[sqkcrk]

Today was a good day to raise brood above an excluder. Temperatures were up in the low 80s and nectar was coming in.

I went through a yard of 12 pallets of hives, 4 to a pallet. Most of the hives are a deep and a medium. I went through each hive and pulled three or four frames of brood, leaving two or three behind, replacing the removed frames w/ drawn comb. I put the frames of brood in a deep box, placed an excluder on the hive, put the box w/ brood on the excluder, and put the lid on.

Tomorrow morning I will pull the boxes of brood, taking them away to another yard on 4 way pallets, and install a queen cell in each of the 25 new hives.

All this to help replace the loss.

 

[WBVC]

If one doesn't have unused drawn comb can this be done successfully with undrawn foundation?

 

[rhaldridge]

Mark, do you leave any of your hives in the North Country, or do they all go with you to SC?

 

[sqkcrk]

If one doesn't have unused drawn comb can this be done successfully with undrawn foundation?

Had I foundation, or Pierco frames, that's what I would do. Replace the three combs taken w/ two Pierco frames and one drawn comb. That's usually how I make my 5 frame nucs. Three drawn combs, two brood and pollen and one honey, and two frames of foundation.

 

[sqkcrk]

Mark, do you leave any of your hives in the North Country, or do they all go with you to SC?

All go to South Carolina. Not small cell.

 

[sqkcrk]

This AM I pulled those boxes off and took them to another yd where I installed queen cells in them.

Late this afternoon I worked 16 hives in the blueberries and raised 12 boxes above excluders. I hope the rest are at least half as good. I'll find out tomorrow.

 

[Mbeck]

Are the queen cells any specific type of queen in those cells?
You mentioned a flow but do you feed syrup to the Nucs with a new cell?

 

[sqkcrk]

Their breeding is mixed. NonItalian, but otherwise I don't recall what my supplier told me they are.

I haven't fed them. And won't unless the nectar flow shuts off for a week. Which doesn't look likely according to weather forecasts.

Got any queens for me Mathew?

 

[Mbeck]

I'm sorry I don't.
Maybe by the end of May.
I don't sell them until I'm looking at them!
I will let you know, when I have some.
Thanks.

 

[Roland]

If one doesn't have unused drawn comb can this be done successfully with undrawn foundation?

As SQKCRK answered, Yes, but if there is not enough nectar, they will chew out the foundation on the bottom just for the wax.

On the whole, we believe foundation is more of a damper to swarming than drawn comb. Which is used is determined by the conditions.

Crazy Roland

 

[sqkcrk]

I'm sorry I don't.
Maybe by the end of May.
I don't sell them until I'm looking at them!
I will let you know, when I have some.
Thanks.

Okay, let me know.

 

[ekrouse]

sqkcrk, SC makes sense. I didn't think you were doing all the hive manipulation and splits at this time of year in Brasher Falls, NY!

ekrouse
[email protected]

 

[sqkcrk]

Yeah, I like to keep people guessing.

 

[BMAC]

Mark, Good to hear you finally have adequate weather in small cellville. I know Lynn was very concerned when I got cells last week from him. I got all my splits done and fed. Girls should be good till Easter week.

 

[Acebird]

All this to help replace the loss.

Why is it done is two steps, because of the medium on top?

 

[papar]

Brian,
Do you know when you're sending your first load home?

Did some splits last week, then going back the end of next week for the final round of nucs. Some mighty chilly weather last month in SC, how was GA?

 

[papar]

Glad to hear there is finally a nectar flow, see you next Sunday.

 

[BMAC]

Brian,
Do you know when you're sending your first load home?

Did some splits last week, then going back the end of next week for the final round of nucs. Some mighty chilly weather last month in SC, how was GA?

Im trying to round up my uncle to drive one of my trucks. Im heading back day before Good Friday to check back and make first haul back. Probably just my 5500 and F250. Wanting to bring some back early?
Ga was gorgeous. Bees are ignoring the slop feeding I put out there so I had a friend lock all lids down. Syrup will keep till next year if need be.

 

[sqkcrk]

Why is it done is two steps, because of the medium on top?

So I don't have to look for queens.

Had some good help today in the blueberry bees. Herb's son Matt met me at 9AM and we went thru enough hives to draw 68 boxes above excluders, finishing at 7PM w/ a spare snack for lunch between drops.

I don't know what the source of the nectar is, but there was some shaking out of combs when I shook bees off of the frames of brood. The blueberries are in between 5 and 10% bloom. Herb thinks it could be sumac or blackberry out in the woods near the blueberry farm.

 

[Adrian Quiney WI]

Mark, how bad were your losses this year? - Last sentence in post #1