Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: Jen on January 19, 2014, 05:57:00 pm
-
Waited for a 50 day. Hefted my hive and it's starting to get ligher. Winter Patties, not pollen patties! were purchased from B and B Honey Farms
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs14.postimg.cc%2F85oeoe2pp%2FDSCF8589.jpg&hash=e4d13c6d526ba6ca4a1ced867a59ca9303b9c282) (http://postimg.cc/image/85oeoe2pp/)
Hive is Healthy and Strong! Woooot! Gloating
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs29.postimg.cc%2Fqhggxfxir%2FDSCF8590.jpg&hash=e71a2ba540eb669de6ac43ad5bacb3f991c8e812) (http://postimg.cc/image/qhggxfxir/)
Place winter patties right on the top bars
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs22.postimg.cc%2Fcghv3cr99%2FDSCF8591.jpg&hash=c5fc532a73cc777ed510d1b9a6664dfd2ff96cd4) (http://postimg.cc/image/cghv3cr99/)
Then placed my new handy dandy inner cover on, knotch down, that LazyBkpr made for me, a gentleman and a scholar indeed
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs24.postimg.cc%2Fqj7gt33ip%2FDSCF8593.jpg&hash=55f021145424936741d11aac61a6837a3405a54e) (http://postimg.cc/image/qj7gt33ip/)
Lowered the lid and pulled it forward for ventilation
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs11.postimg.cc%2F6gj4psxxr%2FDSCF8592.jpg&hash=d08b6bc1bf5a9f701a516d816d1d85278dcfe289) (http://postimg.cc/image/6gj4psxxr/)
Is this enough ventilation for should I put on a shim? bees are able to come in and out.
-
Nicely done!! But were gonna have to have a talk about you ruining my carefully cultured reputation! ;D
-
going to inspect my inner cover again because i have not noticed a notch! If i dont have one looks like i may need to make a modification to it.
-
Today we are supposed to get a 60°F day followed by several with highs in the 30's. I'm going to take advantage of the day to put honey frames back in hives that need more feed and to put pollen substitute patties above the clusters on my home bees. I have been stimulating brood rearing with a brewer's yeast powder mix and external jar feeders of honey water for about 2 weeks now. In our area, red maples usually start blooming around February 1st, and bees start collecting significant amounts of natural pollen. Judging by the trees around the neighborhood, blooming is going to start later this year.
-
See the last picture? Is that enough ventilation? Before the inner cover I had popsicle sticks on and I think it had more ventilation than with the inner cover. The bees are able to come in and out of the notch tho. Thinking that the notch opening should be more exposed? maybe a shim?
-
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs30.postimg.cc%2Flie5zvafh%2FDSCN0059.jpg&hash=c1cc8a42bfbad39c8df3d2c9dfc9a532072dffdc) (http://postimg.cc/image/lie5zvafh/)
I put foam on top of the inner cover to stop condensation as well as raise the cover up high enough to clear the notch;
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs13.postimg.cc%2F4jt41tdf7%2FDSCN0251.jpg&hash=8d4acbac8787b07c526e9219f5cacb4aae44841d) (http://postimg.cc/image/4jt41tdf7/)
If you have your tele cover slid forward and the bees can get in and out of the notch it should be adequate.
-
K. I was just out talkin to my bees and three of them came out of the top notch. So I'm gonna call it good. Unless more chime in and continue to confuse me :D
-
;D I try not to be confusing, but its hard when everyone lives somewhere else. Telling ANY beekeeper that what they are doing "WILL" work is dangerous.. if you have extreme conditions that notch may not be enough. but knowing where you live I feel confident that it is sufficient. I am sure if anyone else disagrees they will pipe in!!!
-
Lazy- ""if you have extreme conditions that notch may not be enough.""
meaning record high heat or humidity?
-
Yes. If you live in a rainforest dampness or desert heat.
-
looks good to me jen, and nicely done on the winter patties, see, they did fit under that great new cover lazy made you! great photos by the way!
-
Thanks riv- this was fun! I got to see my bees of which were abounding and peaceful. I take a lot of pics when I'm checkin in with my beeauties
-
Using the polystyrene insulation helps to keep the heat out in summertime too.
You just have to cover the inner cover hole with a piece of visqueen or duct tape.
They'll chew up the insulation if ya don't
-
But I thought that the inner cover was good for heat ventilation as well as cold?
-
;D It is, the foam goes above it to absorb the suns radiant heat. The bees still need the inner cover to help with ventilation. We only get high 90's and 100 degree temps for a week or so at a time. The bees seem to be quite capable of handling that so I dont use the foam in the summer. They use the swamp cooler affect, evaporating water to cool the hive. If we were going to get blazing sun in the 100's for a month or more I probably would either use the foam or build shades over the hives.
-
good replies by tefer and lazybk jen, but in your climate, you will most likely not need this. if the bees seem to get too hot during summer months, you can prop the outer cover up to help with ventilation.
-
Hey Lazy- what kind of foam are you talking about?
-
I buy the 4x8 sheets of 2" Pink foam insulation. I am on the wrong computer or I would post the picture, instead ai'll link to the site, scroll down to see the hive with the pink foam on the top.
http://outyard.weebly.com/wintering.html
-
I think I would use the same ridged foam board that I already have around the hive. Cut a piece that would fit snuggly inside the lid.
-
Holy Shmoly Guacamole! I put my first winter pattie on two weeks ago, Jan 19. It's GONE, paper and all. Just put another on.
Guess I've got a family to feed!!
-
How long do I feed winter patties? It's a temperature thing right?
-
Pretty much till you see them bring in groceries for them selves.
-
So that would be the first flow... when they are very busy at the front of the hive and knocking each other over to get in and back out for more nectar foraging... ?
-
jen, what i would do is remove the patty once it's warm enough to feed them syrup in your climate, and then take that off when they are ignoring the syrup, stop taking it. they will ignore it and stop taking it if they don't need it and/or once a flow is on.
-
Hi riv! hope your feeling better today, or soon.
""jen, what i would do is remove the patty once it's warm enough to feed them syrup in your climate""
So here's the problem, my local bee guru says to start feeding syrup when the bees are bringing in the first creamy colored pollen. Guess What?!? They are already doing that.... it's too cold for syrup yet!
Sooo, I'm guessing at.. steady days of 50 degrees?
I'll make another couple of calls around here
-
Already? :'( Not a chance here.. still snow on the ground and expecting 8 inches tomorrow...
So, how MUCH pollen are they bringing in? Once every ten minutes or ten bees in fifteen seconds?
When they start bringing in pollen hard and fast I pull my feeders. "MY" bees are gluttons, it does NOT matter how good the flow is, if there is syrup out, they are SWARMING around it and hauling as much as they can back to the hives. I ended up with brood chambers BOUND solid with syrup the first time I fed because I was waiting for them to stop taking it..
-
jen, what i would do is remove the patty once it's warm enough to feed them syrup in your climate, and then take that off when they are ignoring the syrup, stop taking it. they will ignore it and stop taking it if they don't need it and/or once a flow is on.
It's my understanding that small hive beetles love pollen patties (or pollen in general). So if SHBs are in your area, be attentive to the hives and watch for hive beetles.
-
Lazy ""So, how MUCH pollen are they bringing in? Once every ten minutes or ten bees in fifteen seconds?""
It's been the last couple of weeks. But mostly last week, three of the days were 60-65. Usually we're shoveling snow. I average pollen intake by counting 10 bees coming in, then using my fingers to tally up how many are carrying pollen. There were 5 out of 10 bees carrying pollen, and they would land on their porch and have to wait for the bee in front to go the the entrance.
I was sitting watching them and chewing my nails whispering... Stooooop! Stoooop!.. it's too sooon! winter is still here, it's just a freak warm spell... Stoooooop!
-
Lazy ""When they start bringing in pollen hard and fast I pull my feeders.""
Wait! You mean the bees are eating the pollen? I thought it was stored for the babies?
-
Slow- ""It's my understanding that small hive beetles love pollen patties (or pollen in general). So if SHBs are in your area, be attentive to the hives and watch for hive beetles.""
What would I look for with small hive beetles?
-
Pollen and nectar usually go hand in hand. If they are bringing in pollen they are usually getting nectar as well..
If if thats not normal for this time of year in you area, and you have no supers on then its probably not a worry if your still feeding.
-
The pollen is used for the larva.When it is coming in heavy, they are raising more and more new bees. This is the time they will starve quickly. I'm talking 1 to 3 days, and dead. Check before removing the feeder. They may have to have it. Pollen does normally start before the nectar flow.
-
What would I look for with small hive beetles?
You should find out if they're in your area. They might not be. But if they are, they'll reproduce in your hive and could ruin your honey. They love pollen. If you have a strong hive, the bees will keep the beetles in check, herded into the corner.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Small_hive_beetle
If SHB is in your area, keep that in mind when you feed pollen patty.
(https://worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.clemson.edu%2Fextension%2Fbeekeepers%2Fimages_documents%2Fsmall_hive_beetle.jpg&hash=aa96406bd5712a2e7174ec28a2bff3ed60c98b2d)
http://pest.ceris.purdue.edu/map.php?code=INBJQEA&year=3year#
-
Thanks Slow! and I've read that the beetle may be on the undrside of the lid?