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Wife pulled a couple frames out earlier and took this.
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Roktoy829 said:
Looks like you don't use any foundation.
Click to expand...

She did not with this second brood box I think it's called. First one had the wax foundation in the frames. I think she started these in April and is still feeding daily or every couple days as needed.

This is our second year of trying. Last year they absconded, but I think I fawked up securing the queen when we put them in the hive. This time I had a better idea of what I was doing.
 
You are doing good securing the queen in. At least until she starts laying. I had 2 hives abscond same location, same time of the year. So that location is done.
 
What a bee s saga. In early June we bought a Nuc of bees from Atchison Land and Cattle out of Cheyenne for $200. Was supposed to ship, never did. Finally guy answers the phone and had a sob story about how his office lady ran off and got married and took all his account passwords. Said he had our money, but didn't know where to send the bees. Said he had someone coming near our location and would bring them, felt real bad. Worked it all out. No show. Now won't answer the phone, texts, or emails.
We found a local guy in SE Idaho with Nucs. Picked it up Saturday evening.
It's late in the season for them but it's a mated queen and a strong Nuc. We're feeding them all the food and pollen they want, crossing our fingers they'll make enough for winter. We will supplement either way.
Exciting we finally have bees.
We will be documenting our hive on our YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/channel/UCKKhWXXndFtcHVJB7Jz5zcA
PXL_20210727_015403094.jpg
 
How are ya'll extracting honey from the combs? Got a couple frame from one of our hives and tired flowing honey out with heat and time, which worked well for one frame but isn't for the other.
 
Without an extractor, you can let it drain (a little heat will help) or crush and strain
 
The guy mentoring me has a big 20 frame extractor. The 90 year man that helped mentor him, used a hand crank style.
 
Meet a retired guy that started a bee business the next town over. Talked to at length a few weeks ago. He loves to help people get started and sells Nucs in the spring. Says he tried the super natural method a few years in a row and had winter die off. Then he got real and feeds his colonies in thebwinter and always treats for mites even if he doesn’t she them. He has had great success since then. So looks like we will be getting 1-2 Nucs from him this coming spring. He offers free consultation in his store wither or not you buy anything from him. Bees are just his passion.
 
Wheelin66bronco said:
What a bee s saga. In early June we bought a Nuc of bees from Atchison Land and Cattle out of Cheyenne for $200. Was supposed to ship, never did. Finally guy answers the phone and had a sob story about how his office lady ran off and got married and took all his account passwords. Said he had our money, but didn't know where to send the bees. Said he had someone coming near our location and would bring them, felt real bad. Worked it all out. No show. Now won't answer the phone, texts, or emails.
We found a local guy in SE Idaho with Nucs. Picked it up Saturday evening.
It's late in the season for them but it's a mated queen and a strong Nuc. We're feeding them all the food and pollen they want, crossing our fingers they'll make enough for winter. We will supplement either way.
Exciting we finally have bees.
We will be documenting our hive on our YouTube channel. https://youtube.com/channel/UCKKhWXXndFtcHVJB7Jz5zcA
PXL_20210727_015403094.jpg
Click to expand...
That sucks about your bad experience. I subscribed to your channel. You may get tired of the frame feeder for the syrup. You can loose a lot of bees.
I use jar feeders and have the entrance style. I also have homemade tops that i just stick the jar in. I can get a picture tomorrow if you would like.
You may want to order a regular nuc box assembly. So if they don't build up in time, you can switch them over, so they can stay warm this winter.
 
Roktoy829 said:
That sucks about your bad experience. I subscribed to your channel. You may get tired of the frame feeder for the syrup. You can loose a lot of bees.
I use jar feeders and have the entrance style. I also have homemade tops that i just stick the jar in. I can get a picture tomorrow if you would like.
You may want to order a regular nuc box assembly. So if they don't build up in time, you can switch them over, so they can stay warm this winter.
Click to expand...
Ya, any pics would be awesome.
What do you mean by switching them to a regular Nuc box? Like the plastic one they came in, or a wood box? And what, switch them over and keep inside?
 
A wooden box just like they came in. I suggest it, only if they don't build up in time. So they won't have to keep the big brood chamber warm with a small population. If the population booms, then let them rock and roll.
For winter time, you can add a 10lb bag of sugar in the hive. I do it for insurance.
 
Bumping this to the top to keep your investment on track.

Anybody getting the Hives/Supers ready for winter? Any food? Coverage from elements?

Bring up everything-
 
Feed 2:1 sugar to water syrup. Supplement with pollen patties on top of the brood box. Protect from wind (North). Depending on where you are located, you may need to wrap/insulate the hives. I'm in North Texas, so I am just feeding as much as they will take right now. December through March they will most likely just be on their own and those that survive, survive.

At this point, you should be well into/finished with your winter preparation.
 
I got mine ready, i have some that may not have a enough honey. So i feed them sugar water and threw sugar in the hive.

We had a very low flow, i was not able to rob any honey. Treated for mites with some strips. Just wait and see how they do.
 
I want to add some pollen patties, but worried about the hive beetles coming in.
baldwin said:
Feed 2:1 sugar to water syrup. Supplement with pollen patties on top of the brood box. Protect from wind (North). Depending on where you are located, you may need to wrap/insulate the hives. I'm in North Texas, so I am just feeding as much as they will take right now. December through March they will most likely just be on their own and those that survive, survive.

At this point, you should be well into/finished with your winter preparation.
Click to expand...
 
We lost 3 hives…. One died… Two were good one day, gone the next. I don’t know if it was collapse or other. Not an ounce of honey or larva. Fk
 
Roktoy829 said:
I want to add some pollen patties, but worried about the hive beetles coming in.
Click to expand...
I use Guardian entrances on all my hives and keep a swiffer sheet on the top box. The Guardian entrance keeps the hive beetles out of the hive and the swiffer catches the ones already in the hive. I've had good success with this combination.

You can also use beetle barns and oil traps to deal with SHB.

Check Thingiverse for plans if you have a 3D printer available to save some money. There are plans there for both Guardian type entrances and beetle barns.

I have a recipe for pollen patties that are hard, not pasty. This helps control the SHB as well.
 
rockota said:
We lost 3 hives…. One died… Two were good one day, gone the next. I don’t know if it was collapse or other. Not an ounce of honey or larva. Fk
Click to expand...
I'm sure that I will lose some this winter, I have 4 that were pretty small going into August. I should have combined them into 2 hives but I am going to experiment and see what the outcome is. I am going into the winter with 11 hives overall. We shall see what happens...
 
Our one seems OK, but we are still having temps in the upper 60's and the bees are still very active brining in full pollen baskets. Wife has been feeding about every 2-3 days since the major rain storm Oct 25th. (we got 8 inches in 48hours).

I hope they stick around, but we will see.
 
rockota said:
Yeah…. Failure in many ways. Sucks
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Failures happen, bees leave, it's just part of the beekeeping hobby/business.

I am not worrying too much about failures, because come next spring, there will be plenty of free bees to grab.

I am planning to put out about 10 of these boxes on my property and a friends property to catch wild bees that have swarmed.

20210430_162726.jpg


I put two catch boxes on my property last spring and caught 3 swarms. I don't plan on buying bees ever again.
 
baldwin said:
I use Guardian entrances on all my hives and keep a swiffer sheet on the top box. The Guardian entrance keeps the hive beetles out of the hive and the swiffer catches the ones already in the hive. I've had good success with this combination.

You can also use beetle barns and oil traps to deal with SHB.

Check Thingiverse for plans if you have a 3D printer available to save some money. There are plans there for both Guardian type entrances and beetle barns.

I have a recipe for pollen patties that are hard, not pasty. This helps control the SHB as well.
Click to expand...
I use the oil traps and the sheets from time to time.
Ive been curious about the entrance guards. Always wonder how it effect them during the honey flow. If it would slow them down.
 
I used the weekend to inspect my hives. I lost 4 maybe 5. Knocked me back to 5 hives total.
Going to have to catch some swarms.
 
Lost one of my hives.
Knew it would not make it, as it was weak one all summer.
Other is doing great. Weather hit 60 yesterday. They were out in force.
Back down to 36 today.
Adding some food tomarrow. We are still in the cold temps till mid april
 
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