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Thank you all for the encouragement and benefit of your experience. I'll post in a couple of weeks to let you know how successful I was with this hive. One thing of note, western Washington had a...

Okay, one of my hives has DWV showing up in newly emerged workers and now newly emerged drones. Knowing that this is a virus, and by definition untreatable, is it prudent to kill and clean the...

5577Hi Don, looks like Rader Sidetrack pretty much answered your questions. The low temperatures will prevent feeding on the syrup, but if they are building comb they are getting fed, somehow. I...

I think you need to describe your "top feeder" more accurately. What is a "top bar feeder"? The bees are attached to the top of what?

Well, I knew I had mites, but thought I would wait and see how bad they got before beginning to worry. It is April 25th in Olympia, Washington. This is the first week of nice weather here. New...

Replace the bottom board with the screened bottom board. My hive just wintered with a screened bottom board and came out strong. Your spring is probably no colder than our winter (Washington state).

@ KMP - The tape is artificial propolis. I had to do some manipulations last fall and didn't think the bees would be able to get any propolizing done themselves in preparation for winter. I didn't...

Thanks Gord. That is reassuring. They have slowed down quite a bit now and I notice that some of them are coming in with a load of pollen. Who knows where they got it. Nothing is in bloom here...

4512My one colony is making it through the winter. Today, in Olympia, Washington it hit an infernal 56 degrees. The bees were out in force for the first time and, since this is MY first winter and...

4328 I decided to figure out how to post a picture and revisit this topic. My hope was that someone that makes top feeders would reply and explain why the large opening is necessary.

Sorry. I can't figure out how to insert an image.

Clearly the veterans are looking at other posts, so a newbie will ring in on very limited experience. This being my FIRST year, I bought and used top feeders. I had no difficulty with comb building...

Interestingly enough, the entry gap was half filled with comb and BROOD. Also, my feeder leaked so I could only use one side for feeding. They built heavy comb in the unused side. Fortunately, we...

This is my first year keeping bees and I purchased a couple of wooden top feeders to start off a couple of new packages in 8 frame equipment. In no time at all the bees started building burr comb in...

I'm going to be really interested in what responses you get about this. I posted a similar question Saturday night and have yet to get a single response. I am especially interested in how many...

I was also wondering if it is a preferred option to requeen at this time of year or just let them make one?

I am new to beekeeping this year and began with two packages and 8 frame equipment. All was going well as we were getting into our blackberry honey flow until I decided to pull the top feeders. To...

I am a new beekeeper in Olympia, Washington and have two 8-frame hives. I am also experiencing the extra roomy boxes using 1 3/8" frames. After my girls were naughty and got quite creative with...