Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: rober on October 09, 2023, 04:11:56 pm

Title: bees aren't finished with me
Post by: rober on October 09, 2023, 04:11:56 pm
my daughter picked my last hive 6 weeks ago. it's strange to not have lots of bees around. i did notice a few more bees being around recently. i've not been outside as much as i'm still recovering from my back surgery. when i did venture down to the back of my property i noticed bees coming & going from a swarm trap. put a veil on & took a peek & had 3 frames of bees & a laying queen. must have been a fall absconding. put them in a nuc & added 2 frames.
also, i still get countless calls from people i sold nucs to or mentored over the years asking advice. so i guess i'm not quite finished with the girls.
Title: Re: bees aren't finished with me
Post by: iddee on October 09, 2023, 05:42:53 pm
Yep, that's the way it goes. I retired 15 years ago and gave away all my bees. Caught swarms every year since. 3 this year.  :o :laugh:
Title: Re: bees aren't finished with me
Post by: rober on October 10, 2023, 10:05:33 am
i'm not sure how i got on some but i cannot count all of the swarm lists i'm on. more than 5 p.d., fire depts, & park depts. cities, mo conservation dept, several bee associations, on & on. i couldn't do cut-outs this year due to my surgery. i quit doing trapouts cuz it's not worth the effort ( to me ). but next year is my back allow i'll continue with single story cutouts & catching swarms. i've been averaging 25 swarms a year for 15 years. many of those were sold. in the future i'll give my daughter as many as she wants & will sell the rest. what can i say i really enjoy catching swarms.
i'm glad i preview posts before posting them. i tried abbreviating association & it came up donkey instead of as*.
Title: Re: bees aren't finished with me
Post by: Bakersdozen on October 10, 2023, 11:21:55 am
rober,  are you able to do a mite count on that nuc?  I would be curious since they likely absconded.
Title: Re: bees aren't finished with me
Post by: rober on October 10, 2023, 12:13:24 pm
i will shortly. i built this one & it has a screened bottom board. it's one of the few pieces of equipment that i have left. i had a guy buy most everything that i hadn't given my daughter a month ago. the bee shed is nearly empty. still have jokerst nuc boxes, smokers, gloves, & suits. i need to move the gloves so the mice don't get them. those boogers can squeeze tru the tiniest cracks. their skulls must be flexible.