Search:

It seems odd that the package would split into two locations. I wonder it that package came with an extra queen. One caged and the other shaken in with the worker bees.

Try placing the roof upside...

Warren Jones explains about his role:

“I am the President of the Crop Pollination Association Inc. This association represents the beekeeper pollinators that service agriculture's pollination...

Hi Ziva,
Just take the fermented combs out. The temp is not that important as you won't be going through the brood combs. With the cool weather the bees will mostly be clustered on the brood...

If you take brood combs as a group rather than randomly you shouldn't have a problem. They will build their new combs outward to match the combs they start with.

Installing packages in freezing weather can be done if you have drawn comb that hold honey stores and pollen. Without any comb you will need to help them by placing in a warm place or have a heating...

I would suggest that you consider having inner covers that cover 8 frames each. So three inner covers using 24 frames. Then you can add a comb honey super during the main flow. Have an empty nuc box...

If you can adjust the temp 15 to 18C is plenty warm enough. The bees will regulate the inner cluster to the temp they want. You should also have a peek every 2 to 3 days on their syrup supply. You...

If they are taking their feed very good, they should do just fine. They should be taking about 1 1/2 to 2 liters per week once they get a little comb built. Seeing that they came as 2 lbs of bees 1...

The southwestern corner of BC has pretty mild winters. When and if it snows it doesn't stick around for long, many times melting by the next day. Our biggest issue is rain. The year we hosted the...

I'm assuming you got your package from West coast Bee supplies in Richmond? You can get 1 lb pollen patties that are made with 15% pollen for a couple of bucks each there. The Pattie can be pinned to...

You can use a heating pad set at the low setting on the floor to warm the interior of the hive. I've always fed 2 to 1 syrup for the early packages also pollen patties are a must. Use a container...

If any of the combs are offset of the center guides you shouldn't use them to start off a new colony even if they are straight. Otherwise all the newly built combs will be just as offset but they can...

Do the combs have honey in them? If they do you can place a comb at a time in the back end of the nest for the bees to clean out during your dearth period. Scratch the cappings so they can easily...

I haven't tried this but it is a possibility. You could try using a queen excluder to contain the brood nest. Similar to a single brood chamber honey production unit. You will need to manage the...

It is very important to make sure they have properly back filled their nest with honey stores by late summer early fall giving nice bands of honey on the combs that the winter cluster forms on. With...

Just in case you all haven't seen.

http://www.blisshoneybees.org/Events.html

When splitting your hive you could consider which brood combs going where. The split with the old queen should be made up with all the open brood with all or mostly capped brood going to the new...

Very nice!

For me success means producing some honey for personal use and some for sale. Sell a few bees from time to time, have my apple tree well pollinated, maintain a few colonies year to year without...

I can't say that anyone from my club has ever directly criticized me for using TBH's. To themselves they may. Our club is pretty progressive with expectations that respect is given to all.
I've...

Apparently honeybees can detect temperature changes as slight as .25C and respond. With that it makes sense that they will move to the warmest area in the hive.

Like anything it's just a matter of time to gain the experience. Even when efficient at replacing bars the poster paper will at times come in handy so keep it in your tool box or under the hives lid....

As long as they are free of diseases like AFB, EFB, or defecation you should be able to use them to install bees on. You could also use them to aid in spring buildup of your existing hive. Then at...

A piece of poster paper that will reach the length of the bars works well. Push the bar that you are replacing to within a beespace of the next bar. Then slowly push the edge of the poster paper down...

With an end entrance.

If you use a follower at the entrance end of the hive it's important to leave a proper bee space between the end wall and follower board. A removable cleat or spacer is...