell them that apples, peaches, and pears weren't the only sources blooming at that time. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: CBT on September 16, 2017, 09:35:22 pm
I keep my blue honey and sourwood honey separate and the rest is wild flower.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on September 17, 2017, 07:25:56 am
I think testing and truth in labeling is long over due. I would love to know what's in those plastic bears that had imported honey from China.

Sometimes it can be on the jar but if folks don't look for it.....

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs11.postimg.cc%2Fxovgx65lr%2F20160301_124005.jpg&hash=4dddcef4b6cc0cb4609b524d33b02bef35639209) (http://postimg.cc/image/xovgx65lr/)

(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs13.postimg.cc%2Fahprmp26r%2F20160301_124015.jpg&hash=14be0583262813db97fbaf54d9fad13e7673d7c3) (http://postimg.cc/image/ahprmp26r/)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on September 17, 2017, 07:42:56 am
"A blend of Chinese and Canadian" honey leaves a lot of room for manipulation.  With "Chinese" being written first, I assume that it is also the larger portion of the included blend-----but one wonders---just how much of that blend is true Canadian---49%? 10%? 5%? Less?   It would be nice to know more.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on September 17, 2017, 07:45:57 am
You are right my friend, the country listed first is the "majority" of the product. It leaves far too much to the imagination percentage wise. :yes: :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 17, 2017, 08:05:11 am
I think testing and truth in labeling is long over due. I would love to know what's in those plastic bears that had imported honey from China.

I would also bet that they would be finding a lot of insecticides, and other Ag. chemicals/pollutants as well.  I would love to have mine tested just to see whats in it.


Perhaps we need a new thread entitled "Truth in labeling".
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 17, 2017, 10:55:48 pm
Don't go there Baker!!!
There is talk of having the (place of origin) needing to be displayed on the front panel and in a size equal to grade and product. So The same size as the (CANADA NO. 1 WHITE HONEY)
CANADA NO. 1 WHITE HONEY only means that the honey Meets the Canadian standard for 1 WHITE HONEY not where it was produced. Where it is produced needs to be displayed but is is not stated where on the container or what size. Lets play wheres Waldo to find it. If they are not proud of where it is from then make it small and hide it.
On a positive note Billy Bee honey that was importing Argentina honey and blending it with Canadian has gone back to only Canadian honey. on their newest labels.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 18, 2017, 05:37:03 am
 :-X
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on September 18, 2017, 08:48:21 pm
just my thoughts.......if i were jeff and all that is blooming is fireweed, pretty good indication that the honey is primarily fireweed?  i don't mean to take away from what apis said and apis is more than a honey expert than any of us. 

in my own experience of keeping bees, the bees work a primary source, although other nectar sources are available and these are worked as well. as boxes are stacked nectar sources probably do get mixed in the frames.  for me there are some primary nectar sources that i can identify just by what blooms, what the bees are working and what box/frames are on they are filling it up with and taste i guess.  one year we planted a field of buckwheat, i just opened and strained that bucket, one of two. the honey is primarily buckwheat, and likely other floral sources mixed in but buckwheat does have a distinctive flavor and color.  like many other primary sources of honey, there are distinctive colors, smells and taste. i have produced comb honey an old fashioned way, and comb honey frames can be drawn and filled quickly and some timing on removal. one year i am certain the comb honey was bee balm. the bee balm bloom was awesome and the comb honey had a mint flavor to it! it was excellent and had many customers ask me for more!  not an expert on this as apis is and do not possess keith's expertise; i guess i have learned to watch what the bees are working, how prolific the bloom is and lasts, and what boxes/frames the nectar is going into, and maybe a beeks educated guess as to what it might be.  :D

with all this said, truth in labeling?  i just label it all 'wildflower' because of the area i live in. i may suggest to a customer that it is a certain or a primary floral source or rattle off the wildflower sources/nectar sources in my area. with the buckwheat i will do the same.  i wouldn't feel comfortable advertising any single source honey without having it tested and knowing for sure........

jeff, i'd trade ya for a jar of your fireweed...........!............ :D.......seriously!  that stuff is good stuff!
maybe we ought to have trade a honey jar thing here?!............sorta karma honey from wherever............!........ :D
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 23, 2017, 08:08:49 pm
Here is a fire weed honey collected about 50 miles north of me. It has some other nectar in it also as it is showing signs of crystals forming from when it was extracted  a month ago.
(https://s26.postimg.cc/jdkuhahzp/IMG235.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/jdkuhahzp/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/r7lg2opsl/IMG236.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/r7lg2opsl/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/xiqnj3r11/IMG237.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/xiqnj3r11/)

(https://s26.postimg.cc/cxbvr79g5/IMG239.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/cxbvr79g5/)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 24, 2017, 04:06:33 am
That is clear ! is it sugar syrup  :D

Is it from White fireweed ? We only have the pink type here.



(https://i.imgur.com/ZtYM7zH.jpg)

(Google picture)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 24, 2017, 06:35:46 pm
We also only have pink. 2nd year from fire came into bloom a little later than the clover and hives were resupered for the fireweed. At the convention coming up may have some even lighter out of Terrace. No syrup, syrup has no floral taste where this honey does but it is very mild.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on September 24, 2017, 10:33:23 pm
keith thanks for the photos.  we purchased labeled fireweed honey while in alaska, somewhere on our way to girdwood and talkeetna. one jar was almost clear and one jar was similar to the color of the light golden color in your last photo. wish we had purchased more and sent it back to ourselves!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 25, 2017, 02:35:03 am
When  I robbed the two frames the Fireweed had been done for about two weeks, but it seamed they were still coming in loaded. Could of been the small goldenrod we have here but I didn't see much of it, and that could of been mixed in. Along with pollen ? see the picture the yellow daisy pollen they were tracking in. That was about the same time.

I believe  if I super and extract at the right time next summer I can get pretty pure Fireweed honey, I would still say this its mostly Fireweed since I watched them work it pretty much exclusively. I don't think it would take much of another nectar source to taint a clear color of honey and give it tinted color.

I will watch closer next year and take some varied samples.

I have a question since you are honey judge. Do you ever see cat willow honey ? is there a such thing ? How is it ?  We have nothing but willow and alder and cottonwood here and plenty of it, I thought I saw my bees coming in loaded from something and nothing was blooming yet this early spring, and had nectar in the frames.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on September 25, 2017, 09:10:01 am
"Do you ever see cat willow honey ? is there a such thing ? How is it ?  We have nothing but willow and alder and cottonwood here and plenty of it, I thought I saw my bees coming in loaded from something and nothing was blooming yet this early spring, and had nectar in the frames."
It is one of the first nectar and pollen sources. It is what pushes the bees to get into heavy brood production in the early spring. Some of it's pollen gets saved but any nectar it produces gets used by the bees for colony build up and if any was stored by the time the bees get through the dandelion flows, Its stronger flavor will over power it. So although the beekeepers doesn't get to taste any of its honey, it is a very important honey plant for the bees.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 25, 2017, 01:21:52 pm
Thanks. We have so much willow here I am thinking they might be able to fill supers after they plug the brood nest. Like I said every bush here is willow or alder. My package hive swarmed on me two years ago in June. Less than 30 days in the box.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 27, 2017, 03:52:20 pm
Well I put my bees to bed, we have had a small amount of snow for two weeks now and temps not bad, still 20-35 degrees.we are getting rain again now so winter is late again this year.
I used those wraps ,and I think they will really make a difference.

(https://i.imgur.com/DlPbFQu.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/iBgK5s7.jpg)

I put on a 3 " shim and a sugar block at 20 degrees with no smoke,..... bad Idea. had to go light the smoker.  lol

I stuffed a medium super packed with dry grass above them and have the feed hole open to vent into the grass, I can change it out anytime it gets damp.

  (https://i.imgur.com/EMaIeRn.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on October 27, 2017, 10:55:38 pm
Is that entrance cover made of birch bark?

Good luck Jeff  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on October 27, 2017, 11:56:35 pm
thanks jeff, enjoyed the pix......., especially the first one of your wrapped hives and the moon? pretty cool!

wish you the best on overwintering your bees!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 28, 2017, 02:28:32 am
Thanks Lee, yes  that's birch bark arctic entry way :)  they get hit with the stormy south wind pretty fierce on the hill there.

And Thanks Riverbee .One note on these Russians is they went to bed on their own around the middle of September, and go totally quiet, no buzzing at all, my  Russian hive last year did the same. They were alive when I checked.

My two main hives are very strong when I pulled the inner covers the  third deep was packed with bees on both hives and they were all over the sugar brick, both had been treated twice with MAQS once in July and once in September.  They were fed all they would take and then some,Hopefully we will have a short mild winter and live bees in the spring.
 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on October 28, 2017, 05:37:02 pm
Not much to forage on here anymore. Soon time to wrap and then the beekeepers season of worrying begins (we all do it). ;)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 23, 2017, 06:08:08 pm
Well the last fly day here was Nov. 13 since then we have had some snow and a lot of nasty storms.

(https://i.imgur.com/5LVF2u8.jpg)

Looks like we are getting some snow this year.

(https://i.imgur.com/pi75nuT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yMRu4BS.jpg)

This is how high our sun gets this time of year. We are still losing daylight so gets even lower on the horizon yet.

(https://i.imgur.com/kjzfmiF.jpg)


 Now its a long cold wait till April. Good luck to all and Happy Thanksgiving.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on November 23, 2017, 06:36:24 pm
You've done all that you can do. Time to set back, grab a few bee mags and maybe a catalogue or 2 and dream about next year. :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 02, 2017, 11:06:15 pm
Getting plenty of snow this year. No temps below 10 F yet, so warm winter so far here.
Wondering if I should clear the upper entrance or leave it blown in.

(https://i.imgur.com/Qy6vVLT.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on December 07, 2017, 11:20:18 pm
you could jeff if you are concerned about it.... if it get's iced up, just take a hive tool and clear the ice away.

"One note on these Russians is they went to bed on their own around the middle of September, and go totally quiet, no buzzing at all, my  Russian hive last year did the same. They were alive when I checked."

pretty true, just later in the season for me, and had to get used to not hearing much when clustered. but they do ramp up if you knock on the hive.
i do use a stethoscope, my hearing is not all that great, to listen for the 'silent' hum.

thanks jeff for the great photos!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on December 08, 2017, 11:41:15 pm
...Wondering if I should clear the upper entrance or leave it blown in...?
The main thing is make sure there is some air circulation.  Air will go through fluffy snow but not crusted snow.  I have heard that the Aleuts and Eskimos have 50 different words describing different types of snow, do you think that is true?  Saw one of your youtube videos of ice fishing, it looked pretty cold to me.   ;)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on December 25, 2017, 08:38:56 pm
The Sami people have 180 different words for snow.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on December 25, 2017, 10:29:02 pm
The Sami people have 180 different words for snow.
Interesting!  My grandmother was Swedish and Norweigen...The Sami must be cousins.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 11, 2018, 04:03:29 pm
Hi Guys. Sorry ,have not been on in awhile was in Thailand and then got home to bad internet for the last few weeks. :sad:

I appreciate all the comments.

 Update : Had wolves come in and check my hives, they are about 75 yards from my house.
 I do hear bees in the two big hives when I checked yesterday so they are alive. I am also seeing a few bees in the snow, so some are coming out not sure thats good.

We have only gotten down to - 4 F and mostly in the 20s all winter, but bad storms and high winds weekly and not much sunshine.

(https://i.imgur.com/P3xIzX7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/DrjMQbJ.jpg)

I think the bees are taking care of the upper entrance, no need for me to worry.

(https://i.imgur.com/Dj0VhB1.jpg)

I cant hear nothing in the Nucs and I figure they were too small to make it anyway so not much faith in them at this point.

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on January 11, 2018, 04:18:32 pm


We have only gotten down to - 4 F and mostly in the 20s all winter, but bad storms and high winds weekly and not much sunshine.



I cant hear nothing in the Nucs and I figure they were too small to make it anyway so not much faith in them at this point.
My gosh!  We have had colder weather here in Kansas City!  We always have winds.  :sad:
About the nuc...you might be pleasantly surprised.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on January 12, 2018, 05:37:17 pm
Loosing a few bees in the snow as the winter progresses is a good thing. The last of the summer bees will fly out of the hive on their own at the end of their life as to avoid the bees having to remove then from the hive later. It is a natural instinct that bee do not like to die in the hive.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 15, 2018, 02:56:40 am
Thanks, Very interesting,and good to know. I was thinking my black hives might of warmed them up too much and sent them flying but we have not had hardly a sunny day all month, so I don't think they are getting much solar gain yet.

I am considering opening the big hives up and checking their sugar brick and adding another if needed, I hate for them to come boiling out again and die from the cold. I lost a couple cups of bees when I added the first ones in November.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 20, 2018, 04:56:20 pm
Well I pulled the top the other day and parted the straw and was able to look into the feed jar hole and see they were quite active and acting like it was summer time in there. And also all I could see was about a golf ball size piece of sugar block left that I put on this fall.

So I made two more bricks and want to add them but hate the idea of bees flying out only to perish in moments in our temps.
I am wonder if opening them up in colder weather would be better if they would be as active and want to fly out ?

 (https://i.imgur.com/mBPDVBi.jpg)

Bee yard visitor

(https://i.imgur.com/0cux5hF.jpg)

I also saw spring package prices, one supplier is charging $240 ! a package and I still have another $30 in freight to get them here, so I am hoping my two big hives make it this year.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on January 20, 2018, 07:56:10 pm
"I wonder if opening them up in cold weather would be better if they would be as active and want to fly out?" 
The alternative might be starvation.  How sad it would be if you got them this far to only have them starve in February or March.  As long as they are not clustered, I would risk a quick dash in to install a sugar brick. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 21, 2018, 02:21:49 am
 Thanks,yes your right, my thoughts as well. I will pop it open for a quick change out, I was wondering if the low temps might kill the cluster  last time I opened up without at 20 degrees ,had to go light the smoker . I will keep one lit and handy in case.

Some interesting side notes, when I popped the top at 35  F (warm spell here ) the grass was wet up by the outer cover but as I dug down to the feed jar hole where I expected the moisture to vent, it was nice and dry.

That warm day I also watched water run out the lower entrance, must of been from the frost on the walls melting.


The lid was soaked, so changed it out with a dry one. I imagine foam insulation might help that.

(https://i.imgur.com/rp4n5yn.jpg)




 A few came out the other day at 35 F several plunged to their demise as well.

(https://i.imgur.com/QugZMq2.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on January 21, 2018, 02:58:19 pm
Well played Jeff, it seems like you are doing everything you can to keep them alive. 

Seeing the inside of your top cover, and reading your plan to put insulation in the top cover, I would guess you are doing everything possible for the bees' success.  That insulation on top may reduce moisture build up inside the hive, and hopefully, slow or eliminate water running out the entrance.  I know I didn't do as much for my bees in Eagle River and they made it through three winters before we moved back to the lower 48.

Best Regards,

Leeb
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 22, 2018, 07:39:51 pm
Thanks Lee, If it weren't for you and others on this forum, I would of had a box of dead bees along time ago. This is all learn as I go.

Well this morning at -10 F I decided to pop the covers and add sugar bricks, I was hoping the cooler temps would have them clustered and would not fly when I opened them up.And hoped as well the low temps would not kill them.

They were mostly deep down in the frames, but put out a pretty good roar. One hive I did have several guard bees come out at hit my hand but bounced off and hit the ground.

I did change out the lid do a dry one and mission accomplished.

   (https://i.imgur.com/vhrMBWF.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/XrGJsaI.jpg)

Sugar brick was completely gone in one and one had a bit left.

(https://i.imgur.com/jj37j4S.jpg)

Looked to be some capped honey left yet

(https://i.imgur.com/328Dwl6.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on January 22, 2018, 08:30:25 pm
Jeff, you are the lead horse out there on the tundra, breaking trail is sometimes a lonesome job but somebody has to do it.  I've never read anything about keeping bees in your conditions.  That looks like ice on the front of those hives.  The frost on the inside of those hives concerns me, but it doesn't look like the bees are concerned about it.  Putting a dry top on them sounds like a great idea.    :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 25, 2018, 01:08:23 pm
Thanks Lee. I wish I had another bee keeper here to compare my methods with.

Update: Well I was slow putting on a new sugar brick on one of my hives, and they ate up right through it and starved ,would of been their third brick this winter.

I am bummed because it was a strong hive. The other hive didn't even eat a third of theirs that was put on the same time.

When I added the last brick I noticed that when the hived rocked a bit , that is was very light. So they were living on sugar. I imagine my other big hive has nothing as well.

We had a warm winter again so they were active eating but able to move onto feed so that was good. I just need more to get them through winter next year.

I honestly think I can feed them sugar syrup and they will take it but don't want them to come out and fly and that's what they want to do after I feed them warm syrup in the fall it seams.

I sure hate to lose this last hive and hate even worse to order packages again, but looks like I am going to have to bite the bullet and see if I can still get a couple shipped out just in case.

Anyone ever fed syrup in wither before ?

(https://i.imgur.com/ugKckCw.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on February 25, 2018, 01:37:32 pm
Jeff, sorry to hear about your loss.

I have a hive needing supplemental feed for their spring build up.  They now have both a sugar block and a frame feeder with sugar syrup.  Generally, the bees won't take the syrup below 50 degrees F.  Our temps are fluctuating now from 35-70 degrees, so, they will have whatever they want for now.

For next year, you can make some feeder boards to hold and feed larger amounts of sugar. You can use shallow supers or rip a deep super in two or three pieces.  The first picture shows a feeder made from 2X4's with a wire bottom only.  The second shows a luan bottom with a hole in the middle for access, (makes a nice spot for pollen substitute in the spring). I use 8 frame hives, so I can get away with the lual bottom at my location, wouldn't try it in AK, I would make a much larger hole or use wire for the entire bottom like the first picture.


(https://s10.postimg.cc/eb7stb76d/P1030706.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/eb7stb76d/)

(https://s10.postimg.cc/gfs5ugdyt/IMG_1245.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/image/gfs5ugdyt/)

HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIDJNYBzxtc) is a video showing how to make sugar boards.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 25, 2018, 01:41:47 pm
That's AWSOME Lee !
I had that thought in my mind but needed to see a picture. I am thinking a Medium just like you have there might just do.

Thanks !
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on February 25, 2018, 01:59:54 pm
That's AWSOME Lee !
I had that thought in my mind but needed to see a picture. I am thinking a Medium just like you have there might just do.

Thanks !
You want an almost air tight fit between the sugar board and hive bodies, so make sure the wire is accommodated with some kind of shelf on the bottom side of the board so you can fasten the wire and not interfere with the bottom edge of the sugar board (some may call it a feeding rim).
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 25, 2018, 02:19:10 pm
I was thinking a inner cover with like a 12" hole cut out of the center.

Perhaps the box could be packed with damp sugar and dried so it would stay in, enough to set on the hive anyway. More to stew on.
Thanks again
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on February 25, 2018, 04:38:45 pm
...Perhaps the box could be packed with damp sugar and dried so it would stay in, enough to set on the hive anyway. More to stew on.
Thanks again
Jeff, I added a link to a video showing how to pack the container with damp sugar to my last post.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on February 25, 2018, 08:25:07 pm
jeff,
i am not a fan of candy sugar boards, they may work for you or anyone else reading this or maybe for those in southern climates.
my own opinion, i just think feed ought to be placed directly on top of the frames for the bees to access, not through the inner cover or a wire screened 'candy board'. bees move up and will cluster on, around or below the feed.

how i do it is place 2 inch shims on my hives, and make sugar bricks to place in, no boiling, no complicated recipes or blowing up or setting your kitchen on fire or sugar spilled on the floor............ :D just simple bricks, dried before you set them in the hive........here is the thread:

SUGAR BRICKS (https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php?topic=6293.msg80456#msg80456)
some great posts on this thread and some improvements to feed the bees during winter months.

also, one can use the 'mountain camp' method.  never tried this but beeks say this method works.

i prefer to use the 'bricks'.

would just like to say, thanks for joining up and being here.  i enjoy your posts, and i enjoy your pictures and just want to say THANK YOU!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 26, 2018, 12:00:16 am
Thanks Again Lee. I will have a look.

Riverbee. I agree and don't plan on cooking any sugar. I have my bricks right on top of the bars with a three inch shim, but didn't check in time and was surprised they ate through the second brick so quick and starved.

Lesson learned. I hope to figure a better insurance policy I can add to it, so it never happens again. Was a nice strong hive, so was a waste that didn't need to happen.

And thanks I appreciate being here and enjoy reading yours and everyone's differing perspective's, Helps us new bee keeps out Alot.
So Thank You All. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on February 26, 2018, 11:11:43 am
Jeff, thanks for your posts.
The two hives were fed equally yet one died.
Perhaps the problem is not with the feeding method.
Maybe the strain of the surviving hive is more suitable for your conditions,

At the end of the winter, I assess my remaining hives. I will try to avoid breeding from a hive that needed feeding or consumed a lot of stores.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 26, 2018, 12:08:59 pm
Thanks Barbarian.

I was mulling over the same thoughts. That particular queen, I thought was pretty good, But... was always behind the other hive. Even when I stole four frames from the other hive to start NUCS. The one I stole the frames from was still out preforming and made more honey than the dead hive.
So you could be right, It might be a blessing to have her gone.

If this last hive makes it, I am going to see if I can make another queen or two, she is a real trooper and would like to have another just like her.

Thanks again.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on February 26, 2018, 10:22:01 pm
i always look at/consider:
mite problem/mite associated viruses
queens
my neglect
environmental
combination of one or all of the above.
strongest hives typically succumb to mites or mite related viruses or in winter, cold starvation, loss of the queen.
losing strong hives really kicks my butt. losing any hive i don't like. i haven't had any losses for the past few years.
sometimes i find things with no answers. i have kept 3 deeps and followed doc spivaks u of m for keeping bees in northern climates. i have tried all sorts of different bee races. i settled on russkies.
i requeen when i think necessary, utilize swarm cells and/or let the bees requeen themselves.
i treat for mites when necessary. i didn't like the 3 deep thing and went back to 2 deeps.
i may be neglectful sometimes but i do pay attention to weather, what's blooming and what's not, pollen and nectar coming in and how my queens are doing, and mite loads. i equallize hives, and supplement for what looks to be needed.

i had a really strong hive that did puzzle me this year. (russian queen)
snarky as all get out and crazy for the past 3 years.
same queen, i marked her (i don't usually mark queens) great layer, great honey making hive. treated for mites.
hive busting at the seams going into winter again this year. almost added a third deep.
deep honey frames full, kept watching to put sugar bricks on.
one week shes there, open up the next week to add a shim and sugar bricks, not one bee to be found in the hive and it was october.
absconded.
not only this one but three others. open the hive, not one bee or dead bee in the hive.

i did everything right, or so i think.

so here's my synopsis.......we have two gas pipelines running through our property, and underneath a river that runs through our property. one of the gas pipelines was exposed this past spring during a flood. propane.
the pipeline had to be replaced and redrilled underneath the river bed.  it was an incredible experience to watch the process of how this is done.
the pipeline company had to mow down about 3 -4 acres or more of fall and late fall blooms that my bees would typically use for winter stores within the easement and more outside the easement (yes they paid) to replace the pipeline.
goldenrod, milkweed, asters etc...........
i watched when they mowed these floral sources down. thousands of bees in the air, and thousands of bees caught and lying dead. 
the pipelines i guess are about 300 yards from where my hives sit.
we had noisy equipment, trucks, and lights running 24-7 for almost 2 1/2 months.

i kept checking my hives because of the loss of the foraging.

dunno, but i think lost my hives to environmental reasons.

"At the end of the winter, I assess my remaining hives. I will try to avoid breeding from a hive that needed feeding or consumed a lot of stores."

barbarian, there are many factors for why bees need feed or consuming stores.
i will feed my bees when there is no incoming pollen/nectar sources. seems the past few years, late summers will create a feeding situation with warmer weather. not sure i wouldn't breed from these hives with great queens, because i have.........just saying,
we are not always dealt the best and do our best when it comes to keeping what we have going.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on February 27, 2018, 02:25:31 pm
Jeff, I forget whether you have done anything with the dead hive or not...?  Maybe you could look for mites in that dead out? 

I lost a hive this Winter that had dwindled to 843 bees and died in a near 0 degree cold snap, (queen with no brood, no unhatched bees).  I put all those bees in an alcohol wash to count mites.  I brushed the bottom board debris onto a white surface and counted mites. Two of us counted Zero mites using a magnified light!  I saw a nickel sized spot on the comb near the dead queen's carcass showing some white mite feces, that must have been the site for the last brood to hatch .  Don't know where the mites went.  It would be interesting (not necessary) to know the mite load in your dead hive.  JMO  :)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 28, 2018, 12:02:28 am
Sorry guys, we cant blame Mites on this one. I did two full MAQ treatment's. One was in early July right before the flow and another right after in Late August/early Sept.

I watched my first hive succumb to mites so was on the ball this year. (except dropped the ball later. lol)

The hive was roaring with bees the last time I put on a brick. I wish I would of thought to take a picture but you could see where they ate up through the sugar brick and died in a cluster right on the top bars where the sugar brick was. Just a ring of sugar left and a pile of dead bees.

I cleaned out the hive and not a lick of honey in the three deeps. bees are dead in the comb head first.

I am going to open up the nucs and have a look, I am pretty sure both are gone too, will regroup and wait for my two packages coming at the end of April and try again.
Fingers crossed I can keep the last hive in sugar for another month and a half.

(https://i.imgur.com/iOSx9ZX.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on February 28, 2018, 11:30:23 am
Bees dead with head into the cells is usually a sign of starvation.

The mass of bees in the box could be a sign that the Q did not stop laying. More bees means need for more food.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on February 28, 2018, 11:56:48 am
wow jeff!   from your description, it does sound like starvation.

just keep shoving sugar in the others, don't let them run out!  sorry you lost that colony, that's a hard loss!

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on February 28, 2018, 12:39:16 pm
...Sorry guys, we can't blame Mites on this one...
You are right about that Jeff, I was just thinking out loud and wondering what your mite load was as a matter of curiosity. It would be feedback on effectiveness of your mite treatments. Not blaming your loss on mites.  Next year, you will have a better handle on how much honey/sugar blocks they might need to make it through your long winter.  :)

P.S.  THIS video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw4pEnUoX88) might give you some ideas on (emergency) feeding mid winter.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 05, 2018, 12:55:26 pm
Thanks Lee. I was considering doing a alcohol wash (I have never done one) but I saw a dead drone on top of the hive once and there was a dead mite laying next to it so I figure they drop off after the host dies. I could be wrong.

Well added another brick yesterday.

 Outside

(https://i.imgur.com/YsNscTy.jpg)

Inside

(https://i.imgur.com/XAS5W14.jpg)

This little guy has been hanging around.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ai9tIo2.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on March 05, 2018, 03:22:38 pm
Varroa started in the UK in the South and over the years it gradually moved North.

When near to me, I started screening the winter floor debris.
The first step was to remove the dead bees and larger lumps of debris.
Some of the fine debris was placed in a glass jar half filled with cooking oil and given a good stir.
After 30 mins standing, more oil was added to fill the jar.
The heavy debris falls to the bottom. Using a child's paint brush, likely looking bits are lifted from the oil surface and placed on a paper towel.
The bits are checked with a magnifier. Varroa is easily seen.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 06, 2018, 05:51:11 am



For next year, you can make some feeder boards to hold and feed larger amounts of sugar



Lee has a good suggestion here.  Feeder boards aka candy boards will provide more emergency food at one time.  They will also absorb some of the condensation the bees create.
This winter I experienced some similar experiences.  A strong colony also had a stream of water running out the bottom board when I checked it.  I provided more ventilation by adding a popsicle stick on the top edge of the inner cover.  I discovered mold on the underside of another telescoping lid.  The bees had tried to propolis the hole in the inner cover to the telescoping lid.  That created a lack of air flow.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 11, 2018, 03:08:39 am
Thank guys for the good info. I appreciate all the feedback.

Getting a little snow here.

(https://i.imgur.com/PHX2w25.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 11, 2018, 01:24:37 pm
A video of a walk up to my bee yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYnnOVwEg8Y
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on March 11, 2018, 05:38:38 pm
that's pretty cool jeff!  thanks for the video!

lol.........pink floyd?.......... :D
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 15, 2018, 12:27:09 am
Thanks R.B.

Did snow removal today. I am sure we will get more yet but this might help melt to the ground sooner.

I have two more packages flying in April 28 if the weather is good.

(https://i.imgur.com/Npj0QCr.jpg)

Still a good amount of bees in the last big hive, can hear a pretty good roar, some coming out in the warmer afternoon, but still no main cleansing flight since early November.

(https://i.imgur.com/Z28yotk.jpg)

I jar fed late in the season trying to get them to take as much syrup as I could, I wonder if this made a lot of bees instead.


 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Les on March 16, 2018, 12:06:55 am
If there is no pollen present, they can’t make bee bread to feed the brood and the queen is probably already nearing shut down if not already.  The problem with feeding syrup too late in the season is if they store it, they cannot dry it down because they are going into cluster, that means more moisture in the hives, which is not good.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on March 18, 2018, 10:44:06 pm
Jeff, I ran into THIS PAPER (https://pollinator.cals.cornell.edu/sites/pollinator.cals.cornell.edu/files/shared/documents/Wintering%20Bees%20in%20Cold%20Climates.compressed.pdf) focusing on winter beekeeping and analysing dead outs.  Hope you find it interesting and useful.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 25, 2018, 02:20:01 pm
Thanks Guys...I believe they still had pollen in the fall the whole lower box had pollen in it. Not sure how fast they burned through it.

Good read Lee. pretty much confirms my dead out as starvation for sure, they were piled on top the bars like in the picture after they ate through the sugar brick. Lesson learned !
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 25, 2018, 06:46:32 pm
Thanks Guys...I believe they still had pollen in the fall the whole lower box had pollen in it. Not sure how fast they burned through
Honey bees have a preference for fresh pollen over stored pollen.  Don't know why, but they do.  They also do better with a variety of pollen sources.  I guess a variety pollen sources ensures a better quality of protein.  Not all pollen sources are created equal and honey bees are not as picky about the pollen as they are the nectar sources.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 29, 2018, 11:40:28 pm
Thanks BD. We should have a lot of willow and alder coming in this coming month.

Well we had a warmish afternoon and some came out and flew ! got in cleansing flight for a few anyway.Its the first time seeing some spotting on the snow and hive. Five months since they flew last.

(https://i.imgur.com/kaNpakL.jpg)

As usual some didn't make it back back.

(https://i.imgur.com/Q5uOyt5.jpg)

Looking like the one hive alive yet anyway. I gave them more sugar bricks and they are good to go till spring I think.

Didn't open the nucs yet.

 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 01, 2018, 02:24:41 pm
Well I moved more snow and spread some ashes from my woodstove to help spring along a bit. worked great !
(https://i.imgur.com/Newq9yL.jpg)

It looks like it might warm up enough today for a cleansing flight (morning here in AK)....fingers crossed

Happy Easter All
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 01, 2018, 11:08:28 pm
Well they flew today first major cleansing flight of the winter ,and with the bare ground in front of the hive most made it back.

(https://i.imgur.com/7ZZUQBZ.jpg)

I cleaned out the nucs and ready for new packages later this month.

(https://i.imgur.com/t2rI72i.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ftqRIVY.jpg)

The big hives robbed the nucs late in the fall and I tried to get some 1-1 on them but like was told is too late , they didn't have a chance. rethink for next year.

(https://i.imgur.com/I5zikwL.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on April 02, 2018, 05:16:02 pm
I am overjoyed to see you have live bees Jeff!

Each year will teach you new things.  And, every year is like a box of  chocolates, you never know what to expect.  Well done!    :occasion14:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 04, 2018, 02:44:36 am
Thanks Lee, My apparent overwinter success was due to all the help I received  from you and others on this forum :eusa_clap:
Still plenty of chances to screw up yet. lol

28 f with a 20 mph North wind and they flew, so my black painted boxes paid off as well.

Two more packages flying in on the 28th ,fingers crossed the weather is good that day.

(https://i.imgur.com/7wJOzrM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WtKHo3T.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 05, 2018, 05:28:40 am
That's great news yukonjeff!  How many colonies does that mean you have at the present? Keep the pictures coming.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 05, 2018, 02:39:44 pm
Thanks BD, I have just the one left the other two nucs were robbed in the fall and didn't have resources to spare them, and they didn't make it.

My other big hive starved out when I didn't check the sugar brick for two weeks. Will stay on top of that next year.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 08, 2018, 10:42:01 pm
jeff,
i enjoy this thread and enjoy your posts, i may not always chime in, but i read and enjoy every post. i truly enjoy your photos! thank you!
congrats to you on keeping bees alive going into spring!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 09, 2018, 01:30:46 pm
Thanks RB. In return I get free beekeeping advice, good trade  ;)

I do have a question............


 How do I get my super back in the spring ? just shake the bees off ?
Is it ok to compress them into 2 deeps. I imagine that's all they were anyway and should have less bees now. But its still a pretty strong hive.
I am hoping to get a warm enough day to do a quick inspection and see whats going on in there and make sure I have a queen.

I also want to get a daughter or two from this queen this year, but want honey as well.

So what can I expect from this overwintered hive ?  queen cells this spring ? I want some honey as well. can I split and still get a honey crop ?

Thanks again for all the help.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 10, 2018, 11:47:20 am
jeff,
do you have a queen excluder?

yes, okay to compress to 2 deeps, you will have swarm cells, and a light divide of the hive might still yield a honey crop.

how to get the bees out of the super. this can be a little tricky and takes some timing; bees move up and bees move down. you don't want to shake bees from the frames if the bees are in the top deep and super and the queen is laying. she will eventually move down. what you can do is to use a queen excluder underneath the super. the less bees and brood, the better, and make sure your queen does not get trapped above the excluder in the super.
the bees will take care of the brood, and when all have hatched, the bees will clean, polish and ready these cells for honey storage.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 10, 2018, 12:02:59 pm
Thanks Riverbee good info.

Yes I do have a Q-excluder and will put it on when I do my first inspection the next warm day.

I appreciate the advice.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 10, 2018, 12:55:36 pm
jeff, not certain i would do this on the first inspection of the season, it just depends on where the bees are, how full the super is of brood, and if the colony is clustering or loose clustering, and/or covering brood. you don't want to mess up the nursery too much.  :P
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 10, 2018, 01:18:17 pm
Yes, your right, I will see what's going on first before messing with anything, and wont mess up the brood nest for sure.

I was considering just taking the bottom deep instead, thinking not much will be down there yet, except what pollen was left from last season.

Give them a patty then.
Thanks again
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 10, 2018, 05:04:13 pm
i would leave the bottom deep in place jeff. the bees will need this space to move down to. if your plan is to revert the super to honey storage, the bees will need the two deeps, unless you find you can get by with one deep and a super and want to keep that type of setup. also there may be some honey stores to the outside of the bottom deep as well.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 11, 2018, 12:11:17 am
Thanks again. Yes that makes sense. I will leave the bottom two in place and use the q-excluder on the top.

They are flying every day now, I think I can get in for a quick inspection and take the remaining sugar bricks off and remove the shim, I have been putting a jar of 2-1 on during the warm sunny afternoons and pulling it before evening.

Hive looks to be just about as strong as it was going into winter.( from the outside anyway.)

(https://i.imgur.com/8y1xkA3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SrFGzu2.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 11, 2018, 10:51:59 am
great photos jeff!
 2:1 or did you mean 1:1 for syrup?

also, i am curious about your temps right now, daytime, nighttime? thanks!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Les on April 11, 2018, 11:11:51 am
Me too....what are your temps?  Been too cold in NYS to add syrup.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 11, 2018, 01:43:21 pm
No I meant 2-1 RB I don't think adding that much water is a good idea. I dont think they will store it.

Les temps been teens-20s at night and high of about 32-38 F
 
There is a 3 " shim with sugar bricks and the screened feed jar hole above that and the warmed syrup is basically dripping on the sugar pile and they are lapping it up. They are not taking much, not even a pint in a few days.

I take the feed jar off in the late afternoon so they have time to warm back up before evening temps swing back down.
My black painted hives are nice and warm with our long spring days so its not as bad as it sounds.

I installed packages last year on the 15th of April, and they got a feed jar and did just fine.

I also noticed no more week bees falling into the snow after I started feeding.

Kind of funny to see that many bees foraging on the one small patch of bare ground.

(https://i.imgur.com/nSgZPjz.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on April 12, 2018, 06:40:58 am
I would not do to much for another month up there. wait for the dandelions to be almost finished. On an inspection if their were no bees in the bottom super I would kick it out and then place it back on the hive as the queen needs the space for brood around dandelion time.
Want a honey crop, Swarm control, and a nuc or 2? Read up on using Demaree Method of swarm control using a Snelgrove board. Make queens while keeping most the bees in the parent hive.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on April 12, 2018, 10:39:11 am
It is easy for us who live around feral bees to forget there are NO FERAL BEES within 1,000+ miles of you.  Jeff, my advice would be to order in another queen.  Wait until the warmest time of your summer to ship her.  You have only drones from your remaining queen to mate with a virgin queen.  But you already know my thoughts on this issue.  :)

You can split your hive when they are making queen cells with an artificial split of some kind, then reunite them when the queen cells are about to hatch.  Kill the virgins, (just before they hatch would be best), because the only drones around are her brothers.  If the bees get over the swarm impulse, then they will make honey for you.  You can still split when that queen comes in.   

Just stay ahead of their needs in terms of space.  If you checkerboard above the brood nest, you may get lucky and get them past the swarm impulse by providing more than adequate room over the summer.   Now that you have drawn comb in abundance, you can alternate honey frames and empty comb above the brood nest.  Don't mess with the brood nest.  There is a good chance you can keep them from swarming this way and be ready for that new queen when she arrives.  Then, make your split and feed the split like crazy.  HTH & JMO  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 13, 2018, 01:07:17 pm
I would not do to much for another month up there. wait for the dandelions to be almost finished. On an inspection if their were no bees in the bottom super I would kick it out and then place it back on the hive as the queen needs the space for brood around dandelion time.
Want a honey crop, Swarm control, and a nuc or 2? Read up on using Demaree Method of swarm control using a Snelgrove board. Make queens while keeping most the bees in the parent hive.
Thanks. We get some real warm afternoons are days are getting long again so the solar gain is paying off on the black hives, makes a lot of difference IMO. I might take a quick look any day now and if I find an empty deep like you said, I will take it back.

We have the tundra bloom long before the dandelions. We will have berry blooms, first the cranberry, then blue berry, then crow berry and then salmon berry and wild mountain raspberry about the time the dandelions bloom.
Also I saw them coming in loaded last year when the cat willows bloomed so thinking they will bring in nectar from them too ? we have a lot of willow here.

All these are before the main fireweed flow in July.

As a matter of fact I did get two snellgrove boards, I need to figure out how to use them.
Thanks again.
 
 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 13, 2018, 01:18:59 pm
It is easy for us who live around feral bees to forget there are NO FERAL BEES within 1,000+ miles of you.  Jeff, my advice would be to order in another queen.  Wait until the warmest time of your summer to ship her.  You have only drones from your remaining queen to mate with a virgin queen.  But you already know my thoughts on this issue.  :)

You can split your hive when they are making queen cells with an artificial split of some kind, then reunite them when the queen cells are about to hatch.  Kill the virgins, (just before they hatch would be best), because the only drones around are her brothers.  If the bees get over the swarm impulse, then they will make honey for you.  You can still split when that queen comes in.   

Just stay ahead of their needs in terms of space.  If you checkerboard above the brood nest, you may get lucky and get them past the swarm impulse by providing more than adequate room over the summer.   Now that you have drawn comb in abundance, you can alternate honey frames and empty comb above the brood nest.  Don't mess with the brood nest.  There is a good chance you can keep them from swarming this way and be ready for that new queen when she arrives.  Then, make your split and feed the split like crazy.  HTH & JMO  :)

Thanks Lee. You know I talked with several bee keeps about inbreeding with one hive and I get mixed answers, some say it wont be a problem since the queen mates with so many drones. I think it would take a bunch of generations to see signs of inbreeding, but I am not a genealogist.lol

I do want to make a queen just because that's a part of beekeeping I want to experience, and I also want a daughter of this queen. I did order three queen in so far and they all made it fine.

I do have two more packages coming on the 28 so there will be plenty of drones in them so I should be good.

Last year I inserted undrawn frames into the sides of the brood nest and that kept her from swarming, I hope that works this year again.

Thanks for all the input and good advice guys.
 Much appreciated.

(https://i.imgur.com/qU1S6dz.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on April 13, 2018, 03:00:34 pm
Quote from: yukonJeff
I do have two more packages coming on the 28 so there will be plenty of drones in them so I should be good.
Well, that changes everything Jeff.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on April 13, 2018, 09:05:04 pm
As long as he waits till the packages and queens to have mature drones. July queens and he should have the diverse gene pool in the area.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on April 13, 2018, 09:25:29 pm
As long as he waits till the packages and queens to have mature drones. July queens and he should have the diverse gene pool in the area.
:yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 14, 2018, 12:39:17 am
Thanks again guys.I do hope to get a daughter from this queen she has been awesome.

Well we had a nice warm 40 degree afternoon,and my spot on the hill was baking in the sun and must of been 60 or better.
So I cracked open the hive to make sure I had a queen.

I also wanted to take the shim and sugar bricks off.

(https://i.imgur.com/ZJvFlTq.jpg)

Three frames into the super and I had capped and open brood, the( next frame had the queen, was very relieved to see she made it.)

(https://i.imgur.com/nEzvTxC.jpg)

So I stopped and put the super back together, and lifted it off to inspect the bottom two deeps, and low and behold they were plugged with dead bees !

So I ran and got a deep of clean empty comb and put it on top while I cleaned the two deeps, and added a clean bottom board.

(https://i.imgur.com/Ebrm5gc.jpg)

I cleaned about 4 lbs of dead bees out swept them off the comb with my trusty goose wing.
when I got to the second deep it had 7 frames of honey !

(https://i.imgur.com/DNQsTiu.jpg)

So I put three frames on the top deep of empty comb above the brood nest, and added another pollen patty, and stole three frames to try practice my extracting  :)

All in all had a good day bee keeping, cleaning frames and robbing honey. I did get a super back. Things look pretty good for now.

(https://i.imgur.com/PoPNm6O.jpg)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 18, 2018, 02:36:24 pm
(https://i.imgur.com/B4iMf1p.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/WOdNNgA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/yBOEGaC.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on April 18, 2018, 08:14:48 pm
that's pretty sweet!

how did the practice go at extracting?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 20, 2018, 01:00:45 am
This was my third attempt at extracting. The first time the honey was too cold and I forked out chunks of comb trying to de-cap it and then it would not spin out of course.

I heated it in a very warm room and it ran right out.

So this time I put the box by the stove and warmed the frames good and then it un-capped and spun out just fine. I feel like I can do a few supers now :)

Snow is melting, We should have willow pollen coming in any day.

(https://i.imgur.com/VAoohG7.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 21, 2018, 08:51:18 am
First fresh pollen of the year is exciting.
Remember, you won't have any problems selling that fireweed honey.  We are all down here drooling and hoping you have extra to sell.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on April 21, 2018, 11:55:38 am
As long as he has southern tourists driving through the area. Every one up there has fireweed honey. I do know of some guys down here that would buy it wholesale at a descent price. or sell to gift stores in tourist areas. The 3rd option is web sales and marketing it himself. although the shipping costs may scare some customers away.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 21, 2018, 02:58:10 pm
The few beekeepers here in Alaska all sell out in a short time. I bought a couple jars of fireweed honey from the Anchorage area and I believe it was $30 a pint shipped through the mail. Good stuff for sure.

I am way out in the boonies in a small native fishing village. No road or tourist into here.

I am hoping to wholesale to a shop or restaurants in Anchorage, if I ever have the problem of too much. I could use a 5 gl bucket myself.

This will be my first time having a booming hive in the spring and now I am hoping they can bring in some different kinds of honey from the early spring flow, ie. cranberry ,blueberry, salmonberry and blackberry, mountain strawberry. Our main fireweed flow is in July.

We will see this next month ,here as the snow recedes, the tundra starts blooming, if they can make any extra for me to rob.

Thanks again guys.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on April 21, 2018, 03:27:43 pm
The black berry will be the most productive. The Blue berry, huckleberry, cranberry and salmon-berry will depend on the year and the strawberry will not produce much. You should have wild raspberry that are good nectar and pollen flows also. And dandelion do you have any crab apple trees up there?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 22, 2018, 02:44:24 pm
I am sorry I was using the local name of black berry, otherwise know as a crow berry. Its black round berry that grows on the tundra. not the blackberry that looks like a raspberry.

The tundra will be covered in little blueberry and cranberry flowers , I am not sure if they do have enough nectar to produce much, if you watched my video the bee was going from flower to flower on the tundra that was the cranberry flowers. she is moving pretty fast,so maybe not getting much.

We do have a good bloom most years of all of the above.

We dont have many trees, only along the river we have cottonwood and willow and alder bush, thats about it. No fruit trees here at all.

 That brings me to my next question. Can they bring in nectar from cottonwood ? they seam to excrete some sticky sap on the buds in the spring? Alder too?

My bees were coming in loaded last spring before anything was blooming. I am trying to figure what it was. I am thinking it was willow nectar ? or cottonwood ? is there such a thing ?

We have a lot of both, so I am wondering if they will make honey with it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 27, 2018, 04:10:27 am
Well we are having a long cold spring here in western Alaska. We have pollen coming in finally but cool temps and snow showers today.
My  second year queen was a bit slow at ramping up but now has a few frames of capped brood and a frame of open brood so happy with that.

 (https://i.imgur.com/vpSawO3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zlghDN6.jpg)

I decided to push them down to one deep and see how that goes.
Been watching that Canadian bee keeper blog on youtube  Ian has it down pretty good, I would recommend watching him if you want to learn some cool beekeeping skills. Watching him pull three deeps of honey off single deep of bees has sold me.

(https://i.imgur.com/iduuwWp.jpg)

I had a problem this spring with my two packages of bees order. The airlines would not fly them in this year unless In a closed box. My bee supplier would not enclose them, so I didn't get my bees.

Hope to make a split when  I get more frames of brood





Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on May 27, 2018, 02:19:03 pm
Are or Can you get queens shipped through the post office?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on May 27, 2018, 02:27:30 pm
years ago there was issues with package air shipping from New Zealand. so they switched to using 4 ft long, 4" dynamiter tubes.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Perry on May 27, 2018, 06:31:33 pm

(https://thumb.ibb.co/i0C3Cd/img_tubes_2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/i0C3Cd)


Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 28, 2018, 02:45:46 pm
Thanks guys.
I can still get queens shipped in through the post office so hope to do that gain this year, when/if, I have enough to split.

Its tough to get a bee supplier that will even ship to me, more less buy special shipping supplies. so I think I am going to have to fly into town and bring bees back and that wont be cheap.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on May 28, 2018, 10:14:58 pm
The postal service is not allowed to ship bees by air except Queens that can only have 8 attendances. I Knew that they could not refuse them but with only being able to use ground transport. it limits your options.
https://pe.usps.com/text/pub52/pub52c5_008.htm
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 29, 2018, 12:43:41 pm
 Thanks,Yes the Post office will ship them ground, but all our mail flys in, so SOL with them too.

I will get a queen ordered soon.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on May 29, 2018, 11:18:52 pm
"Its tough to get a bee supplier that will even ship to me, more less buy special shipping supplies. so I think I am going to have to fly into town and bring bees back and that wont be cheap.
Thanks,Yes the Post office will ship them ground, but all our mail flys in, so SOL with them too."


jeff, i really commend you on keeping bees. our challenges in the lower 40 are nowhere near what you are challenged with....
just sayin'......
flying into town to bring bees back?  my stars, would be enough for someone to give up keeping bees!
i have traveled 3 1/2 - 4 hours one way to pick up nucs.......but mister's truck and my jeep don't fly...... :D
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 10, 2018, 03:17:23 am
Thanks Riverbee, I cant give up bee keeping ,I have too much invested in equipment.  lol

Well we have a flow on now so I added a drawn deep last week and they have a few frames filled with nectar alreadyplus they are backfilling the brood nest.

We have blue berry,

(https://i.imgur.com/fVtTwMZ.jpg)

 Mountain raspberry,

(https://i.imgur.com/1W5OR2x.jpg)

and cranberry blooming now, also dandelions.

Second year queen

(https://i.imgur.com/Fl3oHag.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ympYtV8.jpg)




Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on June 10, 2018, 06:45:50 am
What a view!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 10, 2018, 09:22:59 am
Jeff,

When I was in the Anchorage area in the 80's, there was a small business selling equipment (and possible package bees as well).  I suppose you have already checked it out, but perhaps one of the beekeepers in the Anchorage area could find a way to get you a queen.  HERE (http://alaskabeeclub.com/?page_id=106) is a link that showed up on a google search for Alaska beekeepers.  Perhaps a post to the Alaska Beekeepers FB page would get you results, Click here for that (https://www.facebook.com/events/162283277785973/).  Good luck Jeff!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 10, 2018, 01:48:28 pm
Thanks  B.D. yes it is.

Lee, Thanks

I forgot to mention that I do have a queen coming around the end of this month, from the east coast, same guy again as last year.

 I have thoroughly checked out all the bee sources in AK and that's all their is.

I don't do face book so am locked out of anything beekeeping in the state, pretty much.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on June 10, 2018, 03:46:06 pm
Okay Jeff, seems like we had this conversation last year too.  ;)

I'm hoping you have a great year this year and get your bes into winter with oodles of excess honey.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 01, 2018, 01:31:47 pm
Thanks Lee. But they turned all their spring honey into bees .  lol

Well I got my mated mail order queen shipped in from New York from Chautauqua Apiary, Barry is three, for three getting me live queens shipped to Alaska, and all were lively good laying queens.

 I used four frames of capped brood and made a Nuc. Its doing great after two weeks I added a second deep.

(https://i.imgur.com/VVywWFl.jpg)

The overwintered hive is doing great, laying like a champ.

 (https://i.imgur.com/psGlszL.jpg)

They are working the Cow Parsnips we have a lot blooming now.

(https://i.imgur.com/78imDjz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/peGBRKL.jpg)

Also have the Blue Iris blooming all over the hills, they get  white pollen from them.

(https://i.imgur.com/u64JGgo.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/J5Thp5V.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/w6qNPfg.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IrCloQe.jpg)

We are now about a week away from our Fireweed flow, they will bring home the honey then I hope.

(https://i.imgur.com/y74905v.jpg)

Well hope all your bees are doing great.

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on July 02, 2018, 11:51:56 am
Thanks for the update Jeff, I was wondering what you were doing.  Always impressed with your grasp on what is blooming and and what is blooming soon.  Are you feeding your NUC?  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 02, 2018, 01:52:47 pm
Thanks Lee. Since I have no local beekeepers here, I have to figure the foliage out by watching what they are working and when,and I don't have a real job, so have the luxury and time to being able to follow bees around all day.  lol

Yes I have been feeding the Nuc. They got all drawn comb so don't have much to do now but collect nectar and pollen.I found that giving them four frames sure speeds up the Nuc process, and looks like they will be a full size hive by fall.

Also I am wondering about my second year queen, how long can they lay and be productive ? I want to make a new queen as soon as I can . I am waiting for the Nuc to put out some drones so the hive wont interbreed, still not a lot of drones yet, just started seeing some in fact.

This queen has been awesome, she lays full frames, and use very little stores,I stole four frames of brood last year, they had seven extra frames of honey this spring after a long Alaskan winter. and survived a new beekeepers bad judgment calls.
I would say she is a keeper and want a daughter of her whenever they can make one.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 02, 2018, 02:23:52 pm
I just discovered this little Gem on another thread. Thanks Apisbees, I have to try this.

quote author=apisbees link=topic=7888.msg96547#msg96547 date=1529122310]
Put a frame of brood in a super above a queen excluder with an top entrance to the rear and the bees will draw out a queen She will mate and be back in the hive laying up top then combine and the young queen generally takes over the hive.
[/quote]

Will they swarm ?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on July 03, 2018, 12:41:24 am
"Also I am wondering about my second year queen, how long can they lay and be productive ?"

jeff, it depends on many variables.....for me......... as long as they are productive with no problems i keep them and do not requeen as recommended. 

in the past, i have had queens that layed well for 4 years and hives very productive.  i do not requeen unless i see a problem or a failing queen.
you will know when you have a queen problem.

ps. keith is a wealth of information!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 03, 2018, 01:40:48 am
Thanks Riverbee, four years, Its is good to know they can lay that long.

I am not planning on re-queening this year, I just want to save her genetics in another hive in case she don't make it through winter, or I kill her somehow.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on July 03, 2018, 04:28:43 am
I am not planning on re-queening this year, I just want to save her genetics in another hive in case she don't make it through winter, or I kill her somehow.
Your plans seem to be solid!  Expecting two years of good laying is very reasonable.  The third year can start to be "iffy" and being ready with another, younger  queen to replace her in case she starts to fail is wise.  Though 4 years can be attained, like Riverbee says, it can also be risky and without reserve queens for replacement at the first indication of failure, can leave you in trouble.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on July 04, 2018, 12:28:55 am
jeff, what efmesch said is well stated.  ef is a very experienced beek and is also a great wealth of information and knowledge.   

like you i also like to capitalize on the genetics of an existing queen. you are not exactly able to get queens when you need them.

4 years is not real common. those queens for me were born and bred in wisconsin........ :D



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 22, 2018, 01:21:28 pm
Thanks RB
My next goal is to make a queen or two someday.


Well the Fireweed flow is on here. mostly wet weather so far, but fingers crossed they make enough honey to last the winter, and a little extra for me would be nice.

 (https://i.imgur.com/Ofcf2mK.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/n2igDc5.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Xx67UM8.jpg)

The Fireweed has blue pollen.

(https://i.imgur.com/yde7g8h.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on September 09, 2018, 05:12:24 pm
Jeff any updates?
Jim
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 10, 2018, 01:22:58 am
Sorry been busy commercial fishing all summer and just finishing up.

Well my Nuc is strong and in three deeps, so I am back to two full hives going into winter, no honey this year we had wet weather during the flow and they hardly were able to put away more than they needed for brood. so I broke even anyway.

I treated with MAQs in June and will do a OAV here later next month I think.

Few pics from the summer.its fall here now.

(https://i.imgur.com/btUDklj.jpg)

Local bees on Hemlock. The amount of Bumbles here is amazing. Many colors too, black,red,white,yellow.

(https://i.imgur.com/BUFyfBG.jpg)

Fall pollen source, these are a local medicine plant. I don't know the English name.

(https://i.imgur.com/kmMBtQF.jpg)

Not sure what these are but they put out a little nectar.

 (https://i.imgur.com/tmoijN1.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/jDIdv2H.jpg)

I am open feeding now. the other beekeepers don't mind  ;)

(https://i.imgur.com/DT5uGM4.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/UYIDFzH.jpg)

Will do another last inspection soon and see if I need to feed more, and get them wrapped for winter next month.

Hope you all had a great beekeeping summer.




 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on September 10, 2018, 08:27:57 am
Thanks Jeff, you have a knack for pictures and stories, was missing your updates.
I was in 1 of my hives yesterday and found the marked queen so was very happy.
Started the 2 to 1 feeding to get them ready for winter.
The golden rod here is almost finished, we had are first major frost.
Jim
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 10, 2018, 01:43:26 pm
Thanks,
I am trying to pack these two with all they will take for the long winter while its still warm. We just had our first frost two days ago too.
And I am putting pollen patties on them since they have none coming in now, not much brood either,they both pretty much slowed down laying .

I am hoping they both make it through winter, or I will have to fly in and pick up bees next spring, expensive bees then.

Good luck with yours
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 21, 2018, 01:47:19 am
Well I robbed two frames I had my eye on all summer, since it looks like they will have enough to overwinter now.

(https://i.imgur.com/dAOOxoF.jpg)

The queen laid right up through them though, all hatched out now.

(https://i.imgur.com/psBh56e.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eZ3Ulv1.jpg)

Pretty much Looks, and taste the same as last years.

(https://i.imgur.com/L2yzmEF.jpg)

I put the wet frames back on the same afternoon and fed.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 21, 2018, 05:26:38 am
That's beautiful honey.  Great color.  Thanks for posting pictures.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on September 21, 2018, 09:49:44 am
Nice looking bounty you have there!  Are you more confident than last year going into winter?  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 22, 2018, 03:20:16 am
Thanks BD it has a very unique aroma and flavor, I get a lot of positive comments from those that tried it.

Lee
I feel confident going into winter now, but of course any one of 100 different problems can crop up. I feel my overwinter set up will work again just fine, I totally believe I would of had both big hives make it, had I been watching of the sugar brick consumption  closer.

I think I could use a medium,or shallow for a shim and fill the space with bricks and never worry about it all winter. These two hives are in better shape than last year, as far as stores.

As always I learned a few things this year. One was to make my splits big enough so I don't have to dink around with struggling small Nucs and can go right into winter having a full size hive in there deeps.

The bottom deep is pretty much empty and not really needed in most places, I think its advantage for keeping the hive off the ground in winter, I don't think it matters if there is drawn frames or undrawn in it.

I will pull it off in the spring again when not needed anymore.

I am considering trying the single deep for the honey flow ,so I can hopefully rob more someday when we have a good summer, and good spring flow.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on September 22, 2018, 10:32:26 am
Good news on your bee status Jeff.  Have you checked for mites?

If you would allow me, let me build on your thought of using a medium super for feeding over winter.   If you place the empty medium on top of the honey super, then place a newspaper on top of the frames, you can pour granulated sugar directly on the paper.  If you design it right, it could be Job done for the winter. It is possible to add sugar during winter using this technique as well.   HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw4pEnUoX88) is a video showing one way to do it. Your design can vary according to your mood.  Your results may vary.   HTH   :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 22, 2018, 11:34:54 pm
Lee , I have been treating blindly, I need to do a sugar roll yet. I treated with MAQs in late June,and the plan was to do another treatment, but getting cool out,see if it warms up again and might do one more.

Also considering to hit them with the oxy sometime, but hate to get it in my supers. They are now pretty much broodless now.

I think I got the sugar brick feeding down and I feel its a step up from mountain camp feeding. I can add bricks easy enough, and take the extra out in the spring without a mess, no sugar sifting down through the frames, and no newspaper pieces all over.

I find broken sugar brick pieces piled up is better than a big brick,as they can work up through the cracks, rather than just from the edges.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on September 24, 2018, 11:32:37 am
Jeff, I haven't done many mite counts lately either.  But, I do use oxalic acid vaporization.  there is a new device out called the EASY VAP, developed in somebody's garage.  It looks promising, see it HERE (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ets5cCtFsb4&feature=youtu.be).
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on September 24, 2018, 11:45:02 pm
jeff,

thank you for your great pix! the honey looks awesome! if i were closer, i would most definitely trade you for a jar!

also, sugar bricks really are the best for winter feed rather than mountain camp style, just my HO.... the bricks just need a shim......(sorry lee!) you don't need another super, just the shim for the bricks, pies, squares or whatever shape you form them in so they fit under the inner cover over the frames. it really does work well for me. not saying mountain camp won't, but i do like the sugar bricks much better. it's whatever works for you. any feed we can provide the bees with for overwintering is always a good thing irregardless of the method used.

looks like you are doing well in alaska, and thanks again for your pictures and posts, i really enjoy reading your posts.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on September 25, 2018, 04:10:25 pm
I enjoy the pictures too Jeff.  :)

Jeff, I keep recommending a sugar board or mountain camp method of feeding for your winter because I still have a clear memory of your pictures with the excess moisture in the top of your hives last winter.  And the hives going through their smallish sugar bricks before you knew it.  Either of the methods mentioned above will give your bees a much larger food reserve.  A reserve that won't be gone before you know it.  ;)

More than a food reserve, granular sugar or sugar boards above the colony in winter can absorb and release excess moisture as the winter drags on.  I don't know another beekeeper with winters as long as ours Jeff, so all our local knowledge from living south of you does not apply there.  I remember the Alaska sun peaking over the horizon in the East and floating along the horizon to the West at sundown.  I remember driving with a sun visor at high noon, (a noon that still sees the sun near the horizon).

You were successful with two hives over last winter, here is hoping you double the number next spring!   I'm rooting for you!  :yes:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 21, 2018, 02:37:55 pm
Thanks for the input guys, I appreciate the feedback.

Well we are having a warm, very wet  fall here this year. I just made up my quilt boxes and put in the shim. I will winter the same configuration as last year. IMO it works great. In fact I would recommend it to any beekeeper reading this that winters in a cold climate.

The set up is three deeps. (top one is honey) with a innercover with a 3" screened feed hole to vent moisture up into the grass filled quilt box above, A three inch shim, then the quilt box, a lid with a 1" foam board in it.
Also a small top entrance.

(https://i.imgur.com/HcGcqFN.jpg)

Its important to open it up after the fall rains and honey drying, to swap out the inner cover, and lid to a dry one. The lid will be soaked this time of year from moisture, and the inner cover can be moldy and damp. We get a lot of fall rain here. 

(https://i.imgur.com/Bi6T78J.jpg)

Its a good idea during the winter to open the quilt box and dry out the grass once in awhile on any sunny days, or swap out the grass. And dry the lid.The moisture goes up through the 3'' feed hole in the inner cover, into the quilt box and condenses on the lid. The grass stays dry, pretty much. Just a little dripping on top, it it cant get past the inner cover so the hive stays nice and dry.

I have a bunch of sugar bricks from last year so will use them up, I wont use a single brick, but a jumbled pile of broken pieces Works better IMO. and will soak up some moisture as well.

I will wrap again , and mouse guards of course.
last year after my hive starved out, when cleaning the dead out just a few days after it died, I noticed the inside walls were smooth shiny ice. not frosted like it should of been, so I assume they were using it for a water source, so must be important to have some moisture in the hive. In the right places of course.

I also watched on a warm spell, water literally running out of the entrance from the walls thawing out.( I don't turn my entrance reducers up like some suggest.) And wont after seeing that.

I am in much better shape than last year. I finally figured out open feeding and that helped put on the weight fast. I have been trying to jar feed them up to weight in the past, they just wont take enough like that.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on October 22, 2018, 05:15:53 am
Thanks for the detailed description and pictures.  I think you are getting the details worked out.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on October 23, 2018, 05:43:49 pm
credit to you jeff, and thanks for sharing your beekeeping adventures with the great pictures! i appreciate it!

"I just made up my quilt boxes and put in the shim. I will winter the same configuration as last year. IMO it works great. In fact I would recommend it to any beekeeper reading this that winters in a cold climate.

The set up is three deeps. (top one is honey) with a innercover with a 3" screened feed hole to vent moisture up into the grass filled quilt box above, A three inch shim, then the quilt box, a lid with a 1" foam board in it.
Also a small top entrance."


i am in a cold climate as well. i have tried the 3 deep configuration in the past. this is a university of minnesota thing here that dr. spivak and gary reuter teach on. there can be a great deal of intensive management on this, especially come spring. if it works for you, that's great.  lots of pros and cons to this method (as with any method). again, it is whatever works for us in our environments and climates.

my setup is double deeps, a two inch shim in place with sugar bricks, inner cover, inner cover hole screened, a comb honey sized box on top of that with 2" of pink insulation, (inner cover screened so the bees don't get up there and chew the insulation cuz they do......... :D) then the outer cover.  top deep is normally heavy with honey. i do use an upper entrance in the inner cover, and also i do use reducers with hardware cloth over them to keep the mice out or from chewing the reducers, cuz they will........ :D

i have used straw in the past on top, it was a pain to exchange out when needed so went to using the foam. works good for me.

also i jam as many sugar bricks in there that will fit, just insurance even when the top deep is filled with honey stores.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 28, 2018, 02:54:17 am
Thanks again, and I appreciate you all sharing your ideas and methods. Helps us all make better decisions with our setup.

We have had a warm fall, its just freezing at night now and sunny warm 40ish afternoons and drying out a little. My bees were flying today.
So I took advantage of the last of the nice days and added my sugar bricks and wrapped and did a OA treatment.

(https://i.imgur.com/5lQIQ5f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Mqfk3DT.jpg)

These are the wraps I use, cant remember the name of them but they worked good and still in new shape.

(https://i.imgur.com/71ieTok.jpg)

I think its important to leave it partially unwrapped as well. let it breath and get some solar gain on cold days.

 (https://i.imgur.com/ZbUMtj1.jpg)

I have not seen one of my queens for a couple months now. Her mark was wearing off and she did this too me last year, but was there in the spring. So fingers crossed, and hope I have at least one live hive in the spring.

Good luck with your bees

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on October 28, 2018, 11:01:26 am
Have you seen that bear lately Jeff?  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 28, 2018, 02:15:58 pm
No Lee, I put a little lead under his feet once and he never came back. I have three dogs below the hives that put up a racket whenever anything comes around. So my place is spared most of the bear drama, thanks to them.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on October 28, 2018, 02:40:35 pm
Good news.  I'd hate to think of living that close to grizzly bears.  We had a cow moose and her young one around the stream in our back yard in Eagle River.  We were eye to eye as we peered off our 1.5 story patio out back. You can live too close to nature.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on October 29, 2018, 11:44:35 am
"These are the wraps I use, cant remember the name of them but they worked good and still in new shape."


'colony quilt' jeff, these are the same ones i use. if you are careful above removing the staples in the spring, (if you staple them on) they last a long time and can be reused year after year. i will sometimes have to wash them down a little (cleansing flights), wipes off easily.

"You can live too close to nature.  :)"

my hunter sent me a cam pic of a cougar wandering around and  a  young black bear strolling around, about 50 yards from the hives. now we know who's been 'crashing' the garden all season. can't get to the bees, but the fencing i have had to straighten a time or two.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 30, 2018, 01:09:47 am
I live on the edge of the village out of town, so get a lot of wandering critters go by ,but a few very noisy dogs seams to discourage them. People here shoot them when ever they come near town , so the bad ones are genetically eliminated so we only have good ones left. ;)

Well got my hives wraps and loaded with sugar just in time.

(https://i.imgur.com/BwPOKVA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ncqv99P.jpg)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: riverbee on October 30, 2018, 10:36:25 am
all i can say is brrrrrr............. :D

that stuff is coming too soon here. great photos.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on October 30, 2018, 11:50:48 am
Jeff, I can't wait for the next installment of your Tundra Beekeeping Experiment.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 16, 2018, 02:36:17 am
Well I hope you all are doing good. I just got back from a few weeks in the Philippines and had awesome time. Spent a night Anchorage right after the quake and felt a 5.0 aftershock. That's always un-nerving  :sad: Things were pretty much normal there Anchorage has strick building codes and it paid off. Not much damage and no lives lost.

We are having a real Alaska winter this year. snow and now cold temps,  -12 now.
Had to walk up and check my hives today, not easy. lol

(https://i.imgur.com/LhTcMbD.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PbzOOgz.jpg)

I cleaned the frost/ ice out of the top entrance.

(https://i.imgur.com/3Z3Sn9e.jpg)

Kamikazes.

(https://i.imgur.com/hSxFgu7.jpg)


Put my ear to the hives and have loud buzzing in both. So that's good.
Debating when to crack the top and add more sugar. Don't want to be late like last year.

Hope your bees are alive, and Happy Holidays.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on December 16, 2018, 08:40:00 am
Great pictures, Jeff!  Thanks for posting and good luck.  You are definitely going to have a white Christmas.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on December 20, 2018, 03:48:09 am
Good to hear you are all OK. Did you get to look at any of the Asian honey bees while you were in the Philippines?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 26, 2018, 02:00:25 am
Thanks.

I did get to see some local Asian bees and also sampled quite a bit of honey taken from the jungle. At almost every market there would be someone with a five gallon bucket, half full of honey with some comb floating around. Some with brood in it, also usually a few dead bees and ants as well.
They sell it in reused whisky pint bottles. I bought one bottle of local honey at the store without tasting it and it was terrible tasting, I mixed it with my tea and it was not bad then.

The others I sampled at the markets were great tasting, must of been a better flower bloom than the one I bought. I asked the guys how they got it, they described under a branch of the tree. I hope to go on a trip someday to see it when I go back :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on December 26, 2018, 02:18:16 pm
snip...They sell it in reused whisky pint bottles. I bought one bottle of local honey at the store without tasting it and it was terrible tasting,...
Jeff, it is quite surprising how the taste of honey varies so much from place to place.  I have a neighbor who travels the world and brings honey back for us.  Some honeys I wouldn't eat twice, others are pretty good.  We have grown to appreciate the dark honey with many flavorful notes we produce here.

Glad your hives are still alive.  Honey reserves are used more quickly as the brood nest expands in spring.  I think of your mite situation quite a bit.  If only you could kill every mite in your hives...Then, you wouldn't have a mite problem from then on.  Just a pipe dream I know.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on December 26, 2018, 03:21:54 pm
Lee brings up a good point. Newfoundland - Labrador on the east cost of Canada is the only place that is still mite free. But with talking with a beekeeper from their there are some that want the ban on importing bees lifted. Some have the idea that other bees may be better. Not understanding all the other crap they will be bringing in with them.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on December 26, 2018, 03:53:17 pm
Lee's suggestion needn't be just a pipe dream.  At this time of the year I would assume that your hives don't have any sealed brood.  If that is true, it would be the ideal situation for making a real effort to get your hives %100 mite free  That possibility might be reachable by giving a variety of treatments using two or more methods of control-  ("Slugging with the left and following with the right"). You could use Oxalic acid vapor which by itself is a real whopper against mites and then use another of the standard treatments.  If you could succeed at this, you would not only do yourself a great favor but you would also be very encouraging to beekeepers like yourself, who are isolated from re-infestation
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 26, 2018, 05:21:09 pm
Thanks guys for the responses.
As far as mites. I have been treating without testing. Truth be told, I have just done my first sugar roll this past fall :-[

I rolled both hives in the same sugar. Not sure if that effected it. but I think...(I might have saw) one dead mite.

Every summer I have been treating with MAQs in early July right before the flow and this past summer I did a MAQ treatment, and a follow up a week later with the wand.
Also hit them again in late October, right before I buttoned them up for the winter. I will check in the spring (if they survive) and see what the count is for sure. Would be cool to be treatment free someday.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on December 27, 2018, 06:30:29 pm
Jeff, I would hate to be a mite in one of your hives!   That, is a very good mite regimine the way I see it.  I treat with only occasional monitoring too.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 01, 2019, 07:31:00 pm
Thanks.
It would be nice to clean them up completely,if I could.

Well It warmed up to +26 F so I decided to check and add sugar bricks.

(https://i.imgur.com/ssWf5i6.jpg)

I did use smoke, and a veil.a few did come out at me.

The first one still had a good amount of sugar, and honey, from what I could see. But I pushed it all forward and added more bricks.

(https://i.imgur.com/HZACUR7.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/gZxAJSO.jpg)

The Nuc I made in June.
Sorry for the bad picture, I didn't take two. They were clustering up to the screened feed hole for some reason. I added more bricks for them too.
I notice some poop on the sugar bricks and realize they had about half a pollen patty from the fall I left in.  Hope it don't get worse. I see droppings on the upper entrance so some are coming out to use the bathroom.

 (https://i.imgur.com/ZowiNsB.jpg)

Now if they can just hang on another three and a half months that would be great. We don't get any cleansing flights at all until mid to late April.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 30, 2019, 02:03:44 am
While the lower 48 is gripped with severe cold temps, We had 40 degree temps here in western Alaska :laugh:

So it was time to check hives and add a sugar brick, its been almost a month.

Hive  #1  Looks good. This queen will be going on her third season of she survives winter. I need to re-queen this year for sure. She ,makes good gentle bees, easy on stores. I want one of her daughters if I can get one made.

(https://i.imgur.com/EULXQZP.jpg)

The Nuc from this summer is having some issues , I see some spotting on some of the sugar bricks, I had left on a pollen patty this fall and that could be the culprit. Hope they pull through. They look ok.

(https://i.imgur.com/n7ec1ME.jpg)

I sat and watched bees coming out and getting vertigo and crashing upside down in the snow. So I spread ashes again and watched to see if it helped, And Yup ,sure did, they were able to circle like it was summer time, but then gain altitude and go off looking for flowers....and then die.  :-X

(https://i.imgur.com/wD3Gk5o.jpg)

So it looks to me, that these are in fact bees flying off to die away from the hive. Sure is disheartening to watch your precious few bees fly off to their certain death, but that's life's cycle.

I hope enough are left to keep the hive alive until mid- late April

(https://i.imgur.com/uUgsNev.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on January 30, 2019, 02:23:07 am
We're all rooting for you and your bees!!!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 24, 2019, 11:08:34 pm
Thanks efmesch, seams to be working so far.

It was a nice day here, up in the mid 30s f and my bees got in a cleansing flight. A lot of kamikaze's too. I hope there is enough left for a decent sized cluster.

(https://i.imgur.com/KY2fOCT.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/s8uJDFG.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Yelp3ta.jpg)

I am trying  to figure out when I can start feeding pollen patty here. Like to replace some bees when its a good time.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Barbarian on February 25, 2019, 03:50:39 pm
With kamikaze bees, I take the view that there will be less bees in the hive, and so the stores will last longer.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 17, 2019, 01:53:35 pm
Thanks Barbarian. I try to think the same, It makes me feel a little better.

Hive #1

(https://i.imgur.com/5c1VNgw.jpg)

Hive #2

(https://i.imgur.com/GhhG7Yf.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/I2Zyt3G.jpg)

Come on Spring.

(https://i.imgur.com/2ZQV0Jp.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on March 17, 2019, 07:52:14 pm
Your willows are farther along than mine and I am in Kansas!
(https://i.ibb.co/z4000cQ/cat-will-buds-3-14-19.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z4000cQ)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on March 17, 2019, 10:07:37 pm
We're all rooting for you and your bees!!!
Yes, that is a fact!  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 21, 2019, 12:28:52 am
Thanks guys. Much appreciated.

Well we had a warm afternoon, and I pulled the tops off to dry up the grass in the quilt boxes.
As you can see it stayed pretty dry in the center where the feed hole is, and damp on the inside walls, from frost build up. I think foam lining would fix that. Might try that next winter.

(https://i.imgur.com/wQ2tHmS.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zczkKxu.jpg)

I figured since they were open, I might as well stick a warm jar of syrup on for a couple hours.

(https://i.imgur.com/vYjJcnl.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on March 21, 2019, 12:59:14 am
Jeff, when is your average last frost date?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 21, 2019, 01:47:50 pm
We cant safely plant a garden until Memorial day here. We can get frost anytime in May.

I have a question about pollen patties. Do we wait for flying weather, or is it ok to put them in. I don't want them making a mess of the frames if they are locked in for another couple weeks or longer. Is it better to wait ?

I plan on making my own again, Using dried egg, soy flour, sugar, brewers yeast, canola oil,and pollen.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on March 21, 2019, 03:11:13 pm
I'm not sure about your best timing on pollen substitute Jeff - because you still have weeks and weeks remaining with bees weathered in their hives..  Apis may have some cold weather insights that may help.  Ian Steppler, (stepplerfarms@hotmail.com), of Miami Ontario Canada would have some proven ideas about pollen substitutes over winter. 

He overwinters 1,000-1,500 hives inside a barn.  I've heard that Ian will answer an email.  When you contact him, invite him to visit here once in a while.  HTH   :)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 21, 2019, 03:54:34 pm
Thanks Lee

I do follow Ian on youtube. He is a wealth of good info. I am waiting for him to put his bees outside. I imagine he will put a patty on soon after.

 I guess your right. I better wait. We still have some winter left yet. Was hoping to replace a few of the dead As soon as its safe to do so.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 28, 2019, 01:39:21 am
Well spring has sprung here and I had a chance to dig in and downsize my hive configuration. Both hives appear to have made it, and both had about a half a deep of honey/sugar syrup left. The Nuc is pretty small. Also was hoping for a frame or two of brood , but no brood to speak of in either hive. That has me worried, as one queen is going on her third season and had just a smattering of capped brood here and there. The Nuc didn't have any.
Well I cleaned out the dead bees, changed bottom boards. and gave the Nuc a couple shakes of bees from the bigger hive. There is pollen coming in both hives today, so hope that will induce the queens to get with the program.

 (https://i.imgur.com/P37Iwif.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dhoKvQF.jpg)

I am debating combining the Nuc with a queen excluder and see if it helps. I did reduce the inside with a partition board.

The dead.
(https://i.imgur.com/jl8Tgbz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LlAF4vP.jpg)

Hope you all have a great season.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: neillsayers on April 28, 2019, 07:13:06 pm
Great news, Jeff! Glad to hear from you. :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on April 28, 2019, 07:36:40 pm
Jeff, it is welcome news to have your hives alive after months and months of no fly weather!  Congratulations are in order, you are doing a lot of things the right way.     :occasion14:

You can depend on protein to stimulate the queen to begin laying for the coming spring. I hope you can take some of that excess honey soon. We are all pulling for you.  :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 28, 2019, 08:02:35 pm
Thanks guys. Happy just to still have bees alive this spring. I would love to take advantage of the spring berry flow if I had enough bees. see if she gets laying here soon. The main fireweed flow don't start until mid July so have plenty of tie to make bees yet. I hope.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: apisbees on April 29, 2019, 12:14:36 am
A little late but note the date of when natural pollen starts to be brought into the hive and next year start feeding the sub 3 to 4 weeks before This will allow the bees to raise one round of bees before the natural pollen comes in. some pollen's do not contain a high enough protein to raise good brood so feeding extra protein sub in the spring thru dandelion bloom will give the hive the boost it needs. Dandelion pollen is low in the proteins needed to make good bee bread. Look to see that you have different pollens being brought in during the dandelion bloom.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 01, 2019, 04:40:43 am
 Thanks, but you know I did put pollen patties on about month ago. I believe my big hive must of hatched a round of brood. It looks bigger. But at this time not much brood, so not sure whats going on. The Nuc for some reason moved down into the second deep in late winter, and the pollen patty was on the top deep, so they could not access it. I made my own patties, they ate them ok, I hope the natural pollen coming in stimulates them to lay now.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 06, 2019, 03:46:37 am
Well both queens are laying now. I think it took the real pollen coming in to stimulate them to lay. Or could be the temps, who knows. I hope the Nuc can rebound. The main hive is doing great. The old queen is laying pretty good now.

My plan this year is to use excluders and a single brood chamber, Of course plenty of supers for space. And see if I can get a decent honey crop if the weather cooperates.
 
I also have a Michael Palmer queen coming in June, to make a new Nuc. :)

Here is my going on third season queen. I see the marks about wore off.

(https://i.imgur.com/jRhBE6P.jpg)



(https://i.imgur.com/Kc4jPSI.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 25, 2019, 01:29:09 pm
Hope you all are having a great summer.
I thought I would update what's going on here in Western Alaska.

My hives are doing great building up for the fireweed flow that's about to happen here soon. I did get a queen shipped in from Vermont  :)

(https://i.imgur.com/F95YfGs.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/tsOIA4C.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/wnvFlRM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LNPf2p8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/dMQuU4W.jpg)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on June 28, 2019, 03:50:19 am
Excellent pictures Jeff.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on June 28, 2019, 08:53:51 am
Jeff, I am glad to see that you are building your colony numbers up.  In your remote location (it's remote to us in the lower 48) having access to replacement queens could be a real problem.  At least with extra colonies, you can temporarily combine if you lose a queen. 
Thanks for posting the great pictures.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 28, 2019, 01:22:18 pm
Thanks all.
BD Yes I am trying to keep a number of hives, so that after my winter losses, will still have bees in the yard. (I hope)

On next inspection, If I can spare the brood ,I will try to make a small nuc and see if they can make a queen here. I only have one other hive with drones, other than the parent hive. Hopefully this new Nuc I just made will spit out a few drones by the time the virgin goes on her mating flight.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 14, 2019, 08:47:18 pm
Here is my Nuc. Fingers crossed  :)

(https://i.imgur.com/4HOU1Cd.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fnS3NHd.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 15, 2019, 09:10:16 am
Have you had drones for a couple of weeks yukonjeff?
Is the Fireweed still blooming?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 17, 2019, 09:32:47 pm
Yes I have drones flying for a few weeks now. And since the other nuc came online I have more drone diversity.

And yes the Fireweed flow is on and we are having a beautiful summer, Temps have hit 85 here and a lot of 75 degree days. Nice as it ever gets here, and almost no rain days.

(https://i.imgur.com/w4NKB96.jpg)

My bees are making honey like I never seen before.

My main hive on the left has had two nucs pulled out of it and has filled two deeps pretty fast,and working on a undrawn third deep. The QC nuc is to the right.

(https://i.imgur.com/vEonn6V.jpg)

The hive on the left is the overwintered New York queen that dwindled down to a pocket full of bees,has a full deep and working a second of undrawns frames.
Even the nuc I made on the 21 of june has a full deep of honey and drawing out a second. !
It all needs to be capped yet and then I will rob it as they cap it.  :)

(https://i.imgur.com/YEUVsFD.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on July 18, 2019, 03:50:37 am
Three cheers for you success.  Persistence at doing the right thing the right way is paying off!!!!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Lburou on July 28, 2019, 08:04:37 pm
Exceptional progress given the remoteness of your location Jeff.  More hives with different genetics will pay dividends when you least expect it.  Keep up the good work.   :occasion14:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on July 29, 2019, 06:16:38 pm
Jeff any updates, how was the flow?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 31, 2019, 04:47:29 am
Thanks guys, Thing are great here. Been a beautiful summer with just the right amount of rain. I got to watch my queen go out on a mating flight after hatching,of course I waited to see if she would return, and sure enough, she landed on the bottom board, and walked back in within five minuets. Was pretty cool to watch her orientate on the hive, and then circle up and away.
will do an inspection in a couple days, see if she is laying 

(https://i.imgur.com/PkNxF57.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/fThw19j.jpg)

The nuc on the right started the 21 of June has a deep of honey and drawing and filling a second.

(https://i.imgur.com/YEUVsFD.jpg)

The fireweed flow has been going since July 1 and still going strong. they are drying down boxes now, so I should get a decent harvest. I did steal a few frames and extract the other day. Its a mix of spring honey and fireweed. its real light textured and amazing flavor.

(https://i.imgur.com/vNrAKag.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/juDEBf9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/NXFHb2d.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on August 01, 2019, 10:58:45 am
Jeff,

I noticed that your deeps are painted not quite black but pretty darn close to black.  What colour is it?

I'm on the island on Newfoundland where the summer season is extremely short and often even shorter because of cold and drizzly spring weather.  When the bees are so cold, they hardly take down syrup or build up at all.  I already paint my hives green, some of them slightly darker green, but I'm thinking an even darker colour like yours might be better.  I could keep them wrapped in black roofing felt longer --- or I could use darker paint on them.  I'm thinking the little bit of extra radiant heat all year round might help.

Have you experimented with different colours, or have you always gone with the near-black paint?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 01, 2019, 01:38:57 pm
Yes they are painted flat black. I had some painted tan as well, but the black attracted more solar heat. I noticed they flew at a lower temp when black, than when they were in the tan boxes. And if you put your hand on them even on a cold winter day when the sun is out, you can feel the warmth. So I painted them all black. It helps a lot IMO

Also this spring was cool here in Alaska, So I left my wraps on until June, and one still had the quit box on the smaller hive.

I also warm the syrup every morning so they take it on cool day.

We don't have hot summers here, so it was not a problem with overheating. I remove the entrance reducer at about 70 degrees F, just to be safe. we got up to 87 here this summer and no melted comb. That might be a problem in warmer climates though.

If I were you, in your location, I would paint one and see what you think.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on August 08, 2019, 08:16:15 am
Where I live on the eastern coast of the island of Newfoundland, summer usually starts closing down around the first week of August, and this year it's exactly on cue.  For the past few weeks we've had off-and-on temperatures ranging between 20°C and 28°C (68°F - 72°F).  Before that the average temperature was well below 15°C (59°F).  My bees were more ore less in suspended animation for most of the spring and "summer." During the brief hot spell, the bees kick into high gear and make up for lost time in a hurry.  But the warm weather didn't last long.  I hope we get another heat wave.

Because nucs aren't available here until mid- or late-July, building a nuc into a full 20-frame colony before winter, especially if the nucs aren't ready until the end of July (the case for most people this year), we're fighting against the instincts of the bees.  May to July, they want to build comb, even on crappy plastic foundation.  But come August, the bees shift into hording mode and are less keen to build comb (especially once the nights get cold, which is happening now).  I have to pull out every trick in the book to get my bees to build comb at times.  Lots of inserting empty frames between drawn comb.  Spiking syrup with anise to make the syrup more attractive.  It can be a challenge for people who don't have a large number of hives to borrow resources from.

Seeing how the temperatures are already taking a dip, I've decided to go with the black paint, at least on the bottom deeps.  My hives don't get full sunshine all day, so the extra solar heat from the black paint should help.  If they were in full sunlight, they might overheat, but they're not, so I'm going for it.  I don't see it as a problem during the odd day when the temperatures goes around 30°C (87°F), which probably won't happen again this year anyway.

I'm also going to keep them wrapped for a long as possible in the spring, instead of unwrapping after the first warm spell.

Thanks for the response, Jeff.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on August 08, 2019, 11:46:37 am
" I've decided to go with the black paint, at least on the bottom deeps.  My hives don't get full sunshine all day, so the extra solar heat from the black paint should help.  If they were in full sunlight, they might overheat,"

IMHO, even if your hives were in full sunlight and painted entirely in black, overheating shouldn't be a serious concern.  The bees' instincts for cooling the hives should kick into action if things get hotter than comfortable.  They'll start bringing water for cooling and keep things under control . 
Here, though we don't need to paint our hives dark. we often have temperatures that rise over 30 C (this summer, with global warming in action, we got to 42 C) and they manage to keep things under control.  Our challenge is making sure that the bees have access to adequate amounts of water for the cooling process since summer time is rainless and  little water supplies are available for hives not located near settled areas.  The general practice here is to provide water, when needed, in barrels or tanks set up near the apiaries.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on August 11, 2019, 01:33:25 am
MudSongs It its starting to cool off here already. The bumble bees are burrowing into the ground, and my garden is dying. Good luck and let us know what you think.I found it helps them draw wax as well, when the box is warmer, So I painted the supers too.

efmesch Good luck and be careful in your temps. I think at 42 C you could have a melt down. I should also mention, that I use a small notched upper entrance. That does vent off some of the heat I imagine.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on August 17, 2019, 03:28:37 pm
It its starting to cool off here already. The bumble bees are burrowing into the ground, and my garden is dying. Good luck and let us know what you think.  I found it helps them draw wax as well, when the box is warmer, So I painted the supers too.

Well, I painted most of my hives black.  I never ever thought I'd be painting my hives black.  What an odd feeling.  And what a striking look for a hive.  All black.  I like it.

I wouldn't do this with my hives that in full sunlight... but maybe I will.  It's so darn cold that my nucs and splits do not want to build up.  They don't want to draw out new comb.  I'm hoping the black will give them the extra heat they need to get into gear.

I'm eager to see how this plays out.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on August 17, 2019, 10:37:37 pm


Well, I painted most of my hives black.  I never ever thought I'd be painting my hives black.  What an odd feeling.  And what a striking look for a hive.  All black.  I like it.



Are you keeping Goth Bees?   :laugh:
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on August 19, 2019, 08:24:47 am
This is what two of my black-painted hives look like.  I think my bees would have benefited from this earlier in the summer.

(https://i.ibb.co/Wk0cyJF/19-08-18-1119-RXV01110.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Wk0cyJF)

I painted them near the end of the day when the bees were done foraging.  The paint dried overnight.  Painting hives while bees are in them is not something I'd normally consider, but I was careful not to leak any paint into the hives or paint any of the supers together.

This feels like one of the most out-there things I've done with my bees.  Painting the hives while the bees are in them and using black paint.  I'm pretty sure I'm the first beekeeper in Newfoundland to do this.  I'm a pioneer.

I'm curious to see how it plays out.  If it doesn't work, I still have plenty of green paint.  But so far, just laying my hands on the black supers, compared to the green supers, I can feel the difference in the heat.  If I can feel it, I assume the bees can too.  I hope it helps.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 01, 2019, 11:58:04 pm
Looks Good. And yes you can feel the warmth on the face of a black painted hive on a winter day too.

PS I have painted with the bees inside too   :)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on September 08, 2019, 12:23:58 pm
With a thermal imaging camera, I measured the difference between deeps painted black and deeps painted my usual dark green.  The surface of the black deeps was about 5°C warmer than the ones painted dark green, measurements taken in direct sunlight with hives full of bees.

Not sure how much warmer that is in the Fahrenheit scale.  But if the surface temperature of the green deep was 40°C and the black one was 45°C (which are the ballpark measurements I got), in Fahrenheit that would be 105°F and 113°F.

I don't know how much of that extra warmth translates into the hive, but I'll take it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 21, 2019, 03:08:36 pm
That's a interesting experiment with the heat imager. Thanks for posting the results. I always thought it was a bout a 5 degree difference. I notice they fly on cooler days in the black painted hives. Than they did when they were painted white.

Also don't forget to paint the bottom board and entrance reducer, it helps melt the snow and ice from the entrance in winter.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on September 22, 2019, 10:28:02 am
I notice they fly on cooler days in the black painted hives. Than they did when they were painted white.


That is the reason we don't wrap hives here in Kansas.  It usually doesn't get cold enough here to do that winter prep. The bees fly out and chill then drop to the ground.  It's a false sense of temperature.  I always place a wind break, if there isn't a natural windbreak, between the hives and the North wind.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 22, 2019, 02:02:06 pm
BD I believe those bees your seeing spiral down after leaving the hive are the dead walking, and going to die anyway. I don't worry about them, and just hope my cluster is big enough to last until spring. I think the wraps save them stores and help keep the wind out.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on September 25, 2019, 02:02:00 am
I thought my bees were bringing in pollen, but nothing blooming after several hard freezes last week. Turns out they are bringing in mold from the underside of the Fireweed leaves.

(https://i.imgur.com/BmSagsb.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Sodc5fq.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/IVOz3Fn.jpg)

Getting things set up for winter.
Here is my first mated queen I made here. I hope she makes it.

(https://i.imgur.com/sD6t1S8.jpg)

Got them fed up

(https://i.imgur.com/Ja1yTO1.jpg)

Pollen patties on.

(https://i.imgur.com/fafij6Q.jpg)

I have to treat yet, I don't think I have mites anymore, but will hit them with OAV and see what drops.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on October 29, 2019, 12:50:23 am
(https://i.imgur.com/4XwLPmL.jpg)

Well I did two rounds of OAV and had a mite drop of 50 each treatment, So even though my four hives, were from one hive that was treated with MAQs and two rounds of OAV last year, and the year before, still has mites. All four do. I might try and get in another round of OAV yet.

I have my quilt boxes, and sugar bricks on, and wrapped.

(https://i.imgur.com/aNTyaWL.jpg)

This is my first mated NUC. they are a little small, she didn't start laying until the last week in August when my other hives were already shutting down.

(https://i.imgur.com/7YCp2M5.jpg)

Good luck to everyone wintering their bees.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on July 17, 2020, 10:51:50 am
I may be the only person on the Isle of Newfoundland who pants their hives black, but I'm doing it, along with switching to all-mediums, and so far so good.  I've posted the details here for anyone who might be interested:

https://mudsongs.org/black-hives/

Next spring will be the final test, to see how well the bees come through winter without wrap and only black pant.  I didn't wrap my black hives this past winter and it seemed to work out okay, but it's hard to judge from just one season because every season is different.

Gotta say, though, I love the switch to all mediums. I wish I'd done it when I started beekeeping.  We'll see how that plays out too.  This is my first summer with mediums.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 17, 2020, 03:12:19 pm
Keep us posted, Mudsongs. 
Sounds interesting.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on July 18, 2020, 09:04:03 am
Great to hear from you MudSongs! 
I too made the switch to all mediums a number of years ago, and haven’t looked back! 
Now the trick is getting rid of your deeps so you aren’t tempted to use them.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 01, 2020, 01:41:50 am
Greetings.
Been awhile. I tried logging in this spring but could not find this site ? Might of been down that day. IDK but glad to see its still here. lol

Well anyway ...sadly I lost my four hives last winter. I underfed and we had a very cold winter they all starved.

So during the covid pandemic I had to get packages shipped out to me in the bush and all the flights were canceling and our local airline went bankrupt.

Through the determination of some kind package sellers, and some kind city beekeepers in Anchorage, they were able to hold my two packages until a cargo flight could fly them in. The young beekeeper was able to take out the feed can and put on a feed jar and they kept like that just fine for a week ! no more dead bees at the bottom than normal, even less I would say.

They were double queen carni packages and I split them into four hives put on drawn comb.

I treated all four with OAV the first 10 days of installation, and my last OAV in September I got no mite drop on two hives and put apivar on the other two. I think I am mite free now. No other bees here to to reinfect them.

I got a little honey from them and had a fun summer beekeeping. I got visited by a brown bear twice. Once it knocked over a Nuc and got stung and left. When it came back it got 10,000 Volts. It got shot at the neighbor's by the police.

 I managed in single brood chambers and liked it so much I decided to try winter in them. Yes maybe I am crazy but I have a good feeling it can work. I did keep one as a double just in case..

I am adding a bigger sugar brick and another inch of insulation under my wraps, actually its drop ceiling material.

Still using the grass stuffed medium for a quilt box , I have the three inch screened feed jar hole in the inner cover.  No upper entrance.

They are fed well all ten frames pretty much full of capped sugar and I will be quick with the feed jar in late February if needed.

Hope you all had a great summer, and good luck with your wintering set up.

(https://i.imgur.com/LSQsjlR.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/oQ6pqoI.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/v1dDzgq.jpg)

 (https://i.imgur.com/uwsCzwX.jpg)

 (https://i.imgur.com/PDnyah8.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: iddee on November 01, 2020, 03:25:29 am
Welcome back, Jeff. Bittersweet story there. I hope they make it through the winter well and produce a big crop next year.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on November 01, 2020, 08:46:11 am
Good luck! Managing bees in cold climates has to be difficult.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: efmesch on November 01, 2020, 09:36:21 am
Following your story is not so much a tale of success as one of determination.  There's no doubt in  my  mind that you have greater expenses than income.  BUT, who cares ---  showing that you can keep going on and meeting your goal of raising bees in Alaska says a lot about you being a man of great determination.  People with your strength of character are what make America great.
Carry on.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 01, 2020, 09:47:42 pm
Thanks for all the words of encouragement folks.

I cant imagine a summer without bees. That would be terrible. I do keep busy with chickens and quail too and summer fishing of course.

I will do my best to keep this bunch alive. I sure hated to lose them especially the Mike Palmer queen nuc.

I figure a little better insulation should slow down the honey consumption some. I learned that my bee hives are like my wood stove. The colder it gets the more I need to feed it.

I want to be fast with the feed jar when it looks like they are getting light, and hope they are able to take enough to keep them alive in our cold pre-spring weather.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on November 01, 2020, 09:53:18 pm
Some folk down here will keep their hives under a cover for shade when we get extreme heat. Do you think a lean-to would help them?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 02, 2020, 02:02:45 am
I would rather they get all the sun they can . Hives are on the side of a hill and pretty windy there, a wind block would help no doubt but they are nestled in a patch of alder bushes that block wind pretty well on three sides, and will catch the snow and hopefully it will bury them singles.

I considered pushing them together probably would of helped but I have them strapped down pretty good spaced like that and need to be secure from the wind and bears.

 (https://i.imgur.com/f9Tsw2q.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on November 02, 2020, 08:26:30 am
I see some posts in your picture, yukonjeff.  Do you have some tarps you could stretch between those posts?  I would guess that the wind comes whipping around from all directions.  That would slow the wind down some.  Also, if you have access to bales of hay, those can help too.
Alders are a great, early spring source of pollen.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: iddee on November 02, 2020, 09:11:47 am
Along with the feed jars, you might want to consider sugar blocks for spring emergencies.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 02, 2020, 01:09:05 pm


Thanks but this whole area is so windy you cant have a tarp outside stretched over anything, the winds will shred it.  We dont even have trees on this side of the river here the winds are too strong. All we have is alder and willow bushes, and yes the bees are in heaven in the spring here.

We have no agriculture here as well, so no hay bales. I was considering a pile of grass on them tied down but I think I will just wait for the snow to burry them.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 02, 2020, 01:14:22 pm
Along with the feed jars, you might want to consider sugar blocks for spring emergencies.

Yes, but if it was like last year my boxes were frozen shut could not open them. Could not get in to add anymore.

I think a jar feeder slowly dripping on them might keep them alive, they jar will be mostly frozen though so not sure how much would even drip. But by late February it should be getting a little solar gain. so they can warm it a bit. That's my thought anyway. I have a king size brick on it now.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on November 02, 2020, 02:39:59 pm
You don't want dripping from your feeder.  That will chill the bees and mean death.  The jar feeder isn't going to do any good when they are clustered.  I would put candy boards on there.  They will absorb excess condensation and hold a lot of feed. 
This video shows how to make a candy board.  A lot of beekeepers in this area use solid bottoms for the candy.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_WLCc21-Hk (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_WLCc21-Hk)
I am not sure about his method of making the actual candy, but the screened bottom could work.  But I like his thoughts on a hole in the side for condensation to escape.  You might have limited resources.  He's using parchment paper and I am guessing that you don't have any parchment paper.
Here is a better recipe for the actual candy. https://www.honeybeesuite.com/candy-board-feeders-for-honey-bees/ (https://www.honeybeesuite.com/candy-board-feeders-for-honey-bees/)

BTW, I saw a presentation by a queen breeder in Iowa.  She strapped all kinds of crazy stuff onto her nucs for protection.  She had lawn cushions, styrofoam, and cardboard boxes slipped over the hive bodies.   I know a local lady that uses wooden pallets for windbreaks.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: iddee on November 02, 2020, 02:44:21 pm
Sugar water has to be 55F. before they can use it. Maybe two sugar cakes made in this pan per hive would last them from now until May.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/bakers-mark-18-x-13-half-size-19-gauge-wire-in-rim-aluminum-bun-sheet-pan/407BUNHALF.html
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 03, 2020, 02:54:32 am
You don't want dripping from your feeder.  That will chill the bees and mean death.

I hear that alot but no ones I ask has ever tried it. I think It will work somewhat in late winter, better than starving I am hoping.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 03, 2020, 03:00:13 am
Sugar water has to be 55F. before they can use it. Maybe two sugar cakes made in this pan per hive would last them from now until May.

https://www.webstaurantstore.com/bakers-mark-18-x-13-half-size-19-gauge-wire-in-rim-aluminum-bun-sheet-pan/407BUNHALF.html
I think they will warm it as it drips and be able to take some.

The thing about sugar bricks in cold weather is they cant move sideways to to get it, and you cant just add a block of sugar on top of a clump of bees.
This was one that starved with alot of sugar still on.

 (https://i.imgur.com/rtTjMQ1.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on November 03, 2020, 09:55:06 am


I think they will warm it as it drips and be able to take some.

The thing about sugar bricks in cold weather is they cant move sideways to to get it, and you cant just add a block of sugar on top of a clump of bees.
This was one that starved with alot of sugar still on.

[/quote]

Your liquid feeder on top shouldn't actually drip.  The laws of science says that the vacuum that is created above the liquid will stop the liquid from dripping out.  The air pressure outside the feeder will be greater than the inside of the feeder, so the liquid will stop dripping.  I think that is the explanation.  You also run the risk of the liquid freezing and breaking the container.  When that thaws it could kill your bees.
A Candy Board will cover the entire area of the colony and will increase the chances of survival no matter where the colony clusters. Another trick is to add the sugar brick early in the winter season, before the bees have worked their way up to the top bars.
When honey bees starve in winter, you typically find a lot of bees with their heads stuck in cells.  You would probably find the bees in a cluster formation.  I had one that had worked their way into a corner and starved.  It's heartbreaking.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on November 03, 2020, 11:36:46 am
Welcome back!  I don’t really have anything g else to say that hasn’t already been added.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 04, 2020, 01:42:54 am
Thanks,
and thanks again for all the suggestions. I had pretty much ten frames of capped sugar syrup on each hive plus the 7 lb sugar brick.
I think that will hold them until late February at least.

When I look through the screened hole and down see bees instead of a white sugar brick. I will put a warmed feed jar on. I have done it before in early spring, should be no difference.

There is no rethinking it at this point. Its winter here now.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on November 09, 2020, 08:21:49 pm
I've used sugar bricks like this, probably what you're using, and if the bees cluster upwards, they'll find the sugar, especially if you spike it with an essential oil like anise or lemon grass or, big surprise, mix in some honey with the sugar bricks.  This is still a theory I'm trying to prove, but if you make it SMELL like food (sugar doesn't smell like anything), they're more likely to recognize it as a source of food.

https://mudsongs.org/feeding-my-bees-in-the-wintertime-with-sugar-bricks/
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 10, 2020, 12:52:07 am
So far I have stayed away from the essential oils. They can induce robbing in the summer (I hear) I do have a bottle of lemongrass oil but never used any.

Bees don't have any trouble finding and consuming sugar bricks. Mine often eat the sugar before the honey. They tend to eat their way straight up.

One thing about the bricks is you cant just add a brick on top of a cluster of bees. You have to add them to the sides and hope they can move over to get them and often times in our cold weather they cant. (note Picture above) 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on November 10, 2020, 07:40:48 am
True.  Syrup spiked with essentials oils, if you spill it on the ground near the hives, the bees will go nuts.  Though it's never been an issue for me having it in the sugar bricks.  Not yet anyway.

While I don't really have problems with placing sugar bricks on top of the bees (very gently), I think everyone in cold climates knows what it's like when the bees can't move between frames to get at their honey.  I got sick of seeing that happen, so I started drilling holes in the foundation of all my deep frames to create a corridor the bees can use to move between honey frames in the winter.  It's worked out well for me so far.  Here's what I'm talking about:

https://mudsongs.org/comb-corridors-for-wintering-bees/ (https://mudsongs.org/comb-corridors-for-wintering-bees/)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on November 10, 2020, 08:15:31 am
Well, one more thing for you to research: Layens hives. I don’t know if a horizontal hive would be any better, but the larger frames might give the bees a bit more time before they have to move to a different frame.:  https://horizontalhive.com/index.shtml

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 11, 2020, 01:46:56 am
True.  Syrup spiked with essentials oils, if you spill it on the ground near the hives, the bees will go nuts.  Though it's never been an issue for me having it in the sugar bricks.  Not yet anyway.

While I don't really have problems with placing sugar bricks on top of the bees (very gently), I think everyone in cold climates knows what it's like when the bees can't move between frames to get at their honey.  I got sick of seeing that happen, so I started drilling holes in the foundation of all my deep frames to create a corridor the bees can use to move between honey frames in the winter.  It's worked out well for me so far.  Here's what I'm talking about:

https://mudsongs.org/comb-corridors-for-wintering-bees/ (https://mudsongs.org/comb-corridors-for-wintering-bees/)
That might be a good idea with the holes. It still would have to be a warm spell to move. Some of my foundation has notched corners that can be broke off. I will try that when I add foundation now. Thanks.

And Wanderingman. I am convinced these lang hives are inadequate for northern beekeepers to winter in. That might be a better set up 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on November 11, 2020, 09:07:31 am


And Wanderingman. I am convinced these lang hives are inadequate for northern beekeepers to winter in. That might be a better set up
Agree.  In winter climates, the bees need adequate food stores above them.  As winter progresses the bees will work their way up, not out.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: G3farms on November 12, 2020, 08:09:09 pm
I have not read this from the beginning so excuse me if any of this has been mentioned.

Do you keep your bees in styrofoam boxes?

Can you keep your hives in an out building, crawl space, garage? No need to heat the space just get them out of the outside temps and wind. Even freezing temps would be warmer than negative temps. You can always give then an entrance/exit with a small diameter tube.

I have heard of keeps putting a couple of the small Christmas lights inside of a hive for "some" warmth.

Just some thoughts.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 13, 2020, 01:02:27 am
No Styrofoam boxes although I heard good things about them. Not cost effective for me to get here. I think lining the outside with foam board would be pretty close. I don't have foam board either and pondered getting some shipped in but again not very cost effective to fly it in.

No extra indoor space for them but thought of building a small winter shed someday, and no power in my bee yard for heat.

I have had success wintering, if you look back a couple years in this thread you will see where both my nuc and hive survived in pretty much this set up except as doubles and with a upper entrance.

Hopefully I fed enough.(all frames were full on the singles) and hoping they get buried under the snow before it gets real cold.

If these hives fail this winter, I will have to try winter indoors next year.
Thanks for the sugestions. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on November 18, 2020, 12:01:52 am
Yukon Jeff!
Do you know this person?  Etienne Tardif yukonhoneybees@gmail.com

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jCQh3VIcB8OFhL3Q_fzUnkOOtDr8zb39/view?usp=sharing

Maybe a resource for you?

Etienne is posting in Scientific Beekeepings listserve. 

The BEE-L mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software.  For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on November 18, 2020, 12:04:37 am
And then there is this link, too:

https://whatsupyukon.com/Yukon-Food-Drink/farm-garden/honey-bees-and-yukoners-a-love-story/

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 19, 2020, 02:51:38 am
Thanks Wandering man. Some cool observations and graphs there. I don't know who that is, and wonder where they are located. I see the preface "Yukon" I am guessing Yukon Canada, I am in Alaska on the Yukon river.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: RAST on November 19, 2020, 08:33:48 am
Reading the website it is Yukon area in western  Canada.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on November 19, 2020, 11:59:39 pm
Yea that's what I figured. Thats about 1000 miles away from here.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 26, 2020, 03:09:01 am
Merry Christmas.  8)

All four boxes still buzzing. We have only gotten down to about -12 f. so far.

 (https://i.imgur.com/nKW6TOl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/xw4feB0.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: RAST on December 26, 2020, 09:45:54 am
Felt like that to me here in Florida @ 27f this morning. Yes I'm a crybaby about cold weather.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on December 27, 2020, 08:48:19 am
Hang in there all! At least the days are getting longer!


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Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on December 27, 2020, 09:50:34 am
That's great, yukonjeff! Fingers crossed for you and your bees! Happy New Year!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 20, 2021, 03:10:58 am
Thanks Guys. Still alive so far.

(https://i.imgur.com/Zh7HX7f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/lVjaSut.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on January 20, 2021, 10:43:43 am
Wow!  Did you measure that stack of snow on top? I'm curious.
I am also wondering if you dig the snow away from the entrance so that air can flow and reduce the condensation inside?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 21, 2021, 02:18:48 am
No sorry I didn't but the snow is about knee deep on the level ground. The snow on top has melted down and blow away some.

And no I didn't dig the snow away from the entrance. They keep a small cave melted in front of it, but the moisture should be going up into my quilt box if its working properly. Three inch hole in the inner cover to vent moisture up into the grass.

Our weather is warming up to 33 f tomorrow I am tempted to pop the top and change the grass and peek down the hole and see how the sugar brick is doing and maybe put a feed jar on for a day.
 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on January 21, 2021, 08:26:08 am
Glad to hear things are going well! 
The feed jar - will they take it? As I understand it bees will not take feed below 55F... ow in your experience, so they take it so fast it is gone before it can cool?


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Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on January 22, 2021, 04:21:30 am
I warm the jar of syrup every day, they will take some until it cools too much. Or they wont if they are in cluster. ie too cold.

Well we have warmer weather, I popped the top on one and checked the grass, It was a bit damp on the edges but nice and dry when I dug down to the feed jar hole. I could see down and saw the sugar brick with bees walking around on top, so I didn't put the feed jar on. I am waiting to see bees instead of the sugar brick then I will feed.

 (https://i.imgur.com/iQUFZDl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/SLgAYWX.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on January 26, 2021, 09:09:51 am
Lookin good!


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Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 16, 2021, 08:54:08 pm
Well we warmed up to +35 the other day and got to pop the lids and dry the grass in the quilt boxes. Was pretty dry just some frost and damp around the edges.


(https://i.imgur.com/ixs60fz.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/VOQON0b.jpg)

This is the double deep.

(https://i.imgur.com/pPwWRRm.jpg)

This is a single deep

(https://i.imgur.com/zwx7g8C.jpg)

Looks like plenty of honey still. Hope they can hang on another two months.

(https://i.imgur.com/rpJuaC4.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on February 17, 2021, 11:34:37 am
Jeff -- how damp does the dry grass get?

I assume it's a shallow-like quilt box full of dry grass over the inner cover, with a screened inner cover hole and no ventilation holes on the sides or anywhere else?

The insides of your hives look pretty dry.

It looks great, and I do something similar, though I don't think it would work as well in my climate.  Today, for instance, I've got 100km winds (62mph) blowing freezing drizzle off the ocean all over my hives.  My hives would be soaked to the bone (and I've seen it) without extra ventilation up top.  A great deal of the humidity in my hives comes from the outside environment, not just from the bees breathing and eating honey.

With the sugar cakes you've got up top (looks similar to what I do, a 12:1 sugar-to-water mix), do you get much sugar dumped to the bottom of the hives?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on February 17, 2021, 01:56:40 pm
Mudsongs

The grass on the edge got frosted and then damp when it thawed out, but for the most part it stays dry in the middle.

Its a medium with a 3'' screened feed jar hole. No other holes in the box for ventilation.

The inside of the hive was good and dry, even the inner cover.

The bees wont throw out sugar until spring. They are not working in the hive in winter, they are in cluster mostly and not throwing anything out. It probably helps absorb moisture as well. The bricks have to be completely dry before you put them on , they cant throw it out then.

I am 70 miles from the Bering Sea, we get alot of high winds and damp weather as well as very cold temps at times. I think eliminating the holes in your quilt boxes and no upper entrance would go along way in keeping your hive dry. Dont let in the moisture.   
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on February 20, 2021, 08:50:03 am
I am 70 miles from the Bering Sea, we get alot of high winds and damp weather as well as very cold temps at times. I think eliminating the holes in your quilt boxes and no upper entrance would go along way in keeping your hive dry. Dont let in the moisture.   

That's interesting.  Adding extra ventilation up top is what keep my hives dry.  Moisture gets in from the outside environment, but it's quickly wicked away through my ventilation rim.  Nevertheless, I see how your set up would work too.  I'm going to make a note to try that with one of my hives next winter and see how it plays out.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on March 04, 2021, 03:26:50 am
Good luck Mudsongs. It should work there.

Hoping for a cleansing flight in about another month. They have  not been out of the box since late October.

(https://i.imgur.com/minAHu8.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/qW4hP7Z.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 11, 2021, 05:18:50 pm
 While you all are enjoying spring weather and pollen coming in, package bees, winter is still hanging on in the great white north. It was -15 F two nights ago but has since warmed up considerably to about +34 now. Unfortunately that warm always comes with a very bad storm here, two singles are buried today. they were all still buzzing two days ago so all Alive I believe. No cleansing flight yet. Hopefully this coming week.
I will dig them out after the storm is over, so they can fly if it warms up.

(https://i.imgur.com/y1SfaQa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/eNp2sBI.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 16, 2021, 09:32:51 pm
Well we warmed up to +34 F so I unwrapped the hives and scraped the bottom boards. Put a feed jar on  watched my bees fly today. All four made it this year.  I am happy beekeeper now. Didn't have to buy package bees.

(https://i.imgur.com/uz6DjIm.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/n5vB3x3.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/7dSFQ4f.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Z6Wynjo.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: iddee on April 16, 2021, 09:44:25 pm
Congratulations. Job well done.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: RAST on April 17, 2021, 08:22:07 am
That's great!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 17, 2021, 08:29:16 am
That's fantastic.  It seems you have figured out how to over winter your colonies.  How are their food stores?  Did they eat everything?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 17, 2021, 01:13:59 pm
Thanks folks.  Good to see my bees fly again.

BD they had parts of the giant sugar brick, and all still had some weight to them. One was rather heavy yet, must of had 30 lbs yet.

The double deep had partial frames of honey in almost all the ten frames in the lower deep. I took it and put them back as single deep. I fed them last fall until the bucket froze in November. I was not going to let them starve again .
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 18, 2021, 03:35:29 am
Got into them and took off the sugar brick and shim and put on a jar of syrup. Temp was 32 f

(https://i.imgur.com/fxR43ey.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/hCOqYAq.jpg)

First time I had this happen.

(https://i.imgur.com/qPV6E9O.jpg)

This is the weakest one. I hope its queen right.

(https://i.imgur.com/JRPo2c4.jpg)

All had partial frames of honey left over. This one had three like this. All frozen still.

(https://i.imgur.com/7vlhlAk.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: RAST on April 18, 2021, 08:08:35 am
Would the new burr comb with drone cells in the weak one have been built this year from the sugar?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 18, 2021, 01:03:00 pm
I was wondering that myself. I didnt put on the shim until after I was done feeding last fall so they must of. I think its its worker comb. I checked but no eggs in it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: The15thMember on April 18, 2021, 04:57:19 pm
One of my colonies built comb in their feeder space this year too.  Thankfully they hadn't filled it with honey yet, so it was an easy fix.  That is the largest sugar brick I have ever seen!  :) 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 18, 2021, 11:05:12 pm
I had all four hives starve last year and my boxes iced up so they could not be opened to add any more sugar. So after that I could not find a pan big enough for the brick I wanted to put on. So this cake pan had to do  :)
I attribute the success of these hives to make it through a long Alaskan winter, to the size of that brick.

PS it also absorbed moisture, so win win.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on April 20, 2021, 12:24:30 pm
Well, Congrats on the success!  How long is the season up there again?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 21, 2021, 12:18:53 am
Thanks

Alaska gets packages shipped in from Cali starting April 12 this year. Right now we still have snow on the ground here but the cat willow are about to pop any day, we are getting up into the low 40s f still 20s at night.

I live near the tundra so the blueberry and cranberry flowers they work first. Then some dandelion's here, invasive I think.

Then the Cow parsnip bloom they work those until the fireweed in mid July. Thats our main flow. Ends in mid/ late August. And that's it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 21, 2021, 10:03:17 am

Then some dandelion's here, invasive I think.


I believe the common dandelion we see down here in the lower 48 originates from Eurasia.  There is a variety of dandelion that is native to North America.  Dandelions are a member of the aster family.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 21, 2021, 03:27:59 pm
Thanks I didn't know that.
 
Here we get dandelion's that are knee high sometimes, I believe due to our long Alaska days. My colony's are never built up enough that early to get a crop of our spring honey. We do have a variety of wild flowers including Aster. Our aster blooms in mid summer, not a lot of it. I see some plants that look like Goldenrod blooming mid summer too. Its Cool here in the summer maybe that's why not in the fall like down there. The hills here will be blue in June with Iris. My bees bring in loads of pollen from it, and with all the alder and willow the pollen never ends.

We only have cottonwood trees and a few stunted spruce here. Everything else is willow bushes and alder bushes. And lots of them.

I notice a sticky substance on the Cottonwood buds in the spring, I always wondered if my bees use any of it. Have not been able to confirm it.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on April 22, 2021, 09:39:20 am
There is over 100 different species of Goldenrod and some of those species can be found in every state of the U.S. and every territory in Canada.  So, you probably are seeing Goldenrod. Again, Goldenrod is a member of the Aster family.
The University of Minnesota Bee Lab did research on propolis collection by honey bees.  They found that the propolis with the most beneficial medicinal properties came from cottonwood.  Honey bees will collect propolis from many, many sources including poison ivy.
With dandelion's that come up to the knees, you could make a salad!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 24, 2021, 02:00:41 am
You know I ordered goldenrod honey off ebay and I thought it was the best tasting honey I ever had. I would love a bucket of it. This fireweed honey is real good too.

So that must be where they get their propolis then from the cottonwood. I tried a bite once and it stuck to my teeth. lol

As far as dandelions, I eat a lot of wild greens here in the summer, but I never did eat dandelions just a few leaves before. I might be missing out. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 24, 2021, 02:09:53 am
Well my suspicion was correct, this smaller hive is queenless. I went through it several times looking with no avail. She was marked. It Sounded queenless too.

(https://i.imgur.com/JRPo2c4.jpg)

I then looked though the pile of dead bees I scraped off the bottom board the other day and found this. Not sure if I rolled her on the last inspection in the fall. She was a good queen very gentle bees. Hated to lose her.

(https://i.imgur.com/1a9XuuJ.jpg)

Since the bees are six months old, I gave a frame a bees each to the other colonies instead of order a queen. I did order a Mike Palmer queen  last winter if I get it I will make a split later when it comes. Or try to make a queen here this summer.














 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on April 26, 2021, 04:49:10 pm
Looks great!  Thanks for keeping us updated, and good luck!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 26, 2021, 06:47:15 pm
Sounds like you are making excellent headway in the HOW TO in Alaska with your bees. Well done!   My son gets married here at my house on July third. we party till the morning of the fifth.. then... wifey has us set up to leave for Alaska.  Somewhere in the Alaskan range, inland from Fairbanks for a fishing trip....    the trip is going to suck, but once i get there it might be hard to leave.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 27, 2021, 01:20:41 am
Thanks. Its a steep leaning curve to keeping bees so far north. I will keep working on it.

You will love Alaska. You wont see the stars until you get back, its light all night then. Good luck fishing Must be going for grayling ?
The fishing is better around Anchorage or Homer area for salmon, trout, halibut. You have to hit the run timing right for salmon.

Enjoy your trip.
Once upon a time I was from Dubuque ;)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: LazyBkpr on April 28, 2021, 01:24:41 am
Really? You ever ride that straight up and down train thing?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on April 29, 2021, 04:06:54 am
Really? You ever ride that straight up and down train thing?
You mean the Fenelon Place Elevator?


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Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on April 30, 2021, 03:49:44 am
Really? You ever ride that straight up and down train thing?

The fourth Street elevator ? Yes I did when I was a child. I have not been back in many years.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 03, 2021, 12:32:22 am
 I was about Ten when my Grandma took me on that thing.. i was terrified...
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 03, 2021, 04:35:12 am
That was about the age that I did too. I remember that white knuckle ride to this day.

(https://i.imgur.com/VoSeaSt.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on May 03, 2021, 07:37:43 am
That’s the one I remember! TIL fenleon place elevator is also known as the fourth street elevator.


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Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on May 03, 2021, 10:50:31 am
I had to scrape away comb like that -- in the space created by the feeder rim -- just a few days ago.

https://youtu.be/NBhuC3ehWlU?t=182

That hasn't happened for several years.  I take it as a good sign, though.

UPDATE: That video link was supposed to skip to the 3-minute mark.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 04, 2021, 08:51:28 pm
Oh crap that gave me goosebumps...   When your that young, it takes a bit of doing to make memory STICK, and yeah, that memory STUCK!
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 05, 2021, 04:36:42 am
Glad to see your bees made it Mudsongs

I pull my shim the same time I took off the sugar brick so I put a jar feeder on. Was still too cold to open feed then.

That was the first time they built bur comb over the winter in mine. Apparently stimulated to make wax feeding a dry sugar brick. I think they do it because it gives a foothold/ support for the cluster to hang from the inner cover.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on May 11, 2021, 09:21:16 am
Jeff, have you seen this one?

https://youtu.be/z768OIA3bMo
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 12, 2021, 04:34:14 am
No I did watch that one yet, but I did watch one of his this spring where he lost all his hives over winter. Pretty sure it was mites he had mites on the dead bees. Now he is building a better hive.

I will take a look at it. Thanks.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 13, 2021, 07:52:57 am
I stopped watching at 3:15.  He reverses his boxes in the late fall, putting the food stores under the brood. His bees must work down in winter instead of up, like mine do.  I would also add that limiting your bees to one 8 frame box during the spring and summer is tight.  They would bring in the honey for sure, but you would have to monitor for swarm cells.  I know beekeepers that keep the brood nest in a single 10 frame with supers on top, but you have to be on top of the swarming situation.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Wandering Man on May 13, 2021, 08:42:00 am
I stopped watching at 3:15.  He reverses his boxes in the late fall, putting the food stores under the brood. His bees must work down in winter instead of up, like mine do.  I would also add that limiting your bees to one 8 frame box during the spring and summer is tight.  They would bring in the honey for sure, but you would have to monitor for swarm cells.  I know beekeepers that keep the brood nest in a single 10 frame with supers on top, but you have to be on top of the swarming situation.

It wasn’t his old technique that I thought was interesting. Rather, it is the construction of his new, thick walled hive, venting system and Layens sized frames for the brood nest that I thought might be useful for Jeff.

He’s a bit long-winded, but watch some more Bakers.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 14, 2021, 09:58:34 am
It wasn’t his old technique that I thought was interesting. Rather, it is the construction of his new, thick walled hive, venting system and Layens sized frames for the brood nest that I thought might be useful for Jeff.

He’s a bit long-winded, but watch some more Bakers.
My apologies for the knee jerk reaction. I find anyone can post anything online.  That doesn't make it good advice.

I watched some more, skipped over some of his yakety yak, to see the part about thick walls.  In extreme climates, like Alaska, this could be beneficial.
I do like his inner cover.  I wouldn't mind having some of those and I think could be easily built. That inner cover could be used with an empty brood box on top.  I think he forgets that the bees will propolis everything down.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: blueblood on May 15, 2021, 08:30:41 am
Hello! Would a small green house keep them warm during the winter? I would imagine water and feeding would be more necessary.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 16, 2021, 04:00:19 am
I stopped watching at 3:15.  He reverses his boxes in the late fall, putting the food stores under the brood. His bees must work down in winter instead of up, like mine do.  I would also add that limiting your bees to one 8 frame box during the spring and summer is tight.  They would bring in the honey for sure, but you would have to monitor for swarm cells.  I know beekeepers that keep the brood nest in a single 10 frame with supers on top, but you have to be on top of the swarming situation.

It wasn’t his old technique that I thought was interesting. Rather, it is the construction of his new, thick walled hive, venting system and Layens sized frames for the brood nest that I thought might be useful for Jeff. 
He’s a bit long-winded, but watch some more Bakers.

I did watch about half the video and my thoughts on a thick walled hive like that is,... it would be great during the coldest part of the winter but the hive needs to warm up inside too on warmer days so they can move onto honey. Especially as you get closer to spring and starting to get some solar gain from the longer days, the insides will stay frozen like a insulated cooler if thick an insulated like that well into spring. I noticed that with my insulated singles this year. They had frames of frozen honey acting like ice blocks keeping them from flying on warmish days this spring.
I took the wraps off when it was still below freezing just so the thin walled hives could gain some heat in the afternoons.
I think his hive is overkill, but should work down there.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on May 16, 2021, 04:03:07 am
Hello! Would a small green house keep them warm during the winter? I would imagine water and feeding would be more necessary.

Unless you keep them at 40 degrees and in the dark they will try to fly when it warms up and all go to the glass or windows and die I believe.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on May 16, 2021, 08:23:28 am
...have you seen this one? [The "bee barn" video.]

The "bee barn" looks fine for hobbyists just starting out and working only a small number of hives. But it seems like it would be too expensive and complicated to work with on a larger scale. The design makes sense, but some the common issues he describes in the video may be a bit overblown.  The design seems to follow the principles of the Warre hive. Most of it consists of components that have already been invented at some time other another (e.g., spacers, or what some call dummy boards, double walled brood box, "Vivaldi" box, or what some call a quilt box or moisture quilt, etc.), but it looks like it would work great in his local climate.

However, I still can't imagine many commercial beekeepers buying into it -- because it doesn't look cheap, and for anyone who has an established beeyard with standard 10-frame Langtroths, including backyard beekeepers with a relatively small number of hives, I'm pretty sure it would be big headache to switch over to his "bee barn." Too many new components to build and deal with.

I also think he has more time and money on his hands than I'll ever have.  We're living in different worlds.

It's a well thought out design, but a bit overkill, maybe?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 21, 2021, 12:40:33 am
I agree Mudsongs. Too much overthinking it complicates things.

Well we had a cold spring here in western Alaska. Had snow flurries in June with cool 30-40 F temps until just last week. We are now getting up to almost 70 and the bees are loving it.

The cranberries and blueberry flowers are in bloom so we have a bit of a flow going on. Lots of pollen coming in of all varieties. The main Fireweed flow will start next month. I hope to get a modest harvest.

I also want to make a split this summer, but no drones yet. Might order a queen here soon.

Working cranberry flowers

(https://i.imgur.com/JnM0Rno.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/PyHDB5H.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/D3plv3J.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on June 21, 2021, 07:47:50 am
I like seeing your hives.  I've been painting mine black since I saw you doing the same and it's working well for me where I live next to a cold ocean.  I'm sure everyone else thinks I'm crazy, but it's working well for me.

We've had a warm spring on the east coast of Newfoundland.  June is often colder than October and full of rain, drizzle and fog, but this year it's been sunny.  But it's not uncommon for my bees to be in the same situation yours are in now.  The black paint seems to make a difference for my bees when the sun only breaks through the clouds for a couple hours a day.

I'm impressed that your bees do as well as they do in your climate.  From what I know from online posts from beekeepers around the world, some of the harshest conditions I've seen for keeping bees are in Alaska where you live, in Newfoundland where I live next to the Labrador Current, and then Iceland.

We should start a club.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 21, 2021, 01:09:16 pm
Mudsongs
 The black paint really does help. They fly at a lower temp than a white hive. It makes a big difference in the winter also. On a sunny day at 0 F air temp, the front of the hive facing the sun is warm to the touch. It enables the bees to move onto honey using solar heat that they would otherwise not have much of. (Any beekeeper reading this in a warm climate take note don't try this at home unless its winter. Might be too hot in southern states)

And yes. Us northern beekeepers have challenges we face that separates us from the bee keepers in the southern states, and we should have a club of far north beekeepers to share ideas and help others struggling in our not so friendly beekeeping environment.

That's partly why I keep this thread is to help me remember and help any others that face the same challenges, and maybe give them a head start.

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 22, 2021, 04:35:34 am
We have a high population of bumble bees here. Its a daily battle for my bees to keep them out. When one gets in they cook it and haul it out.

Its not uncommon for me to pick a bumble off a frame during an inspection of a smaller hive.

Here is one they cooked this morning. They burn the hair right off it.

(https://i.imgur.com/us4I8Pl.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: gibb on July 01, 2021, 09:02:56 am
That's pretty interesting about the bumble bees.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 01, 2021, 09:31:43 am
That's some bright orange pollen, Yukon Jeff.  What are they working for pollen?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 02, 2021, 12:39:07 am
I thought it was dandelion pollen but they are bringing in a couple shades of yellow and orange. It could be Icelandic Poppy. Also bringing in white from the Blue Iris and starting to see the Fireweed pollen it looks gray like gunpowder.

And yes Jim they are cooking Bumble bees regular now. Hows your bees fairing this year. 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 02, 2021, 12:41:34 am
I got two Saskatraz queens shipped in today from Iowa.

I made up a double nuc with a ten frame box and a divider board.

(https://i.imgur.com/0x4Ia2t.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 03, 2021, 12:43:51 am
I have a divider board in and a queen excluder on top. I hope that keeps them separated. I have a feeling I might end up with just one queen ,or a lot of drift. We will see.

I think they could be wintered in this set up.

(https://i.imgur.com/tsTUbP9.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/vX1zJAu.jpg)

I graduated from a bee jacket to a veil. I was waiting for one that didn't look so dorky. lol

 (https://i.imgur.com/2qZVvUB.jpg)

Our main flow is fireweed is starting soon. I will shake the queens down and get queen excluders on soon and hope I get some honey.

 (https://i.imgur.com/lWX1LJe.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Nu5gVOb.jpg)

Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 03, 2021, 05:28:07 pm
Well I have been procrastinating about hooking up my bear fence despite the recent reports of both brown and the black variety of bears have been spotted in the village.
So last night during a storm with heavy rain had my bear guard dogs in their houses, They may have barked but I didn't hear it over the wind and rain. A bear (I suspect brown ) walked through my unelectrified fence and pushed on one of my hives.

Lucky for me the ratchet strap saved the day. Not sure why it didnt work at it harder but was the same thing last year. Had a brown push over my nuc and got stung and left, only to come back and get 10,000 V and then shot at the neighbors.

I have chickens too so might be my turn to have a bear rodeo here at the house.

As you can see the picture above was taken last night, right after I took out one of the queen cages from the nuc. compared to this mornings picture below.

(https://i.imgur.com/31uAkYJ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/Ls6uZLl.jpg)

Locked and loaded for tonight.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: iddee on July 04, 2021, 07:12:07 am
Hope you fill your freezer rather than his belly.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 18, 2021, 04:23:08 am
Thanks . He got a taste of the fence I think, so been a good bear again.

 A few pics.

The double nuc is rocking along nicely. Still has two queens and both laying good. I would like to try winter one of these.

 (https://i.imgur.com/lq65rCh.jpg)

Saskatraz queen.

(https://i.imgur.com/hXlaVvM.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/RVEuQhO.jpg)

Fireweed flow has started.

(https://i.imgur.com/FnEuUBt.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/ntYyV9p.jpg)



Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Zweefer on July 18, 2021, 08:42:38 am
Fantastic photos as always! Glad to hear the bear didn’t get the snack he was after


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Bakersdozen on July 19, 2021, 10:22:17 am
Forgive me, this is a little off topic.  Call it Alaska gardening.   :laugh:
This spring I started some kale seeds.  I planted what I needed and gave my neighbor the remaining seedlings.  I saw their kale plants and about fell over!  They look like they were grown in Palmer, AK with 20 hours of sunlight a day!  I definitely need to rethink my gardening practices.   :o
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 20, 2021, 03:40:37 am
Thanks

I wish we had a better climate for growing here. I am in western Alaska 450 miles NW of Palmer and the infamous Matanuska Valley.

We have longer days than Palmer but the weather is cooler and windy and wet alot. Not many trees grow here.

I have a small raised bed I can grow potatoes and turnips, strawberries, snap pees, radishes, collards and thats about it. No corn or tomatoes or anything like melons. Just too cool and short season.

(https://i.imgur.com/SXarRux.jpg)

I have a few that do a little better in the back of my truck.

(https://i.imgur.com/O59QTVV.jpg)

But look how well the native grasses and fireweed do. This in my back yard. No lawn mowers here anyway. I leave it for the bees. It will be in bloom soon.

(https://i.imgur.com/9BDRuWy.jpg)


Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on December 25, 2021, 02:36:26 pm
Season's Greetings fellow Beekeepers.

My beekeeping summer here in western Alaska was a bust. We had cold wet west winds from Siberia all summer long and as expected my bees did poorly. No honey. I had to feed them during the main flow, they were starving.

They never built up more than 6-8 frames of bees, I had two yr old queens not sure if that had anything to do with it.

But non the less I fed them up and prepped them for winter. One was very small cluster, like it swarmed during fall feeding.
Pictures are from late october.

(https://i.imgur.com/Y8IoMBU.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/husUrxh.jpg)

I tried to keep this double nuc separate but before I could get the divider board in , this happened.

(https://i.imgur.com/5M6AaZL.jpg)

I have them insulated and wrapped with the quilt boxes on. I am going into winter with two year old queens, I expect losses this winter. I am considering ordering a package or two if I can figure a way to get them shipped out.

Its 35 degrees F and rain as I type this on Christmas day. We had some - 20 weather last month, but been a warm winter so far.

Hope your bees are all doing good and I will update again as winter progresses.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on June 22, 2022, 02:16:01 am
Greeting fellow beekeepers.

Its been awhile so thought I would update this thread.

Things took a turn for the worst last winter I didnt put in my mouse screens until late on purpose to let the bees that want to fly out and die a way to get out, but after the first light snow I was horrified to see shrew trails leading into the entrance of all my hives. We had a shrew population explosion. All I could do was put screens on but didn't know if they were still in there or not, and as luck would have it I did trap a couple inside and one was found dead caught between the top bars. But the damage was done, they eat the heads off the bees and stress them all winter and all four hives and two nucs died over winter.

So I picked myself up and dusted off the smoker and ordered two double queen packages and through the generosity of our Alaskan package seller was kind enough to hassle with shipping them to me in the bush.

I made up four nucs April 16th and did a OAV treatment one week after installing them before any brood was capped.

I then I fed them and pattied them ,and took off to the Philippines for a much needed vacation on a tropical island.

I got back and they were all doing great and even was able to steal a few frames of spring honey.

They were booming with brood some had eight frames of brood so I ordered another Saskatraz queen from Iowa and made up a four frame nuc with four frames of capped brood, it should take off right in time for our Fireweed flow that's starting in a couple weeks.

We have been having warm temps of upper 60s and lower 70s so if this keeps up I might get some more honey. We have fires near by and smoke in the air. Hope they dont get any closer.

I had my share of wild critters in my bee yard. I had a wolverine come by and check the hives last winter and am lucky he didnt tear one open to see what's inside.

Recently I had moose get caught up in my single strand electric fence wire and snap off a post. That happened twice now this past month. We have alot of moose here.

The brown bears visit me every year about this time before the berries are ripe so I need to keep a gun handy for when they come around. I have dogs that let me know when they come.

Will update as season progresses here in the North.

A few pics.

(https://i.imgur.com/WPpGxsi.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/EcSNhDA.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/zVG5RnC.jpg)



 
 
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on June 28, 2022, 10:10:31 am
Shrews are the worst. Nobody told me shrews could be a problem when I got into beekeeping, just mice. Then I lost I think it was 6 out of 8 colonies one winter.  My policy now is, if I see signs of shrews in the winter (hollowed out abdomens inside the hive, wings and legs scattered about), weather be darned, I'm tearing the hives apart and rebuilding them, minus the shrews. Though I haven't had issues with them since I switched to quarter-inch mesh instead the half-inch mesh or the 3/8-inch mouse guards.  I haven't seen it myself, but I've heard from local beekeepers in Newfoundland that shrews can get through their 3/8-inch mouse guards.

My first experience with shrews is well-documented on Honey Bee Suite, which provides some excellent photos of what to look for:

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/blaming-shrew/

I'm glad you were able to replenish your stocks.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 03, 2022, 03:03:35 am
Thanks Mudsongs

That link shows what my hives looked like. The shrews even carved tunnels in the sugar bricks.

We didnt have a high popuation the winter before so I kind of forgot about them, but their population exploded over the summer and I didnt notice until I saw the tracks leading unto the entrance.

I am looking at those metal mouse guards with just the holes in them. I think I will order some for this winter.

Well our flow is on now the Fireweed are just starting to bloom. The hives are in decent shape and hopefully strong enough to put up some honey, if our weather cooperates this summer.

  (https://i.imgur.com/Ois0JQf.jpg)
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 04, 2022, 12:48:26 am
A short video of up in my bee yard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDzXoTwzIOs
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Jen on July 04, 2022, 02:57:41 pm
Hi Yukonjeff, love the video of busy happy bees and blooms, and soo jealous of how full your Yukon river is. I live in upper northern California where the drought has our lakes and rivers half of what they should be.

Say, have you used Saskatraz queens throughout your entire beekeeping adventures?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 04, 2022, 10:40:51 pm
Jen

The Yukon River is still high here. They had alot of snow in the interior, so we have high water since the ice break up in May. I will drop again in the fall.

I get my packages from a guy that gets them from Central California, and I have been having good luck with his package Carniolan queens.

I just been experimenting with several different mail order queens, I am on my second try of the Sakatraz. I lost my last years nucs over winter and wanted to try again. I hear they are just a cross between a Russian and Carni, I have been getting them from Laps in Iowa.

The Canadian Beekeeper uses them exclusively so thought I would give them a try
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: Jen on July 04, 2022, 11:38:09 pm
Hi Jeff, I have primarily used italians of which I love their disposition and peaceful bees. But 5 years ago a bee club in our area was formed and we could buy hybrids from central california for a good price. After 4 years of hybrids I started longing for italians again. So I found a sweet bee and queen company in northern Calif and just this year I've requeened my hives with an italian/saskatraz cross. So far, I just love them.
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: yukonjeff on July 06, 2022, 12:51:49 am
Thats interesting a Italian X Sask Cross. The consensus among Alaskan beekeepers is not to use Italians, reason being they eat too much and brood up at the wrong times in our long winters....so they say. I have never tried them because of the stigma they have.

That Sask/Italian might be fun to try next year.

Do they ship queens ?
Title: Re: Alaska Bee Keeping
Post by: MudSongs on December 11, 2023, 07:31:29 am
I switched to painting all my hive boxes black after seeing you do it. Some people, as usual, think I'm crazy, but I don't think it harmed the bees at all. It just doesn't get hot enough on the east cost of Newfoundland for the black boxes to cook the bees or do harm.

I don't wrap all of my hives in the winter because they're in sheltered areas, and I think blank paint allows them break cluster a little easier when they need to.  That's my theory anyway.  I know some "condensing hives" argue that temperature fluctuation that cause the bees to break cluster and cluster again stresses the bees, but I'm no convinced of that yet. In any case, the black paint has worked out well for me.

Have you considered trying out poly hives in your area?  I'm still experimenting with one that I've had since last year, but other beekeepers in my cold climate similar to yours rave about them.  They don't require wrapping or any kind of winter prep, the bees don't eat as much honey and they brood up quicker in the spring. Or so I'm told.  My first winter with a poly hive, last winter, wasn't a good test because I had an old queen who was fading fast going into winter, and the colony petered out by the spring, which I don't blame on the poly hive. But I'm hopeful.