Search found 61 matches
- Thu Nov 17, 2016 5:54 pm
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: open floors
- Replies: 19
- Views: 2379
Re: open floors
i started leaving entrance reducers i made on my full size hives this year, ~8" x 3/8. i have noticed much less fanning at entrance and less (zero) robbing during dearth. also, 3/8" is not inviting for mice to use. i have seen nucs abscond in the heat like lharder. i also have 4-frame medi...
- Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:45 am
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: Queen Excluder???
- Replies: 7
- Views: 909
Re: Queen Excluder???
on my two-deep hives i will use a shallow as the first honey super. they usually dont like to lay that one up. look up george imirie if you want to confuse yourself more. he strongly advocated queen excluders. he emphasizes that you must use drawn comb in the honey supers and 'bait' them through the...
- Tue Jun 28, 2016 4:07 pm
- Forum: Expansion Model Beekeeping
- Topic: First expansion attempt
- Replies: 62
- Views: 4160
Re: First expansion attempt
good job on learning your flow. i found this to be very important to know when i want to have my splits made by.
- Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:52 am
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Intro
- Replies: 5
- Views: 684
Re: Intro
stay away from the NJ clubs....
- Wed Jun 15, 2016 1:58 pm
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: Managing Comb
- Replies: 7
- Views: 794
Re: Managing Comb
echo-ing micheal, my bees will not draw foundationless unless it is in the bottom box OR between two frames of brood. i can add a full box of foundationless frames on the bottom without a problem. however, once the hive reaches a certain capacity all they will draw is drone comb. so i keep my comb b...
- Thu May 19, 2016 2:04 pm
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: Catching Swarms
- Replies: 3
- Views: 544
Re: Catching Swarms
i dont have answer for your specific questions, but i will share that i got two nucs that came from swarms last year. its a gamble whether they are feral or from treated hives. in my case, both of these became overwhelmed with mites in the summer and crashed hard in the fall. all spring and summer t...
- Tue May 17, 2016 10:48 am
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: Laying workers?
- Replies: 1
- Views: 351
Re: Laying workers?
WOW thats a lot of eggs in each cell! sometimes my newly mated queens will lay 2 or 3 in some cells for a couple days until the figure themselves out. nothing like that though. goodluck!
- Mon May 09, 2016 10:40 am
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: First Swarm
- Replies: 1
- Views: 408
Re: First Swarm
nice size swarm!
good thing you had screen on them. as chuck said they can overheat. you can see them all layered on the inside of the screen. they go bonkers trying to get out and create a lot of heat.
good thing you had screen on them. as chuck said they can overheat. you can see them all layered on the inside of the screen. they go bonkers trying to get out and create a lot of heat.
- Tue May 03, 2016 10:48 am
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: Kirk Webster open house
- Replies: 5
- Views: 675
Re: Kirk Webster open house
it really wasnt much now that i look back. i was always told believe none of what you hear, and half of what you see. i can try to attempt to put into words what i am thinking without misspeaking, assuming that i do understand everything kirk is trying to do... i am certain that everything is covere...
- Mon Apr 25, 2016 12:30 pm
- Forum: Mid-Atlantic
- Topic: Bloom Dates - 2016 - NJ
- Replies: 1
- Views: 476
Re: Bloom Dates - 2016 - NJ
appears everything opened at once last week. blooms averaging 2.5 weeks ahead of schedule. went into my largest hive yesterday. on 4/16 i reversed this one as well as pulled two frames of larvae to start QCs. well yesterday the whole second deep was full of nectar as well as a shallow above, even fr...
- Mon Apr 25, 2016 10:40 am
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: Kirk Webster open house
- Replies: 5
- Views: 675
Re: Kirk Webster open house
well that was enlightening. as much youtube as you watch or online articles you read, kirks methods all really come together when you see it in person. also met troy hall and picked his brain a bit. hes a cool dude.
- Fri Apr 22, 2016 10:36 am
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: Kirk Webster open house
- Replies: 5
- Views: 675
Kirk Webster open house
anybody going?
- Mon Apr 11, 2016 10:59 am
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: I can't wait any longer!!!!
- Replies: 7
- Views: 818
Re: I can't wait any longer!!!!
nice job fixing the comb. starting foundationless is hard if you dont have some drawn frames for them to copy. looks like a lot of drone comb. or maybe just larger cells than what i am used to. compare the cell size to what you see in the nuc. did you happen to notice the queen in the package hive? ...
- Thu Mar 24, 2016 11:26 am
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: 1st, um 2nd, would you believe 3rd installation?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 812
Re: 1st, um 2nd, would you believe 3rd installation?
sometimes there is no answer, but try to figure out why they may have obsconded. too hot? too drafty? too large entrance? was hive recently painted and odor is lingering? something wrong with feed or feeder? not sure where you got packages from but they are finding lots of chemical issues from hives...
- Tue Mar 15, 2016 11:13 am
- Forum: Nucleus Hives
- Topic: nucs fell over, likely months ago...
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1929
Re: nucs fell over, likely months ago...
there is about 5' between the barn and the hives. the area is fenced in to keep the bears and deer out. there is no dogs. there is a cows, but i am told they stay in another fenced in area full time. will need to confirm but there is no hoof prints or cow pies nearby. aside from racoons/possums/skun...
- Mon Mar 14, 2016 11:23 am
- Forum: Nucleus Hives
- Topic: nucs fell over, likely months ago...
- Replies: 11
- Views: 1929
nucs fell over, likely months ago...
thought i would share this. went to check on a pair of nucs for the first time since last fall. here's the back-story: http://forum.tfbees.net/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=63 hives at home are packing away honey so i had no idea what to expect with these nucs. loaded the truck with 10-frame equipment ju...
- Fri Mar 11, 2016 12:14 pm
- Forum: Mid-Atlantic
- Topic: Bloom Dates - 2016 - NJ
- Replies: 1
- Views: 476
Bloom Dates - 2016 - NJ
how did everybody manage through this warm winter? things are progressing very early this year... had pollen coming in on christmas jan 31, mild cleansing flight feb 20/21, first pollen (gray and pale yellow) feb 28, more pollen (pale yellow and yellow) mar 10, elm mar 13, soft maple mar 15, willow ...
- Fri Mar 11, 2016 12:05 pm
- Forum: Treatment-Free Bees and Equipment Wanted
- Topic: Wanted: TFB in NY/NJ
- Replies: 2
- Views: 536
Re: Wanted: TFB in NY/NJ
thats a tough thing to find in nj
- Fri Jan 29, 2016 12:12 pm
- Forum: Basic Beekeeping
- Topic: managing deadouts
- Replies: 6
- Views: 647
Re: managing deadouts
remove dead bees that you can easily get. dont worry much about the ones head-first in cells. maximize ventilation to prevent mold. watch for SHB and moths if its not cold enough. your other hives will remove the resources from these deadouts and you can add these frames to your live hives when it g...
- Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:34 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: hive hosting opportunity
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1251
Re: hive hosting opportunity
these colonies are making lots of bees and still drawing wax!
- Thu Jul 30, 2015 11:30 am
- Forum: Langstroth
- Topic: honey supers
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1551
Re: honey supers
Michael Bush wrote: In a dearth this does not work, of course, as the bees will start a robbing frenzy in just a few minutes...
i tried michaels method in a dearth last year. awful situation...
- Wed Jul 22, 2015 10:55 am
- Forum: Langstroth
- Topic: honey supers
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1551
Re: honey supers
i flip the switch, lol. i actually would prefer it to be a bit stronger. i found a nozzle that i am going to give a try next time.
- Tue Jul 21, 2015 2:16 pm
- Forum: Langstroth
- Topic: honey supers
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1551
Re: honey supers
i use the blower side of my shop vac
- Thu Jul 16, 2015 1:29 pm
- Forum: Carnivorous Plants
- Topic: Venus flytraps and Sundews at Parker Farms
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1353
Re: Venus flytraps and Sundews at Parker Farms
and where is a good direction to look when purchasing plants?
- Tue Jul 14, 2015 5:26 pm
- Forum: Carnivorous Plants
- Topic: Venus flytraps and Sundews at Parker Farms
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1353
Re: Venus flytraps and Sundews at Parker Farms
how does one get started the right way with these?
- Tue Jul 14, 2015 10:52 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: Flip inner covers for winter
- Replies: 5
- Views: 696
Re: Flip inner covers for winter
solomon,
are you top entrance only as well?
i tried the top entrance thing and didnt care for it when came time to doing inspections.
are you top entrance only as well?
i tried the top entrance thing and didnt care for it when came time to doing inspections.
- Fri Jul 10, 2015 9:45 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: Flip inner covers for winter
- Replies: 5
- Views: 696
Flip inner covers for winter
Why does conventional wisdom dictate to flip the inner covers for winter? Why cant they be left as is? The only thing i can think of is to give space for patties. Anybody got something better?
- Tue Jul 07, 2015 11:19 am
- Forum: Expansion Model Beekeeping
- Topic: Is your expansion successful?
- Replies: 310
- Views: 19250
Re: Is your expansion successful?
i would say so. i am trying to compromise between making honey vs. making bees. getting comb drawn is something i need to factor in better. i spun spring honey last night, just about 5 gallons. i only pulled from one hive. that hive has also produced one split with its overwintered queen and 5 nucs ...
- Thu Jul 02, 2015 10:50 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: hive hosting opportunity
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1251
Re: hive hosting opportunity
thought i would give an update a month later. no swarms to be had, at any of the four locations i have bait hives positioned. i put two nucs at the farm with queen cells on june 14. they got mated well and are laying like crazy. no capped brood yet but each had 2.5 frames railed with larvae. on the ...
- Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:28 pm
- Forum: Queen Rearing
- Topic: when to move nucs with new virgins?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 617
Re: when to move nucs with new virgins?
had over 20 cells amongst 6 frames. made five nucs plus left a cell in the parent hive. they been putting away lots of honey.
the nucs I am moving have four or five cells in each. at least one should make it through transport. will do that tomorrow morning.

- Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:27 am
- Forum: Queen Rearing
- Topic: when to move nucs with new virgins?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 617
Re: when to move nucs with new virgins?
Very well. Thank you.
- Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:54 pm
- Forum: First Year
- Topic: Why nucs?
- Replies: 21
- Views: 1969
Re: Why nucs?
...when they start raising drone you know that they can really no longer be called a nuc. Excellent observation. I had not thought of it that way before. that was my exact thought when i started reading through this thread. nu·cle·us - the central and most important part of an object, movement, or ...
- Thu Jun 11, 2015 2:20 pm
- Forum: Queen Rearing
- Topic: when to move nucs with new virgins?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 617
Re: when to move nucs with new virgins?
nice to hear from you mr. bush, thanks. i will likely have cells on the sides of the frames and my concern is that the frames can knock into eachother during transport and damage the cell. i suppose the same is true for an unhardened queen. i am only looking to move two nucs, so perhaps i could find...
- Thu Jun 11, 2015 11:58 am
- Forum: Queen Rearing
- Topic: when to move nucs with new virgins?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 617
when to move nucs with new virgins?
no grafting, i made hive queenless on june 3rd. plan to move cells into nucs june 12th or 13th. might rain 12th, so probably the 13th. thoughts? i want to give virgins time to emerge and harden, but i want to move the nucs to a different area for her orientation and mating flights. my options to mov...
- Thu Jun 11, 2015 1:57 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: Trap out advice
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1989
Re: Trap out advice
Also, by placing the queen cell you are not getting the genetics of the bees in the tree. If the bees are not bothering anything by living in that tree, why not just put up swarm traps around it? Or do the hogan trap till you get the queen and then remove it so the bee tree can continue on. That way...
- Wed Jun 10, 2015 4:43 pm
- Forum: Comb
- Topic: What type of comb do you use?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 1164
Re: What type of comb do you use?
all undrawn frames going into hives are now foundationless. i am phasing out foundation and a few plastic frames from when i first got started.
- Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:45 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: Trap out advice
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1989
Re: Trap out advice
i dont have enough experience with trapouts to say much definitively. i have only done one, didnt use a queen cell or feed and i was able to get the queen in my hive. this was in a block wall for an office building. what are your goals for performing this trapout? thery dont need feed asthey are not...
- Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:00 am
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: Trap out advice
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1989
Re: Trap out advice
I would say the new box doesnt have the resources to support them.
Do you still see fighting?
Do you still see fighting?
- Mon Jun 08, 2015 9:41 am
- Forum: Introductions
- Topic: Hello from Norn Iron
- Replies: 2
- Views: 338
Re: Hello from Norn Iron
Hey moo.
Several if us are in same situation, surrounded by those who treat and insist it must be done. If they treat then what have they got to worry about with your mite getting into thier hives?
Several if us are in same situation, surrounded by those who treat and insist it must be done. If they treat then what have they got to worry about with your mite getting into thier hives?
- Fri Jun 05, 2015 12:48 pm
- Forum: Advanced Beekeeping
- Topic: hive hosting opportunity
- Replies: 7
- Views: 1251
Re: hive hosting opportunity
well i got a bait hive out. there is not much for trees at the place so i just placed it on a hay wagon that will get 50% shade from the sides of the wagon. got queen cells beeing made and i should be placing a nuc or two after they emerge, hopefully before they mate. i am thinking i shouldnt move t...