http://www.beesource.com/forums/ en Thu, 23 May 2013 03:55:34 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.beesource.com/forums/images/misc/rss.png http://www.beesource.com/forums/ http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283400-Trying-a-split&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 02:49:34 GMT Alright, so I was going through the top supper today and found a queen cell with a egg in it. There was lots of honey and lots of drone brood. I... Alright, so I was going through the top supper today and found a queen cell with a egg in it. There was lots of honey and lots of drone brood. I pulled 2 full frame of bees and put them in a Nuc. I walked it maybe 50' tonight and put it next to my shed. I guess I will see what happens. ]]> Beekeeping 101 Hines farms http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283400-Trying-a-split http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283387-A-strange-and-somewhat-useless-observation&goto=newpost Thu, 23 May 2013 01:07:29 GMT My 6 Langstroth hives are in my front yard and I find myself going out and watching them a lot. This evening, it suddenly dawned on me that all the... My 6 Langstroth hives are in my front yard and I find myself going out and watching them a lot. This evening, it suddenly dawned on me that all the hives have the same traffic pattern during the flow. They enter and exit their hives from the left side (facing) of their entrance. Entrances are fully open. Oh sure, there are a few bees that don't follow this rule, but I'd say at least 80% of them do. I do have one exception...a nuc that is on the same stand, but facing the opposite direction. They enter from the RH side (facing). But...the nuc is really not an exception...they are all entering and exiting from the West side of their hive! Anyone else notice this or am I spending too much time watching my girls? ]]> Beekeeping 101 Belewsboy http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283387-A-strange-and-somewhat-useless-observation http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283374-too-cold-to-add-second-box&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 20:53:22 GMT My bees are ready for their second deep.. Temps this week are a bit down.. Mid 30's at night 50's & 60's during the day... Is that not a good time to add the second box?? They have roughly 8 frames drawn out and everthing says add a box.. Is it going to be better to wait till tuesday when the weather normalizes or will they be fine getting the second box now?? ]]> Beekeeping 101 Stanger http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283374-too-cold-to-add-second-box http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283370-Hive-Relocation-Problem&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 20:24:32 GMT Dear Fellow Beekeepers

My name is Rafael Aragon. I am 17 yrs. old and just got into the beekeeping community with a friend. I'm loving it. I have a problem that I need a solution to. A friend of mine delivered my bees to me and could not move them up to the location on the hill. So he put them 30 to 40 yards away from the location, until he could move them again. He did not move them for at least 5 days. He finally moved them for me a couple nights ago. However, the next morning when I went out to see how the bees were doing, I discovered that they (the bees) where swarming around the old location where the hives where before. I cannot seem to find a way to move or direct them to the new location. I want to help them out as soon as I can. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and write me.



Sincerely

Rafael Aragon
Mr. Buzzy Bee ]]> Beekeeping 101 Mr. Buzzy Bee http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283370-Hive-Relocation-Problem http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283364-Bees-not-Foraging-(Help-Please)&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 18:47:34 GMT :cry: I have a very good laying queen with a fairly good buildup but my bees just aren't foraging, the poplar flow is on but nothing really happening, they seem to just be hanging out tending to the brood. Please does anyone have any ideas or suggestions?? ]]> Beekeeping 101 poppy1 http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283364-Bees-not-Foraging-(Help-Please) http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283360-The-quot-Feed-Hole-quot-aka-quot-the-hole-in-the-inner-cover-quot&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 18:02:28 GMT Most of the time the opening in the inner covers are referred to as... "the hole in the inner cover". In L. E. Snelgrove's book "The Introduction of Queen Bees", Snelgrove refers to this opening as the "Feed-Hole".

I think I prefer feed hole... as it's shorter and more specific.

I suspect that feed holes were in use before the Porter Bee Escapes were invented. ]]> Beekeeping 101 BeeCurious http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283360-The-quot-Feed-Hole-quot-aka-quot-the-hole-in-the-inner-cover-quot http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283358-Foundationless-frames-question&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 17:50:56 GMT It seems the bees when drawing comb leave a gap at the bottom and never quite take it all the way and attach to the bottom of the frame. All the... It seems the bees when drawing comb leave a gap at the bottom and never quite take it all the way and attach to the bottom of the frame. All the pictures I've seen seem to suggest this a well and it makes the overall structure of the comb quite a bit more fragile it seems, especially brand new comb

My question is, what if I attached a guide like a popsicle stick protruding up about a 1/4 inch across the bottom of the frame similar to what's at the top, will that help give them something to attach to? Has anyone tried this? ]]> Beekeeping 101 BuckeyeBeek http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283358-Foundationless-frames-question http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283345-Foundation-Question&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 15:08:20 GMT Talk to me about small cell. Pros/cons. Also, where do you order yours from? Talk to me about small cell.

Pros/cons.

Also, where do you order yours from? ]]> Beekeeping 101 CPendergraff http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283345-Foundation-Question http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283343-Which-queen-release-method-for-this-situation&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:49:47 GMT Thursday the 23rd I am installing 2 packages in a Lang 10 frame. I am leaving town on Saturday morning for a week. Which queen release method would... Thursday the 23rd I am installing 2 packages in a Lang 10 frame. I am leaving town on Saturday morning for a week. Which queen release method would work best since I won't be around to check?

Thanks! ]]> Beekeeping 101 frankthomas http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283343-Which-queen-release-method-for-this-situation http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283341-Newbie-confusion-and-wonder-regarding-queens&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:31:27 GMT I'll start this off by saying I have 3 good hives going - well, healthy and laying and storing and all that, from packages, two are 3 weeks old and 1 is 5 days old (that is, "old" as in how long installed).

I have a 4th hive - I have messed it up, but am remaining positive because its been an interesting hive to watch and listen to.

I installed this 4th hive (and my 3rd) on Friday. In one swift oafish, clumsy, spastic moment, I crushed the queen of hive #4 while she sat in her safe little cage, so the 4th hive was queenless. She wasn't quite dead, but wadded up twitching on the other side of the cork which was now down inside the cage after I shoved it in instead of pulling it out (an involuntary and regrettable twitch). I set her in her cage on top of the inner cover, closed the lid, and proceeded here to beesource.com to find out what to do.

I asked what to do here online, knowing that I could pick up a new queen Monday if necessary. The advice was good here, and shortly thereafter I ordered the queen for Monday morning pickup. I was out of town by then and could not remove the dead (or dying queen) until Sunday morning, so I pulled out the cage as soon as I got home. While in there, I checked the frames and there was some comb built, nectar and pollen stored, no eggs, and basically 6000 bees milling around. The new queen was installed Monday, carefully, and alive, almost exactly 24 hours after I removed the other one.

EXCEPT, I could not remove the dead queen because she was no longer in the cage; nor was the cork. I assumed the other bees had removed her. When I last saw her she was hunched over, her guts were coming out of her face, and she was twitching.

So now the interesting part (for me anyway).

Last night when I opened the top feeder to refill it (they are thirsty, these bees), there was a distinct loud piping noise. One loud pipe then some ruckus (maybe smaller piping or who knows what), silence, then a bit later that loud pipe - repeating, to my ears the same voice every time. On another post this morning in this forum, it appears that mated queens will indeed pipe (I thought it was just virgins who did) to announce to the hive that she is there.

I decided to have a look this morning, about 48 hours since I requeened. I found the cage empty, candy eaten, queen is loose somewhere - I suppose she may have been the one piping. There were no visible eggs as expected since Replacement Queen has just come along, BUT there were 3 queen cells - I think they are supercedure cells (I used the pictures and descriptions from this link as a guide http://www.wbka.com/pdf/a012queencells.pdf ). On 2 of them a bee had its head inside perhaps feeding. I didn't see the queen walking around, but I've never actually seen one on a frame in person so that's no surprise.

Since the bees can't or don't build queen cells without an egg available, and it takes 2 or 3 days for the queen cell to be visible (per my reference above), these are not my replacement queen's eggs.. Is it possible that the original queen dragged her sad dying self far enough to pop out 3 eggs then died? Or is more likely she made some kind of recovery (albeit unable to lay many eggs), and now there are 2 queens in there making noises at each other?

Quite fascinating. In any case, I'll just leave those queen cells in there and see what happens. If nothing good has happened in about 3 weeks, I will try adding a frame of brood from one of the other hives and observe that. I consider this whole thing my expensive lesson in being more careful with my next package. ]]> Beekeeping 101 BSAChris http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283341-Newbie-confusion-and-wonder-regarding-queens http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283340-Installed-packages-Saturday-how-long-should-I-feed-them&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 14:30:26 GMT I installed two 3# packages on Saturday. I set up an entrance feeder on each with 1:1 sugar water. Went down this morning to see the bees and... I installed two 3# packages on Saturday. I set up an entrance feeder on each with 1:1 sugar water. Went down this morning to see the bees and noticed one is nearly empty, the other is half empty. I will go into hive tomorrow or Friday to make sure the queen has been released. My question is, how long do I keep feeding them? Thanks for any advice! ]]> Beekeeping 101 ksp107 http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283340-Installed-packages-Saturday-how-long-should-I-feed-them http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283329-Bee-Suit-or-Boiler-Suit-and-veil&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 06:04:20 GMT I have just completed a beekeeping course, but had to delay my own hive, simply because my garden is too small. I initially thought about a single... I have just completed a beekeeping course, but had to delay my own hive, simply because my garden is too small. I initially thought about a single hive, but now know this isn't ideal and anyway, I would want more.

However, I have just been given the chance to look after three hives for somebody else, which is great.

I now need to get some protective clothing.

There are several full bee suits on the market, for varying prices, but other folk have suggested using a boiler suit and a veil.

What would readers here recommend please.

During my course, I borrowed a very thin jacket type suit, with a hat and veil, which seems to me to be OK ... Although the instructor did say the bees there were very gentle.

Thank you for any advice. ]]> Beekeeping 101 WillieBee http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283329-Bee-Suit-or-Boiler-Suit-and-veil http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283327-Possible-lost-queen&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 05:01:24 GMT I started a package of bees on the 1oth of May and did a direct release of the queen on the 13th. I checked the hive yesterday and could not find... I started a package of bees on the 1oth of May and did a direct release of the queen on the 13th. I checked the hive yesterday and could not find the queen. I also did not see any eggs,larva or capped brood. I see pollen and some white cappings that contain syrup but that was it. I also have a hive I started from a nuc which is doing very well and has 2 deep hivebodies drawn out. Should I add a frame from this hive and let the bees raise their own queen or just order another queen? Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks Jeff Baker ]]> Beekeeping 101 jjbaker210 http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283327-Possible-lost-queen http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283323-Added-my-second-Deep-so-now-what&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 03:23:26 GMT As the title says, I added the next 8 frames to my second deep because they are fully filling out frames 2 thru 7 and have started in on frame 1.... As the title says, I added the next 8 frames to my second deep because they are fully filling out frames 2 thru 7 and have started in on frame 1. Frame 8 hasn't been touched yet. So I moved the 1 gallon feed jar up on top of the inner cover with two medium supers as the feed station surrounding the jar. No frames in the supers, just a covered feed station. I popped the top cover off later this evening and noticed that very few bees have found the feed jar partially covering the oval hole of the inner cover. How long does it take them to rediscover the feed station? Are they totally freaked out and discombobulated with the addition of the new frames? I'm sure they will get to it eventually, I was just wondering if messing with the hive like this is similar to moving the hive more than a few feet? I've basically given them twice the room they had before. It was starting to get pretty packed in there and I didn't want them to swarm. Time for some expansion and building up of the colony! I'm at 4.5 weeks into hiving the package. Is there anything else I need to be watching for now? ]]> Beekeeping 101 ChasWG http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283323-Added-my-second-Deep-so-now-what http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283318-Pith-Helmets&goto=newpost Wed, 22 May 2013 02:11:42 GMT Curious question. Why do beekeepers use pith helmets? Is there some historical significance, or we're they simply the right shape with a wide brim to hold the veil away from your head? Somewhere along the line someone tried it and it caught on. ]]> Beekeeping 101 Kevtater http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?283318-Pith-Helmets