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Whew! I have never been in a hive for so long. Probably an hour and a half or more. The girls were complacent, thankfully :)

I couldn't find the queen. There were about six swarm cells (plus...

I have a pair of big leather bee gauntlets, which I only wear when the bees get stingy. I don't like them.

I had to do some intensive hive work today, and thought of this conversation. So, I...

Thanks, kchurch :)

Yes, they're still under there. I've been waiting all day for something to happen, but everything stays the same. The hive seems quite strong and there are sure a lot of...

After midnight here, I just went to look at the hive (I was up anyway)

Turns out that there is a large mass of bees under the hive! I have an open screened bottom board, held up on the four...

Thanks guys.

I was preparing to do an artificial swarm, but they decided to do a real one first. So, I could do one tomorrow morning (tomorrow will be warm and dry), but I don't want to go...

Well, I did it. I accidentally let me strongest hive swarm :(

Bees were all over the outside of the hive, in the bushes next to it, and matting down the lawn for a few feet! Lots of bees!
...

Awesome :lpf:

Excellent, Buckeye! Yes, my bees seem to do fine in spite of all my "help" :rolleyes:

And thank you, Mr. Bush, for your response!

The weather just turned stormy, until Saturday. If I don't see...

Good morning!

I have read (from Michael Bush) that you can open the broodnest and help prevent swarming by replacing brood comb (either full of brood or being backfilled) with empty foundationless...

Thanks, everyone :)

beehonest, what do you mean about the caps sucking in a little? I've never made note of that...

Seems to be my day for asking newbee questions :)

It looks like I'm going to have a decent spring harvest this year, if I choose to take it.

Do you usually pull and extract supers when they are...

(I asked this question down in another thread, but I thought I'd ask it separately)

I was in my strongest hive yesterday and noticed that some, but not most, of the empty brood comb had nectar in...

Thanks, Lauri, I learned a lot from that post :)

And thank you, Mike, I appreciate it!

I was in my strongest hive yesterday (before asking my question), and noticed that some, but not most, of...

I have about 6 deep frames of crystallized honey from a hive that died last winter. Can bees use it anyway? If not, what should I do with it? It sure wont extract :rolleyes:

Thanks,
wanderyr

Hello All,

Regarding artificial swarms, I've read that 1) you should move everything but the existing queen and a frame or two of bees/food to a new site, so that the existing location now has...

This is a helpful conversation. Thanks everyone!

I've heard about this, but it seemed too good to be true :) What are the cons, if any, of the heat gun approach?

Thanks,
wanderyr

Thank you :)

Ha! I searched the forum after I posted. I've gotta learn to do that first! Consensus seems that a hot knife is much better/easier.

Thanks,
wanderyr

Mann Lake has a new product: Uncapping Punch.

It looks like a short paint roller with lots of little spikes on it. Has anybody used anything like this?

I've harvested for only one year so far,...

I got the 6/3 (with side crank) from Mann Lake last season. Cost is currently $430 with free shipping. It's a good, solid machine. I wish, however, I would have spent more and have gone with the...

I use untreated pine, and paint only the outside with a good exterior latex enamel. I have accidentally received copper napthelene (?) treated components, and I won't use them in my hives. They...

I started with "standard" 10-frame double-deeps and supers. Now I also have hives that are all 8-frame mediums. What everyone has said is true, both pros and cons. I'm still trying to decide which...

piss-poor beekeeping :)

First year, installed two packages, fed them with top feeders. Both building up wonderfully.

They both stopped taking syrup about the same time, and I thought all was going great. You know how...