Author Topic: Keeping bees warm (Read 14386 times)

LogicalBee · « **Reply #20 on:** March 24, 2015, 11:57:30 pm »

If you ask enough bee keepers, you might even find one or two that thinks the seedling mat could be a great idea; especially for a package. The only real issue with the seedling mat is the temperature control. You don’t want to cook the bees with an unregulated heat source, or too much heat. I don’t know off hand how many watts of heat the seedling heaters generate or how quickly heat escapes your hive so there are some serious unknowns with that approach. As iddee says, a garage around 60F would be a great idea for now and more controlled at this point.

Spring may eventually arrive......but who knows. We got down to 12F the other night here. :'(

Slowmodem · « **Reply #21 on:** March 25, 2015, 05:23:09 pm »

Welcome and enjoy your stay!

Lots of advice up there. I'd recommend for you to join a local beekeeper's association if there is one, or try to meet other keeps in your area. Experienced beekeepers can be a big help if you have trouble.

My concern is Georgia bees in New York. I've always heard and read that local bees adjusted to the climate where you are would probably have better luck coming through the winter than some coming from the deep south.

Good luck!

Riverrat · « **Reply #22 on:** March 25, 2015, 10:25:38 pm »

I'm surprised you found someone down south that would send a package of bees that far north in March. We are in south central Kansas and you usually don't see packages around here until mid April or later.

Les · « **Reply #23 on:** March 26, 2015, 09:24:33 am »

We have a local bee supply store and they are who I purchased my bees through. They drive a climate controlled van to Georgia themselves and bring the bees back for dispersal. They make two runs late March and late April. Being a newbie I thought I could get a jump start on the season by ordering them for March delivery. Oh me of little knowledge LOL!

robo · « **Reply #24 on:** March 26, 2015, 09:36:54 am »

Leslie,

I know it can be a little overwhelming, but hopefully this will help a bit. There was similar discussions last year and a video of how Rich's (from the BeeGroup) hive made out last year with a similar situation following the advice I gave you.

http://www.worldwidebeekeeping.com/forum/index.php/topic,1217.msg20739.html#msg20739

I wouldn't go buy solid bottom boards, you can just cover them with cardboard for now.

Les · « **Reply #25 on:** March 26, 2015, 10:03:32 am »

Rob,
Thank you so much. Seeing that video alleviated much of our anxiety. He got himself a good queen! We pick up our packages at noon and hope that there are no torrential downpours till after we get them installed.

Les

robo · « **Reply #26 on:** March 26, 2015, 10:12:25 am »

Lindsay is working today. I'm sure she'll take good care of you.

Riverrat · « **Reply #27 on:** March 26, 2015, 05:07:07 pm »

This is going to be a learning experience for us all. And will be a good topic to follow getting them through to fall. Please keep us updated on your progress.

riverbee · « **Reply #28 on:** March 26, 2015, 06:34:34 pm »

what rat said, please keep us updated!

good luck with the bees, with robo and lindsay to lean on, your in good hands!

btw, you will regret only ordering ONE package of bees...........

Slowmodem · « **Reply #29 on:** March 26, 2015, 10:18:19 pm »

Quote from: riverbee on March 26, 2015, 06:34:34 pm

what rat said, please keep us updated!

good luck with the bees, with robo and lindsay to lean on, your in good hands!

btw, you will regret only ordering ONE package of bees...........

Maybe it's not too late to order a second. :eusa_think:

Les · « **Reply #30 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:10:42 am »

I must not have been clear......I did order two hives.

Les · « **Reply #31 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:50:49 am »

Morning Folks,
Update on day after install. We decided to follow our group leader's advice and set the hives up outside. Raw and rainy day but we persevered. Never knew bees could poop so much.....our suits were covered in it. We attempted a passive install but nighttime was coming on and they were not leaving the package so we ended up shaking them out of the package. They were unhappy bees! It is 7:00 a.m. the next day and I just took out some warm sugar water to replace the feeder that was there all night. I am happy to say they are breaking cluster and taking the sugar water. Temperature this morning is 37 degrees, so I was quick about replacing the sugar water. I am experimenting with hive types....I am using a wooden hive and a polystyrene one. Both inner overs have a small notch to the outside world and I noticed that the bees on the polystyrene hive are poking their heads out and wandering around a bit but quickly returning to the hive. The wooden hive, not a bee poking it's head out. Stay tuned.......

camero7 · « **Reply #32 on:** March 27, 2015, 07:52:56 am »

Quote

My concern is Georgia bees in New York. I've always heard and read that local bees adjusted to the climate where you are would probably have better luck coming through the winter than some coming from the deep south.

My best queens the last 2 years have come from Oklahoma... I got 100% survival this brutal winter from them. I don't buy into the acclimation theory that strongly. 1/2 were VSH dark and the others were Pol-Line.

Les · « **Reply #33 on:** March 27, 2015, 08:13:20 am »

I thought it would be better on the bees if they were transported quickly from Georgia to NY rather than having them shipped from someplace else. If we decide to add another hive next year, I think we will go with a local beek that sells Nucs.

Ray · « **Reply #34 on:** March 27, 2015, 09:16:52 am »

Straying from the subject

The issue is package bees. They are products of the pollination factories (for the most part) and the queens are produced by the thousands. Quantity over quality!

iddee · « **Reply #35 on:** March 27, 2015, 09:45:35 am »

Ray, you are correct to an extent, but not always. We picked up 300 packages last year in Ga. We went around with the keep to his different yards and shook bees into packages. Then we went to his queen yard and picked queens from his mating boxes. We will be going after 200 to 400 packages April 10th this year and do the same thing. All Ga. beeks don't get almond bees.

Les · « **Reply #36 on:** March 27, 2015, 06:59:26 pm »

Second update....gave them their second feeder of warmed sugar syrup for the day. They knocked down more than half a quart jar from this morning so that makes me happy. However, we do have lots of dead bees around. Our house is approximately 30 yards from the hive location and we are finding lots of them dead in the driveway and stuck to the side of the house dead. It never got above 50 today so perhaps when they took their cleansing flights, it was just too far from the hive and they got too cold. When I opened the top, there were lots of bees clustered around the feeder and at the top of the frames. Tomorrow is forecasted for a high in the mid 50's and as the week proceeds. So, I am hopeful they can make through till we hit 61 next Saturday. Saw my first bee poop, how exciting LOL!

Slowmodem · « **Reply #37 on:** March 27, 2015, 10:57:56 pm »

I'm glad you're getting in with and playing with the bees. You can read and read and read, but until you get into them, you never understand what you've read. Good luck!

Les · « **Reply #38 on:** March 28, 2015, 08:59:17 am »

Boy you are so correct about doing all the homework in the world regarding beekeeping but until you shake them out and a have hundreds of bees flying into your veil and all around you, you won't have a true understanding. I have to admit that I had to push down my feelings of panic when they came flying out.....thank goodness for the veil and suit.

Les · « **Reply #39 on:** March 30, 2015, 09:52:54 am »

Mother Nature is having fun messing with us. Beautiful 45 degree sunny day yesterday. Awoke to snow and 32 degrees!