Drones got the boot!
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It is to early for drones to get booted in my area.
I would think it's a bit early for yours as well, but who knows with this crazy weather we have been having...
You might should check their stores & consider feeding if they are starving.
I've seen them kick the drones out because food was getting low.
I would think it's a bit early for yours as well, but who knows with this crazy weather we have been having...
You might should check their stores & consider feeding if they are starving.
I've seen them kick the drones out because food was getting low.
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I just ordered a 300+ pound digital hanging scale ... gotta be weighing to see what the nectar situation is, and my original hive scale project got pushed to the back burner.
I'm itching to know if we're in a dearth or not. We've got acres and acres of Mountain Mint blooming, and the bees are working it like crazy. Maybe the boys have a few weeks left. We notice a lot less capped drone brood, though. We've been feeding: first year operation, still encouraging them to draw comb and put on stores for winter, so just looking for stores is a bit tricky for deciding if they are still finding significant nectar.
I'm itching to know if we're in a dearth or not. We've got acres and acres of Mountain Mint blooming, and the bees are working it like crazy. Maybe the boys have a few weeks left. We notice a lot less capped drone brood, though. We've been feeding: first year operation, still encouraging them to draw comb and put on stores for winter, so just looking for stores is a bit tricky for deciding if they are still finding significant nectar.
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business as usual. Watched em last night flying and strolling right on in like at their favorite diner!! Still too warm and things growing down here. I will say I can tell the Sun is late to rise now and ealrier to set. Fall is just around the corner!
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July 29th my hives got rid of their drones as well. Found it kind of early for my area but every hive did it all around the same time frame. It may be a worse winter than the last....... OMTCW
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I did a search on OMTCW, and can't find a definition. It apparently occurs fairly frequently in BeeSource, but few other places. Usually used by some poster called Cedar Hill. "One More Thing Cedar Watches?"
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LOL (laughing out loud) It's sort of a disclaimer. Only My Two Cents Worth.
I've got two hives. One was struggling and kicked the drones out several weeks ago. The other one has been doing great all summer...and I haven't seen them kick out a drone yet. In the last week it seems my struggling hive has started to rebound. I'm seeing a lot more bees than any other time this year. I'm pretty sure that they re-queened and the new one is laying like she ought to be.
I've only had one of my NUC's get rid of their drones so far, even then it was not a total eviction as I still found many inside of it on the frames. They were more or less just keeping out the extras. Rest of the production hives are doing fine and still have good populations of drones so far. Sort of waiting to see when they do get rid of them so I can start my planning for next year's queen rearing projects. lol..
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My drones got the boot in the last week of July, I watched my hives yesterday for drones, not one drone.
I listen to animals and insects for winter weather projections, IMHO, it's going to be early and harsh with cold temperatures, and lots of snow.
It will also be a long winter due to the early onset.
Another observation, Robins, Blackbirds, Grackles,meadowlarks, are no longer in my area, which means there already headed south.
Folks, were just in the second week of August. Yellow jackets are very aggressive, again it's early for this behavior.
The goldenrod is another example of an early winter in Indiana, so we will see how that goes.
Indiana has had it's coolest summer in 50 years too, the upper jet stream is crazy too, with several times this summer the artic jet has come down all the way to Georgia, that is because the tropical jet is weak. Wait for the winter jet to kick in.
There is also an El Nino, for this winter which is suppose to bring more moisture to the midwest, and warmer temperatures, I don't think that will happen do the the strong upper jet stream.
I"m waiting for the shoe to drop on the aggressiveness of my girls protecting their honey.
I'm going to wait till next weekend to do an inspection of my hives to determine if there on a flow run or not.
I knew last fall, we were going to have a tough winter, so I prepared them, by not taking so much of their honey, normally I leave them a deep, only took 3 frames per hive last year, and I did this in the first week of September, so most of my hives were full by the time I closed them up. This spring they were almost empty of honey. I'm very conservative with fall extracting, but that's a personal choice. I want my bees for next spring.
I listen to animals and insects for winter weather projections, IMHO, it's going to be early and harsh with cold temperatures, and lots of snow.
It will also be a long winter due to the early onset.
Another observation, Robins, Blackbirds, Grackles,meadowlarks, are no longer in my area, which means there already headed south.
Folks, were just in the second week of August. Yellow jackets are very aggressive, again it's early for this behavior.
The goldenrod is another example of an early winter in Indiana, so we will see how that goes.
Indiana has had it's coolest summer in 50 years too, the upper jet stream is crazy too, with several times this summer the artic jet has come down all the way to Georgia, that is because the tropical jet is weak. Wait for the winter jet to kick in.
There is also an El Nino, for this winter which is suppose to bring more moisture to the midwest, and warmer temperatures, I don't think that will happen do the the strong upper jet stream.
I"m waiting for the shoe to drop on the aggressiveness of my girls protecting their honey.
I'm going to wait till next weekend to do an inspection of my hives to determine if there on a flow run or not.
I knew last fall, we were going to have a tough winter, so I prepared them, by not taking so much of their honey, normally I leave them a deep, only took 3 frames per hive last year, and I did this in the first week of September, so most of my hives were full by the time I closed them up. This spring they were almost empty of honey. I'm very conservative with fall extracting, but that's a personal choice. I want my bees for next spring.
I watched drones go in and out yesterday, like it was the thing to do.
Last year around this time, I was rejoicing when the soybeans bloomed. This year, the bees only slowed a little (instead of a dead stop,) the beans bloomed and they never seemed to be "without."
I saw my first goldenrod bloom yesterday as well.
Maybe the drones get a pass this Summer.
Last year around this time, I was rejoicing when the soybeans bloomed. This year, the bees only slowed a little (instead of a dead stop,) the beans bloomed and they never seemed to be "without."
I saw my first goldenrod bloom yesterday as well.
Maybe the drones get a pass this Summer.
While inspecting the hives this morning I saw drones and capped drone. This afternoon and this evening I watched them bring out drones they must have taken out of the comb. Also one that was still kicking but must have been close to emerging because it still had some of the cocoon on it. The one on the top is the one that was somewhat alive.
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Greg
Greg
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Going thru my hives yesterday, and while I saw drones milling around, I didnt see any capped drone. Guess thats one sign it may be coming soon??
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My Drones were getting it last weekend, with workers literally glued to their sides, ouch! Did not see many at all this weekend but then came across a drone comb with what looked like fresh eggs ?! is that normal?
I could be wrong of course and its large worker comb, last frame/ pic from the link in my signature.
Perhaps the bees have their own varroa control program going on!
I could be wrong of course and its large worker comb, last frame/ pic from the link in my signature.
Perhaps the bees have their own varroa control program going on!
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my drones are still in the hive but the bees have filled all the empty drone comb with honey now and only a few capped drone scattered through the hives, but fall flow is just starting i was getting worried it was a long derth with no flowers in bloom now the fireweed is fully going and hives are filling up fast again.
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We just inspected our hives on Saturday, and low and behold, they're still raising drones like crazy. Particularly the VSH Italian babe, whom they've kept barefoot and pregnant since she was installed in a nuc in late June. She finally used the green drone frame, and did so enthusiastically.
But they're kicked out of the hive anyway. By us. Just stuck them in the deep freeze. Them and their varroa mites. This is a great opportunity to nail those pests while they are still raising varroa magnets.
But they're kicked out of the hive anyway. By us. Just stuck them in the deep freeze. Them and their varroa mites. This is a great opportunity to nail those pests while they are still raising varroa magnets.
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