Worldwide Beekeeping
Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: riverbee on March 22, 2018, 12:14:01 am
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tuesday was the first day of spring; the vernal equinox. okay i won't get into the scientific, meteorological or astronomical stuff about how this is defined, you all can look it up......... :D
we are still buried in snow and has snowed for the past 2 days. more snow coming by the weekend. day temps are not much about 35 d f and night time temps in the mid 20's. at least we aren't in the subzero temps.
snow....my mail box keeps getting buried (and one day this week found it laying on the ground) and i have little red squirrels that have built tunnels in snow banks to and from the bird feeder.... :D
fun to watch them scurry in and scurry out.
we all are gearing up for our bee season. so maybe we call this BEE EQUINOX.....
bees are on their own schedule. for some of us in warmer or southern climates the bees are already active. for northern beeks not so much.
i have some questions for everyone; we all learn from one another and this might be a good thread to share our experiences and 2018 season. we have had a number of new members join up with us, please feel free to jump in on this thread!
QUESTIONS ARE:
1. what were your winter losses?
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
12. what did you learn last season?
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
lot's of questions......and i invite everyone to chime in and thanks in advance for sharing whatever you can to contribute to the thread!
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what were your winter losses? % loss is 12.5%
# of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 8 Hives going into winter, 7 hives remaining
do you know why you suffered losses?
I think it was due to a poor queen that never really built up the brood. The small cluster could not with stand the sub zero weather to break cluster and move to food stores.
hives/nucs; how many do you have? 7
will you increase? Yes, I hope to increase.
what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
Langstroth 10 frame deeps with two brood boxes, one deep 6 frame nuc with triple boxes that over wintered.
goals: what are your goals this season?
I hope to increase hive/nuc numbers to around 20-24 through splits and swarm traps and maybe swarm calls that are not yellow jackets.
any goals on queens/queen rearing?
I will add 6 more Minnesota Hygienic queens this year. I hope to raise between 12-24 queens from my "best" two feral queens. I want to continue to increase with out buying package bees.
what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
I want to raise my own queens and establish a number of nucs to over winter for increase of the apiary and to replace the winter losses.
what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
About half of my bees are feral mutts that have been cut out of old buildings, caught in swarm traps or caught as swarms. The other half are splits from the swarms with a new Minnesota Hygienic Queen.
mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
OAV very early in the year while there is little brood, followed by Apivar strips for 42 days after honey removal in the middle to late August, another round of OAV in early December.
for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
Not a problem here, yet.
what did you learn last season?
That I will never know more than I don't know about bee keeping.
what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
I have bought a ton of books by the old and new master bee keepers, some youtube videos, a few forums, bee keeping meetings, and an old friend that has kept bees for 50 years here in Iowa. Plus, just plain old observation of the bees them selves.
what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
I am going to try to get the girls to increase the amount of drawn comb that I have on hand to help with splits, plus work on queen rearing.
how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? I wanted a hive of bees to help with the garden a few years ago. After attending a bee keeping class I bought two packages because everyone said to have two to start. I stayed because I am 49% Irish and we tend to be stubborn.
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thanks some day for kick starting the thread, i enjoyed reading your reply.
"what did you learn last season? That I will never know more than I don't know about bee keeping."
i think this is very true. i have always said for myself that i haven't kept bees long enough.
"I stayed because I am 49% Irish and we tend to be stubborn."
.......... :D :D :laugh:
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What were your winter losses? 10% of my production colonies, 4% of my nucs.
# of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 99 Hives, 28 nucs, now at 90 hives and 27 nucs.
Do you know why you suffered losses? Old queens for the most part, that is why my nucs seem to do so well, they have young queens headed into winter. My production colonies have all ages of queens as I don't requeen, I let the bees themselves decide when to. I expect some losses for that reason alone.
Hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? No increase planned other than to make up losses. May increase nucs headed into winter though.
What type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Double deeps for production colonies, 5 over 5 for nucs.
Goals: what are your goals this season? Relax and to have fun, nothing better than working with my bees. ;)
Any goals on queens/queen rearing? No.
What do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? No more big projects, just enjoy the routine more.
What are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Mutts.
Mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? MAQS in fall for production colonies, Apivar or Apistan in nucs in fall. Will be incorporating OA in spring for the first time this year with the OxVap 110.
For those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Not here yet.
What did you learn last season? I'm human and I'm fallible.
What helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? This forum and other keeps.
What will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? Will be doing a spring treatment for the first time.
How did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? Watched Nature on PBS and that was it, I was hooked.
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thanks perry!
would like to hear from others, anyone else?
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New beek alert, haha
1. what were your winter losses?
100% losses (all 2 of them)
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
2, 0
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
Almost positive it was varroa
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
I have woodenware for 4-ish, no nucs. Hope to rebuild this year, I want more bees rather than honey.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
10-frame Lang, all mediums
7. goals: what are your goals this season?
Catch swarms, do some splits and grow the bee yard.
8. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
Nope, maybe next year
9. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
10. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
Too new to have a preference
11. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
Plan to use OA sublimation, have done a lot of reading on this...
12. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
Was not a big issue for me
13. what did you learn last season?
Got to keep on top of mite counts
14. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
This forum!
15. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
Watching mite loads
16. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
I stay BECAUSE of the challenge.
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thanks smokeybee! enjoyed reading your reply.
"New beek alert, haha"
...... :D
this was a funny comment! great humor! and thanks for being here and your contributions to the forum!
we all have been new beeks at some point. i still learn from those younger in beekeeping, for many reasons........guess i could say 'old beek alert' lol...... :D
you missed one question, # 9, (i know 16 questions... :P)
i am curious though, as a young beek, what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
thanks!
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I'm on vaca for the weekend with grandchildren. My goodness they are noisy creatures! I will fill this out when I get back home. Pretty cool survey
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1. what were your winter losses? none, out of 8
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 8, 8
3. do you know why you suffered losses? n/a
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? 8 yes, to 25
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? 10-frame, double deep with a medium for winter
WHAT HAPPENED TO # 6 ??
7. goals: what are your goals this season? increase, learn queen rearing (taking class in May)
8. any goals on queens/queen rearing? see # 7
9. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? how to get the two grandsons to do the Grunt work
10. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? 'mongrels' (swarms)
11. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Formic Acid Pads
12. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? not a problem so far
13. what did you learn last season? leave plenty of food on for over-wintering
14. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? a few stings helps the old arthritis
15. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? better records
16. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? 4-H project at age 12 ( 1962) you do the math
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QUESTIONS ARE:
1. what were your winter losses? None. I gained 5 pounds :(
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? Three going in. Three coming out.
3. do you know why you suffered losses? N/A
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? Three Hives. 0 Nucs.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Two Deep supers on each hive, plus one honey super on two of the hives. Two hives sit over Freeman Beetle Traps, one sits on a Beetle Baffle. Right now, I'm leaning toward getting rid of the baffle.
HEY! Where did #6 go?
7. goals: what are your goals this season? Maintain three hives, grow any swarms I catch into sell-able nucs.
8. any goals on queens/queen rearing? Buy from those who know what they are doing, hopefully in the Fall.
9. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? Figuring out what a nectar flow looks like.
10. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Italians that I get from a beek who imports them from California. Because I trust him, and he is close enough for me to drive to.
11. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Oxalic Acid Vapor, Formic Acid, alternating. Both seem to be working, but I'll throw Apigard into the mix this year, and add a fourth month to treat, rather than the three I've been doing.
12. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
Strong hive, Diatamaceous Earth, Handiwipes, strong hive, Beetle traps with oil, strong hive, Freeman beetle boards with soapy water in the trays, and a strong hive.
13. what did you learn last season? That I should have taken Lazy Beekeepers alias from him. I think it might fit me better than him. I realized I'm too lazy to put hive on someone else's property and properly take care of it. Thankfully, I figured this one out before implementing this plan.
14. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? Listening to other beeks, paying attention to the good folks on this forum.
15. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
Stay on top of the Freeman beetle boards, and keeping the trays filled with soapy water, adding a fourth treatment for mites.
16. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
3Reds said she wanted bees to pollinate her garden, and we'd had a hive in the late 1980's. Stubbornness.
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OK, MS riverbee. It's Saturday and now I have time to answer all these ????? ;D
1. Winter losses? 1 colony in late fall due to queen failure. 1 small late season swarm lost due to my stinkin' thinkin'. Last month I moved them from a nuc to a 10 frame with some frames of honey. They were robbed out because they couldn't defend their space.
2. # of colonies going into winter? 6 + 1 small swarm. 5 colonies left.
3. Why? Yes, see answer #2.
4. Will I increase? Yes. Plan to do splits on 3 and have 2 packages on order.
5. Equipment? Traditional 10 frame Langstroth deeps with medium supers, wood frames with plastic foundation, telescoping lids with a brick/rock on top. If I had it to do over, I would have started with 8 frame Langstroths because of my age. 10 frame deeps get heavier every year.
6.
7. Goals? Do splits. Would like to try rearing queens, but don't feel I have the time available at the right time for queen rearing. More beekeeping education for myself is always a goal. I have a lot of wax that I would like to clean and melt so that I can do some projects. There is always something to learn especially in a field that is as vast as beekeeping.
8. Queen rearing goals? See #7.
9. Self improvement goals? Finding and pinching queens. Also I am incorporating Growing Degree Days into my bloom record keeping. Growing Degree Days will make me more accurate in my bloom data.
10. Genetics? Italians and Carnolians. This is going into my 3rd year with Carnolians and I am like them. I have 2 packages of Carnolians on order from a couple that have an excellent source in California. They take a horse trailer to California every year and bring back packages.
11. Mite treatments? I try to rotate mite treatments. Last fall I used Apiguard. This spring I would like to use HopguardII or OA dribble. The more I learn about mite counts the more I realize you have to keep those mite counts knocked down. This will be the first year of treating in the spring. I am also going to treat the package bees 7 days after installation before they seal the brood.
12. SHB? No quick solution. Keep strong colonies, use beetle traps of some kind consistently. This year I am using the Mann Lake beetle oil in my Beetle Jails. I will see if it is more attractive to SHB over vegetable oil.
13. What did I learn? Lots but in the "I screwed up department" I learned to not give the bees more space than they can care for and defend.
14. What has helped me improve my beekeeping skills? Attending local, monthly bee club meetings. We are always discussing what we should be doing at that time or learning important beekeeping skills. Some times these topics tend to be geared towards the 1st and 2nd year of beekeeping. To take it to the next level I have joined the state beekeeping club. That is an excellent source of knowledge from other members and the wonderful speakers the state club brings in. I enjoy meeting beekeepers from all over the state. Some of them are really challenged.
15. Changes this year? Add a spring mite treatment, stay on top of the SHB control. I also plan to change the name and label of my honey products. I want to change the name to a nickname we have for a grandson. I am also going to do some community educational volunteering at a neighborhood pollinator park.
16. How did I get started in beekeeping? I had to keep up with my bigger sister! My older sister was given 2 colonies for her birthday or Mother's Day. I went over and observed. I was mesmerized. Shortly there after, I took a continuing education class on beekeeping. My sister and I then went to help an acquaintance pull honey. By then, it was too late. I was in deep and I joined the local bee club. At the local bee club I met kindred spirits and have never looked back. I have gotten involved with the club and have held an office for the last 6 years. I also volunteer for planning committees. It keeps me busy and out of trouble, especially in the spring.
Whew!!
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thanks smokeybee! enjoyed reading your reply.
"New beek alert, haha"
...... :D
this was a funny comment! great humor! and thanks for being here and your contributions to the forum!
i am curious though, as a young beek, what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
thanks!
New, but not so young...sounds like a broken record but I need to get control of the VM problem. I follow a lot of Facebook bee pages and EVERY DAY there is another person saying they had 100% losses.
I put so much time and effort into those bees that it aggravates me that I failed to keep them alive. New season, new methods...its all good.
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#6.............. :D
there are only 15 questions. SOMEONE had a brain fart and incorrectly numbered the questions........(https://pli.io/WLwfB.gif)......... :D
and smokey bee you didn't miss any question! and thanks again!
i fixed my original post so copy and paste from that for further replies..... :-[
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#6.............. :D
there are only 15 questions. SOMEONE had a brain fart and incorrectly numbered the questions.......(https://pli.io/WLwfB.gif)....... :D
and smokey bee you didn't miss any question! and thanks again!
i fixed my original post so copy and paste from that for further replies..... :-[
#6 What is your favorite lesson learned from Riverbee? Gosh, that's a hard one. It is either never put a hive in the back seat of your car, or maybe it is the one about not trying to wax your floors with hot beeswax.
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New, but not so young...sounds like a broken record but I need to get control of the VM problem. I follow a lot of Facebook bee pages and EVERY DAY there is another person saying they had 100% losses.
I put so much time and effort into those bees that it aggravates me that I failed to keep them alive. New season, new methods...its all good.
Read Randy Oliver's ongoing research at www.scientificbeekeeping.com. He has been working with oxalic acid.
varroa mite= public enemy #1
We have to keep our mite numbers down.
Last week I saw a local presentation on how to install a package of bees. For the first time, I heard recommendations for treating package bees. It was suggested to use OA dribble 7 days after releasing the queen. That is a first and that came from local LONG TERM beekeepers that I greatly respect.
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#6 What is your favorite lesson learned from Riverbee? Gosh, that's a hard one. It is either never put a hive in the back seat of your car, or maybe it is the one about not trying to wax your floors with hot beeswax.
#6 What is your favorite lesson learned from riverbee? Don't wax the floor with beeswax! and there's a Jeep thing going around. ;D
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"#6 What is your favorite lesson learned from Riverbee? Gosh, that's a hard one. It is either never put a hive in the back seat of your car, or maybe it is the one about not trying to wax your floors with hot beeswax."
"#6 What is your favorite lesson learned from riverbee? Don't wax the floor with beeswax! and there's a Jeep thing going around. ;D"
i have had some misadventures.....tape measure ding to the head from the hillbillies snowblower next door, maybe that's why i can't get the number thing...... :D
AND don't volunteer to chase down a rather hefty pig and load it in the back of a buick to be driven to the u of minnesota for a vet visit.
this is a great thread. i am enjoying reading all the posts here, and also the insight each post brings to the thread. we all keep bees, but really never take the time to share with others all the material contained in the 15 questions i have asked.
btw, the 16th question is:
"What is your favorite lesson learned from riverbee?".......... :D
lol, just kidding, let's keep this thread rolling and you all can razz me at the end of your replies!
to simplify so members don't have to scroll to the first post and copy and paste, questions are:
1. what were your winter losses?
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
12. what did you learn last season?
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
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Bakers dozen,
Yup, read that and that's what I'll be doing. This is also good:
https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/
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That's a good link, Smokey.
Hey Jen! If you are reading this post, you need to check out Smokey's link to the honey bee health coalition. There is a downloadable
presentation you can present to your local bee club.
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1-3
2-15
3-usda lab report=mites
4-i do plan to increase
5-2 10 frame deeps
6-get to 25 hives
7-i do plan to rear queens
8-better control of losses
9-local mutts
10-apiguard in the fall. just used O.A. for the 1st time & as my 1st ever spring mite treatment. some vapor & some drizzle to compare results.
11-still a learning process. besides traps i'm trying wood ash & salt under hives & vacuuming.
12-to put bring checklist on my checklist
13-forums, research, comparing notes with other keepers
14-bee more vigilant with mite control
15- have used lady bugs, praying mantids, lacewings, & assassin bugs for 40 years in the garden. seemed like a logical move & I'm not right in the head.
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it is still too early to tell. We had a few 50 and 60 degree days, and then yesterday we had three inches of snow and it is near freezing again...
Warm stretches, that drop back to freezing, then another warm stretch, that drops back to freezing, over and over, is VERY HARD on the bees. I am finding dead hives with two and three small clusters.. had they managed to get clustered in ONE cluster, they would have done fine, they had plenty of reserves, but they didn't get together, so they died...
I had bees swarming the maple buds like mad. They were bringing in the nectar/pollen from those buds... now those buds are dead and falling off the trees. I have hives that have eggs, and no way to feed those eggs through until new buds emerge...
Looks like emergency measures are necessary...
Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine. This stupid weather is killing them relentlessly... 11 of 32 hives left at this point.
I am going to build three bee sheds this summer and put all my bees inside. I am hoping that inside the shed, the hives will be slower to heat, as well as cool, and the bees will have more time to situate and organize inside a shed where the temps are slower to change...
Scott
Scott
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Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine. This stupid weather is killing them relentlessly... 11 of 32 hives left at this point.
Scott
Come on Down! We still got plenty of space.
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Seriously getting tired of keeping bees here in Iowa with temps that do this... My bees would ALL be better off in Texas, or in Maine.
or maybe I'll move to Nova Scotia!!
:) :) :) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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scott, thanks for chiming in on the thread.....i had hoped you would!
uh......but you forgot to answer the questions............... :D :D :laugh:
and i hear ya btw, some things get me wound up to make me re-think keeping bees.
so your 'homework assignment' is.............15 questions, errr 14 questions?....... :D
LOL! i think you already answered question 1?
rum and coke, relax and we look forward to reading a scott animated and educational reply.............. 8)
1. what were your winter losses?
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
12. what did you learn last season?
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
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I've pondered this one for a while. LOL. If only the bees were here...
1. what were your winter losses? 0 - none -- I lost them all in late August.
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 0 / 0 - we're talking bees and not woodenware - right??
3. do you know why you suffered losses? I suspect a mite load (was in middle of an OAV treatment), but not positive. Robbing also a factor and subsequent SHB takeover.
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? 2 with (2) 10 frame deeps, (1) medium super, (2) 5 frame nucs, (1) long lang with approx 28 frame capacity.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Maybe the above should have been here.
6. goals: what are your goals this season? Better monitoring of mite loads. To successfully carry over from one year to the next. This will be third attempt.
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? No - not now.
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? See (6). Also swarm management.
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Previous bees were Italian
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? OAV and OA dribble. Plan to add MAQS in the mix this year. Part 2 - As no bees currently I guess the correct answer would be nothing yet.
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Strong hive, defensible space.
12. what did you learn last season? That I have a lot more to learn.
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? I joined the local bee club to meet other similar minded folk, and also the state association. I just completed "bee school" put on by the local club, The school was extremely educational and geared towards the local beekeeping environment which answered a lot of questions I had.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? More consistent mite monitoring via sugar rolls to determine treatment needs/intervals
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? I had an uncle who kept bees years ago, and saw a display at the fair that rekindled my interest. I'm stubborn and know that I can do this (so I keep saying). Whats a few stings beside all the rabbit scratches. LOL. Bee toes don't need nail clipping do they?? If so, I may have to reconsider.
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thank you lastfling, i enjoyed reading your reply.
"we're talking bees and not woodenware - right??"
yes, bees!
i think we all have empty wooden-ware laying around or being stored, i do.
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New beek's efforts to answer. This will be my second year for this endeavor, but man I learned a lot last year. Some of which was what not to do. I have 2 nucs on order - should get them in a few weeks and will reload the hives with new bees.
1. what were your winter losses? I'm like Lastfling - lost both hives in the fall
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? 2 (if you count fall)/ 0 now
3. do you know why you suffered losses? Not sure, but probably mite load
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? I have enough woodenware for 3 - 2 deep hives, 4 supers, and one nuc box. Will increase someday.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Langstrom - 2 deeps
6. goals: what are your goals this season? Try to get my bees thru next winter
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? No
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? Treating for mites. Used ApiGuard last fall, will probably try OV this year
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Live bees
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Used ApiGuard - need to find a better treatment this year
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Swiffer sheets did OK, and beetle traps got a couple of them, but hive tool is most effective for me
12. what did you learn last season? Wow - this will require another post. but in a nutshell - "This is hard"
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? This forum did a lot. Reading everything I could find helped too.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? Not sure yet, but something.
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? I got involved because it is the right thing to do, I am retired and have plenty of time, and I like a good challenge (and whooo boy!).
PappyRick
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1) lost 3 hives and 1 nuc.
2) 15 hives and 2 nucs going into winter; 12 hives and 1 nuc survived
3) guessing here, 2 hives to mite load, 1 hive nosema ?
4) would like to build up to 20-25 hives eventually
5) langstrom 2 deep 10 framers for hives, deep 5 over 5 nucs
6) increased honey crop and increase hive count
7) no goals for queen rearing at this point
8) I'd like to get a handle on managing colonies for honey production
9) Italian mutts is my guess
10) OAV spring and fall but would like to mix it up a bit with something different just to play it safe
11) SHB not a big problem here yet
12) larger colonies produce better queens
13) this forum helps a great deal as does hanging out with better beekeepers
14) I'll probably stick to the same basic plan but pay more attention to what the bees try to tell me.
15) it's Josh's fault!!!! We stick to it because we're in too deep to turn back now!
P.S. I don't know how to cut and paste, but it sounds like fun. Ted
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Finally a moment to sit and respond......
1. what were your winter losses? None
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining? Two
3. do you know why you suffered losses? N/A
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase? Currently two NUCS. Hoping to split one of the NUCS and also have two NUCS on order for June arrival.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration? Five frame NUCS, two deeps and will add medium supers once the flow starts.
6. goals: what are your goals this season? Expand my colonies, stay on top of mites and help boost the bees health with supplements.
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing? Hopefully from the split,I can raise a queen.
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at? I want to become "braver" LOL. Try to work as much as possible without gloves.
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why? Currently Buckfast but doubt they are pure now. Have no preferences.
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you? Oxalic Acid and Formic Acid. Would love to buy a vaporizer but too rich for me. Will stick with oxalic acid sublimation and switch off with Apivar near fall.
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you? Not an issue.
12. what did you learn last season? Get the robbing screens on in August. Lost two hives from robbing - feral honeybees?? and yellow jackets. AND KILL ALL YELLOWJACKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills? Time and research, research, research and, of course, my fellow beeks on WWB.
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season? Going to space my hives further apart to try and lessen drone drift to keep the phoretic mites from moving from hive to hive.
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges? Wanted bees for pollination purposes. I stay with it because it keeps my gray matter from turning to mush trying to figure out the next step and stay ahead. Also enjoy the camaraderie with the my fellow beeks.
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a good thread, i just had a chance to read through the recent replies. thank you all very much!
when i first started this thread and realized how many questions i had asked, i thought, who is going to want to take the time to answer all these questions? i thought well, give it a whirl, if it floats, it floats, if it doesn't.........maybe i just drive everyone roll eyes crazy and post one question at a time ......... :D
for me, reading each reply is pretty cool. how everyone is keeping bees and doing their best to do so, and learning a little about everyone who has replied.
when this thread winds down, i think i will probably post a 'synopsis' of each individual question and answers to them. perhaps this will help others in some way. we all don't get a chance to say what we are doing with bees. we ask questions, and maybe answer questions, but maybe don't give a 'big picture' of where we are all at in beekeeping.
one topic is very common...........mites is what we all struggle with.
i think my favorite question and answers to is # 15 (how we all got started in keepin bees and keep going)........some great stuff and some funny answers......life is good!
this thread hasn't wound down yet, and i am looking forward to more replies!
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Actually, I answered the first 3 questions. :P
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
None at the moment, but I will work at making more, depending on how many bees I have left when I check them this coming month.
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
Langstroth, I try to run all mediums just to make things easier.
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
Rebuild from the losses, and with luck go into winter with six to ten nucs as well.
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
Yep, need to raise queens to do splits!
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
Keeping bees alive! :yes:
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
Mutt's It has been my experience that generally mutt's are heartier. I have tried several different (designer) bees without a lot of success. My old tiger striped mutt's tend to survive when none of the others do.
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
Oxalic Acid Vapor exclusively. It works a lot like a homing missile for mites. Lock target, fire, and forget.
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
JUST getting hive beetles now, so this will be a learning experience.
12. what did you learn last season?
Don't let the wife talk me into running off in July. STAY WITH THE BEES!
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
Reading about how everyone else keeps bees that visits this forum!
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
Planning to build a couple custom bee sheds, to see if they will keep the temps in the hives a little more consistent, both to keep the bees clustered, and or to allow the bees to RE cluster on those 50 degree days in Late Jan, Early Feb when it suddenly drops back below freezing as the sun goes down.
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
My Grandpa got me a job helping another beekeeper back in 1977.
Why do I stick with it? Apparently, because I am missing a few KEY brain cells? ;D
Scott
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thanks scott!
les, where were you getting your buckfast's from?
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I am getting them from a fellow in my beekeeping club. If you want, I can ask him where he got them from
originally.
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thanks les, send me a pm when you find out. i have always wanted to try buckfast's.
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anyone else that would like to consider contributing to this thread?
we have answers from 12 members, some great stuff!
i want to try and compile answers to each question and post an overall synopsis to each question!
and thanks again to all who contributed!
anyone else?
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1. what are your winter losses?
still waiting on our Nova Scotia weather for a full hive check
2. # of hives going into winter and hives now remaining?
I went into winter with 1 hive and it's still alive. I was happy to see bees out flying on Saturday and bringing home pollen.
3. do you know why you suffered losses?
no loss yet
4. hives/nucs; how many do you have? will you increase?
One hive now and I've ordered a Nuc to increase to 2 this summer
5. what type of equipment are you using and what configuration?
Langstroth double deeps
6. goals: what are your goals this season?
increase number of hives, plant some clover and mustard
7. any goals on queens/queen rearing?
I'd like more education on this
8. what do you want to learn or better yourself this season at?
general beekeeping skills...I'm so new...
9. what are the genetics of bees kept or genetics of bees and/or specific queen/s you prefer? and why?
I got my bees from Perry - that's all I know about the genetics
10. mite treatments; what have you used, what do you use and what do you find that works for you?
used MAQS in the Fall
11. for those who are also plagued by shb, what do you find works for you?
n/a
12. what did you learn last season?
watching happy bees is good for the soul, and stings really hurt
13. what helps or has helped you to improve your beekeeping skills?
education, practice, patience, experienced beekeepers
14. what will you do differently or what will change in your management scheme this season?
better mite monitoring
15. how did you get started in beekeeping and why do you stay with it in-spite of all the challenges?
always wanted to try beekeeping and I try to keep the challenges in perspective :)
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13 members have posted answers to this thread, would like to get two more posts to 15......anyone else?
two more!
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QUESTIONS ARE:
13. what did you learn last season? That I should have taken Lazy Beekeepers alias from him. I think it might fit me better than him. I realized I'm too lazy to put hive on someone else's property and properly take care of it. Thankfully, I figured this one out before implementing this plan.
I thought I learned not to put a hive on someone else's property because I was too lazy to tend to them properly.
But, it looks like I didn't really learn that lesson, because here I go, putting TWO hives on someone else's property. We'll see if I can overcome my lethargic ways and check on them.
The lessons I have already learned for 2018 are:
1) An out-yard away from civilization is a good thing to have when your bees go aggressive.
2) How to move those bees from the back yard to the out-yard.
3) Your bee suit does a good job of protecting you from an angry swarm of bees.
4) Your bee gloves may not be thick enough to protect you from an angry swarm of bees when the leather is stretched tight over your hand while clutching a frame.
5) Alarm pheromone smells more like Cat Urine than bananas to me, and I feel sorry for anyone who gets the two scents confuses.
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LOL WM...
All true! Also? NEVER lay your hive tool down. ALWAYS put it in your back pocket, EVEN when it is sticky. Bees can coordinate well enough so that they can make your hive tool VANISH. I swear that they all get together and fly away with it when your not looking!
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LOL WM...
All true! Also? NEVER lay your hive tool down. ALWAYS put it in your back pocket, EVEN when it is sticky. Bees can coordinate well enough so that they can make your hive tool VANISH. I swear that they all get together and fly away with it when your not looking!
I forgot about that one.
Fortunately, I have 3Reds to catch the thing before the bees steal it. I don’t know how many times I’d looked for my hive tool, only to have 3Reds hand it too me, telling me to use my pocket!
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1) 8 hives
2) 9 hives
3) my inexperience, thinking i coud overwinter 3 frames of bees in a single 10 deep box. Didn't know how many bees i needed to overwinter.
4) hope to increase with nucs.
5) 10 deep langs. and med. super
6) to create alot of nucs. then make hives.
7) was going to try cloake board method.
#8) 8) keeping bees alive.
9) Mutts. They seem to bee what works here.
10) OAV, bought varrox last year.
11) iddee told me fun sun. Haven't had a problem, a few here an there.
12) to much to post.
13) surfing net, and this forum.
14) try a nuc yard for increases.
15) golf was my hobby. 2014 had emergency colostomy surgery, so really couldn't do much for about 8 months. A friend gave me a box of bees, been hook every since.
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For got to put 8) an 9) in front of reply
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thanks mikey for your reply, i fixed the '9)' for you........
14 members have replied, ONE more?!.......... 8) anyone else? and thanks!
like to do a synopsis of all the answers here!