Ooh, I hope you get good advice. Our bees come the beginning of May.
Anyone successfully keeping bees? Help!
Dh and I have a few colonies ordered and I am expecting the call to pick them up any day now. We bought one colony and hive last year, and it died out due to the extended winter with late crazy windchills combined probably with our inexperience. They still had food in the hive, but it probably just got too cold for them, even though we had them in a protected spot, blocked from wind as well as we could...anyway. *sigh*
So, as I said, we have new colonies on order, and this weekend was spent cleaning and preparing new hives for them. I have changed the location to one that might be less convenient for humans, but much more protected, and I think comfortable, for the bees. We have a lot of room in the hayloft, and we even have a nice window where they can go in and out. This should also help keep their flight paths high and away from the chickens and guineas, and I can get a decent breeze blowing through in the summer by opening other doors if it gets very hot. I plan to set up a bird bath there to keep them in water, and probably place traps for mice around the floor (and maybe a few tall pails with corn at the bottom), but this is what we're trying this year. And I really want to succeed.
When the bee people call, we're road tripping down to the branch location and will probably pick up a few supplies (need more foundation!). But I'm wondering whether anyone has kept bees successfully for a few years, and if there are tips that could save us heartache.
Thanks in advance!
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So, as I said, we have new colonies on order, and this weekend was spent cleaning and preparing new hives for them. I have changed the location to one that might be less convenient for humans, but much more protected, and I think comfortable, for the bees. We have a lot of room in the hayloft, and we even have a nice window where they can go in and out. This should also help keep their flight paths high and away from the chickens and guineas, and I can get a decent breeze blowing through in the summer by opening other doors if it gets very hot. I plan to set up a bird bath there to keep them in water, and probably place traps for mice around the floor (and maybe a few tall pails with corn at the bottom), but this is what we're trying this year. And I really want to succeed.
When the bee people call, we're road tripping down to the branch location and will probably pick up a few supplies (need more foundation!). But I'm wondering whether anyone has kept bees successfully for a few years, and if there are tips that could save us heartache.
Thanks in advance!
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Well, I'm no expert but I've had my hive for 3 years now. I have learned SOOO much from the organic beekeeping yahoo group and Michael Bush.
Were the mites under control in your last hive? That can really weaken your bees and make them less able to deal with other stresses.
What is the weather like where you live?
I still worry about my bees ALL THE TIME even though they seem strong. There is just SO much that can go wrong and I'm a natural worrier
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Were the mites under control in your last hive? That can really weaken your bees and make them less able to deal with other stresses.
What is the weather like where you live?
I still worry about my bees ALL THE TIME even though they seem strong. There is just SO much that can go wrong and I'm a natural worrier
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We had a long, cold winter, and I think it was the final Feb/March cold snap with high winds that did them in. We just need to shelter them better from the cold winds.
Mites were not a problem, and in fact the hive was very healthy in fall. They just froze out, I think. I have placed the hives for the new bees in the hayloft. They have a large window to get in and out, and I think this will be OK. I'll be getting a bird bath to give them their own water source, too.
I'm in WI, and here I think we have plenty of winter losses normally, but there has also been CCD. Not so much with small operators, but still, it's around.
I'm expecting the call from Dadant tomorrow. Will do my best to keep eyes and ears open when I go down to pick them up, too.
With regard to how hard it is to start, it depends on whether $$ means hard.
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We inherited a lot of never-used equipment, which would have otherwise easily cost us more than $500. So, giving it another go, starting this weekend. Wish us luck.
Originally Posted by Toolip Well, I'm no expert but I've had my hive for 3 years now. I have learned SOOO much from the organic beekeeping yahoo group and Michael Bush. Were the mites under control in your last hive? That can really weaken your bees and make them less able to deal with other stresses. What is the weather like where you live? I still worry about my bees ALL THE TIME even though they seem strong. There is just SO much that can go wrong and I'm a natural worrier
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Mites were not a problem, and in fact the hive was very healthy in fall. They just froze out, I think. I have placed the hives for the new bees in the hayloft. They have a large window to get in and out, and I think this will be OK. I'll be getting a bird bath to give them their own water source, too.
I'm in WI, and here I think we have plenty of winter losses normally, but there has also been CCD. Not so much with small operators, but still, it's around.
I'm expecting the call from Dadant tomorrow. Will do my best to keep eyes and ears open when I go down to pick them up, too.
With regard to how hard it is to start, it depends on whether $$ means hard.
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