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I make a split, move it a short distance from the donor colony in the morning and then add the new queen just before dark. The older bees fly back to the donor and my nuc is mostly nurse bees that...

We're thawing out but no bloom as yet. Splitting hives is tough due to robbing but I'm making some progress. You guys in prairie Canada getting any decent weather? Still snow but it's getting...

Pretty wild weather but it's showing signs of breaking. Our frost is out of the ground and much of the snow is gone. We hit 70 F over the weekend and it was in the mid-50s today Our lakes are...

That's the spirit! Just watched the weather-looks like we'll see it warming next week and the start of a drying pattern. In your forecast too?

You just gave me spring fever!! Nothing like fresh-capped honey!

Sounds like the weather pattern isn't just in North America. Hope the weather turns around and those dandelions start cranking out nectar! How's the moisture in the UK compared to last year?

Allen. We still have a pretty good frost seal with no signs of any seepage into the ground when we get a little melt. We were dry in the fall but early snow melted enough to seep in and froze hard...

Spring has been slow in coming this year. We had 17 inches of wet snow Sunday and Monday. More is forecast in a couple days without much warming. The moisture is great and when the weather breaks,...

Good question for which there isn't an easy answer. Until we see better forage, I've been supplementally feeding pollen sub and put fewer hives per out yard. Seems to help in my situation at least. ...

I'm with you Keith. Well fed bees can handle more insults from whatever the cause (just like us) whereas poorly fed bees will not, mostly from compromised immune systems. "Fat" bees that have...

Thanks neighbor!

I do basically the same as Ian. My bees come back here after orange honey production and they are at the point (or beyond) of swarming. Hives basically boiling over with bees. I remove both hive...

Thanks Keith. If they keep me busy enough, it MAY keep me out of trouble. At least for a little while!!!!

Just got my numbers back from the almond pollination. I lost 10% over the winter and the survivors are boomers.

Absolutely! Wrapping is what got me sending bees to almonds a long time ago when there was little economic return.

Thanks Ian; I'll give this a try next fall!

Ian,

Do you see any difference in winter survival of the singles versus the doubles? Seems like I always have up to 40 or so hives I can't seem to fit on the semi headed to almonds and I always...

Ian,

I split late, after my bees come off oranges in CA which is usually early May. I mostly use queens I buy from CA or LA but I also start a hundred or so 5 frame nucs with cells. They tend to...

The pics help. There's a guy in town who could build something that will work. Started looking for candle scrap and found that were scented. Think the scent would affect the bees in any way? I...

Thanks Keith. I'll follow-up. Chip

Thanks Keith, I'm going to give this a try--should solve the rot problem. I can see how I might modify some stuff here to make it work for me. I use cypress to elevate the hives on the plywood and...

Ain't that the truth!! And it always seems it's the good pallet you trash instead of the one that's rotten anyway! Keith what kind of pot do you heat the paraffin in? I'd guess that just getting...

AdvanTek sounds good except for the price but may be worth it if it lasts like Steel Ply. I hadn't thought of dipping them in wax but it does sound like a good idea. What do you use to dip them...

Anybody know a source of steel ply in the Dakota's. I need to "re-top" some pallets with something that lasts longer than plain old ext plywood.

That's why I didn't buy a Swinger when I replaced my 100. Blew snow last weekend. Ran the forks in the blower, snapped the hydraulics together and took care of business, all from the comfort of a...