I'll have 5 three-pound packages of bees arriving in the next couple of weeks. I ordered 2 extra queens, just in case. I have no drawn comb on hand. I plan to hive them initially into 5-bar TBH nucs, then transfer them to larger TBHs once they've got some comb drawn and brood going.
There's already alder pollen around, but I plan to feed honey in ziplock baggies and beepro pollen sub. patties as long as they're using it.
The temps will be below freezing at night and into the low 40's during the day initially. Probably won't get out of freezing nights until early or mid May. I'll have the nucs on stacked up cinder blocks in as much direct sun as they can get. When breakup comes (late April) we'll have lots of standing water everywhere for a couple weeks, then there will be a period with nothing blooming for another couple weeks. After that there will be flowers everywhere. So I figure I'm goning to have to feed them for a good month.
I worked bees for a honey producer in Oklahoma many years ago, but I've never started up hives from scratch, and I'm a worrier by nature. If anyone sees serious failure points in my plan, I'd certainly welcome any advice. I'm willing to put a few more $ into getting these going than might be wise, figuring that even if they don't overwinter, it will be an investment in drawn comb and pollen for next year.
Also, a couple of questions:
1. I've been told that you can buy bee polen at the health food store and rehydrate it in warm water and use that instead of beepro patties. Any thoughts, pro or con, on that?
2. If I start out feeding honey, will I have to stick with that, or could I switch to 1:1 syrup after while without causing harm?
Thanks. -Tim
[ March 26, 2006, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: wff ]
There's already alder pollen around, but I plan to feed honey in ziplock baggies and beepro pollen sub. patties as long as they're using it.
The temps will be below freezing at night and into the low 40's during the day initially. Probably won't get out of freezing nights until early or mid May. I'll have the nucs on stacked up cinder blocks in as much direct sun as they can get. When breakup comes (late April) we'll have lots of standing water everywhere for a couple weeks, then there will be a period with nothing blooming for another couple weeks. After that there will be flowers everywhere. So I figure I'm goning to have to feed them for a good month.
I worked bees for a honey producer in Oklahoma many years ago, but I've never started up hives from scratch, and I'm a worrier by nature. If anyone sees serious failure points in my plan, I'd certainly welcome any advice. I'm willing to put a few more $ into getting these going than might be wise, figuring that even if they don't overwinter, it will be an investment in drawn comb and pollen for next year.
Also, a couple of questions:
1. I've been told that you can buy bee polen at the health food store and rehydrate it in warm water and use that instead of beepro patties. Any thoughts, pro or con, on that?
2. If I start out feeding honey, will I have to stick with that, or could I switch to 1:1 syrup after while without causing harm?
Thanks. -Tim
[ March 26, 2006, 06:10 PM: Message edited by: wff ]