Winter Bee Work--let's share ;)

[giant pumpkin peep]

Now that I've lost 5 out a 5 I have to clean those. I have to burn the frames that a mouse tor through, and the hive that had no bees,dead or alive. I have decide what else gets burned because I had a few hives that had very little dead bees. Also have to formulate a NEW plan for next year.

[NDnewbeek]

It isn't necessary to burn your equipment unless you suspect foulbrood.

The energy invested in wax is HUGE for bees. I have taken mouse eaten frames, brushed them off and put them in early summer nucs or dumped swarms on them and they draw them out and repair them nicely. I would bet that packages would do the same in the spring.

It would be a shame to lose all that work.

[giant pumpkin peep]

some of the frames where gonna get diposed of next year, and some are really old, and some the mouse actually chewed into the frame. Once I get over how much this stinks, I will got thru whats ok and whats not.

[Merlyn Votaw]

Rebuilding my homemade extractor. Got it finished today Looks good but noway to check it out without some frames with honey in them

[adam@azapiaries]

Avoiding mouse damage is another reason why I switched to plastic foundation three years ago. Of coarse it would be best to avoid it all by properly installing mouse gaurds on all hives. If I only practiced what I preach!

[giant pumpkin peep]

The two mouse damaged hive are my fault, the other three, I dont know what happened.

[kbfarms]

This is an entertaining thread.
100 complete mating mini NUCs

Do you have a cut pattern for the mating min nucs? I am going to raise some queens this year. I have some 5-frame nucs on hand, but not enough. Was wondering about trying out a mini mating nucs. Would be interested in looking at a cut pattern for them.

[bigwoodsbees]

On a much smaller scale here - I am looking forward to assembling three 8-frame hives and one nuc. I haven't ever assembled hive bodies or frames before so I imagine it will be a bit of a learning experience. The winter is long here so it is nice to have a little indoor work.

[Hartz]

100 medium supers and 70 deeps to assemble and dip; 2000 frames to assemble, wire, and install foundation; build 20 nucs. I am about 3/4ths done.
The best thing?...I'm workin for ME and thats the only person I have to pease!!!

Hartz

[stripstrike]

20 mediums, 200 frames with foundation and a couple boxes are getting division boards added for a nuc setup. Still driving around looking for outyards with one signed up a possible maybe or two in the works.

[max2]

" Yes they need 10 nails or 6 staples and glue. The end nails go under the frame ear through the end bar and into the top bar. I helps you from prying the top bar out of the frame which really sucks when it is full of honey and or brood."

I find that the plantation Pine they are making frames from here these days splits really easy if I try to drive an end nail.
I have not done any stapling as yet but find that a good glue and 4 nails works for me. I had none fall apart for years.

About " winter" jobs - it is mid summer here and I would have loved to take some honey off today but it is raining.
Instead I'm working on our new beehouse - a place to store all the gear and extract honey and do some woodwork.

[Yuleluder]

I need to build 20, 4 way mating boxes.
Refurbish and repaint all the woodenware sitting in my garage,
build 30 more SBB's
30 more migratory covers and inner covers.

[Buffalolick]

Hi Max! Love hearing from southern hemisphere beeks and how y'all are doing summer things now. Gets me excited.
Its hurry up and wait here in north east Georgia. Past 2 days have been warm and the girls flying. I've got bottom boards tops and stands to build. Frames of course. Like to make a few more swarm traps. And going to build a new bee vac. Guess I need to get busy. The red maples could be blooming here in a month or could be 2. Never can tell

[StevenG]

I am building from scratch 40 Miller type feeders, and 100 shallow supers. Assembling 50 5 frame nuc feeders, 800 shallow frames, 200 deep frames and wire them. Modifying 20 deep supers (made a mistake on assembling, got to modify due to shb...sigh). If time allows, will build 30 slatted racks. Going to assemble 10 telescoping covers. Buying a 20' trailer, will install pressure treated 4x4's so it will hold 20 hives for some migratory work here in the county where I live. If time allows, I'll build an observation hive...if not, there's always next year. We're all busy, aren't we?
Regards,
Steven

[D Coates]

After reading what some of y'all are doing I feel downright lazy. I just finished 4 deeps, 6 supers, and 2 SBBs all from scratch. Still on tap is painting everything I just made, 4 double mating nucs, separator boards, and a queen holding frame.

[rjphil]

Does anyone have a preference for a nail gun/stapler? I don't need a really heavy duty one. What is a good length for the nails? Currently, I glue and nail the frames, but need to make a bunch this year and want it to go a little faster than last year......