Category: Year 2

Wonky wax

I’ve had bears, swarms and now wonky wax! Beekeeping is just…beekeeping, every day there’s something new.

In this photo the bees built honey comb which attached to the top part of the frame and hangs parallel to the foundation. The bees can access the comb from both sides. It’s actually how they would naturally build comb if they were housed in a tree cavity. But why they’re building it here, I have no idea!

This is brace comb. It spans between two frames connecting them. You can also see the pretty white-capped honey. That’s what it looks like when it’s ready to harvest.

Thick and thin.

Why?

Bees on my deck

Alas, the bees have found my deck! This year I’ve planted several plants that attract bees, like cosmos and gay feather. But best of all is they’ve found a close water supply.

It’s was very hot last week. Seven consecutive days over 100 degrees and this week in the 90s. The bees have finally found my pot of snake grass that sits submerged in water. Bees are now alighting to and fro!

The gay feather just started blooming a few days ago. The bees are all over it. I’m happy they’re enjoying my flowers as much as me.

Got my second swarm!

I called my friend and fellow beekeeper Dale Wallerstein who came right over to help. I borrowed a ladder from my neighbor then we developed a plan. First we got some rope and pulled back the branch that was below the swarm to make room for the ladder. Then we roped the branch with the swarm and pulled it down low enough so I could reach it.

After the swarm was in the nuc box there was still a clump of bees bunching by the entrance. They weren’t going in like I observed last time. I was afraid the queen might still be on the outside of the box. So I got another brood box, transferred the frames inside, then shook all the bees from the nuc into it. Now all is well!

There’s my sixth hive sitting on the ground.

I then checked all my hives. To the best of my “still a newbee” experience I’d say the swarm was not mine…

Not to be over shadowed by the bees, I had another visitor worth mentioning in the pasture today as well.

Another swarm!

Never a dull moment in beekeeping. Ten days ago I had a swarm attach itself to one of my hives. I was eventually able to get it into its own hive. Last Saturday when I checked the hive where the swarm attached itself, that hive was queenless with 9 capped queen cells. Not sure what happened. Today I go into the bee yard and see a swarm in a tree. I don’t know if it’s one of my hives or a swarm from somewhere else. So much I don’t know. So much to learn!!!

My first swarm!

I’ll say one thing about beekeeping, there’s always something new!

On Friday, June 2, I went out to the bee yard and found hive #2 covered with bees, but only on the sides. I had no idea what this was. I didn’t think it was bearding, because it was only 79 degrees, and they usually beard on the front of the hive when it’s very hot. Was it a swarm? Robbing?

I posted this picture on our bee group’s Facebook page and received many responses and recommendations. Thank you Jeremiah Ferrell of Ferrell Bees for your advice and support! It was very helpful to get your suggestions online as well as talking with you on the phone!

I got my nuc box out and installed a frame of honey, a frame of brood as well as frames of foundation. At first I set it beside the hive with the swarm. Nothing. Then I moved it so the entrance was facing the swarm. Nothing. I then scooped up piles of bees with my hive tool and shook them into the nuc. I also put some by the entrance. Nothing. That night I checked the hives at 11:00 pm and the bees were still on the side of the hive.

Early the next morning I went outside with a file folder. I positioned the nuc underneath the hive and literally slid the file folder under the bees and peeled them away from the hive, into the nuc. This was the easy side! The other side, which faces inward, was trickier. I had to peel them off the side where they fell onto the top of the hive stand. From there I shoveled them with the file folder into the nuc.

Once they were cleared from the side of the hive, I was then able to see what I was really dealing with. The whole underside of the screened bottom board was packed with bees! There must be a queen under there. Hmmm. Now what?

I brought down a little garden table and set it behind the hive. I pulled the back of the hive onto the table which was a few inches higher than the hive stand.  I was then able to slide my hive tool underneath the bottom board and scoop out bees. I cleared almost all the bees, closed the lid, then moved the small table a few feet away and put the nuc on it.

At noon I went out to check. I opened the nuc and it was empty! The bees were back on the hive. Ugg, I obviously didn’t get the queen. Now there was no way around it, I was going to have to completely remove the hive from the bottom board.

Once removed, I was able to pick up the bottom board and turn it over. It was packed with bees. I wasn’t able to spot the queen. I then held it over the nuc and gave it a good shake. The bees fell into the nuc. I closed the lid and stood back. This is what I saw…

The queen was inside and the bees marched right on in. Within two minutes there wasn’t a bee outside.

Since it was a large swarm I installed them into a 10-frame brood box. I now have a new unexpected fifth hive!

The most amazing part of the whole experience was the bees. They were amazing! They were very calm and docile. With moving them around as much as I did, they never once acted aggressively. No bouncing off my veil, swarming around my head or crawling on me. They were very peaceful, almost purring with their buzzing.

So ends another exciting episode in beekeeping!

3 pounds of bees

Last Tuesday I checked the hives – five days from the bear’s last visit. I actually saw two queens and evidence of queens in all hives (eggs and very young larva). It’s hard to believe they survived two visits from the bear! The hive that was hit twice had very few bees, not nearly enough to sustain it. So to give it a boost, on Sunday I bought three pounds of bees.

May 7, 2017

Above are pictures of my mentor Brion Dunbar, transferring the bees into my nuc box. As you can see, many experienced beekeepers don’t even suit up when handling bees. Me? I’m still inexperienced! 😉

Before installing the bees into their new hive I made another check. This time I did not see any evidence of a queen and saw several queen cells. They were making a new queen! I also found the same thing in one other hive. I have no idea why. The queens may have “survived” the bear, but perhaps were injured or greatly weakened. In two days I went from having four viable hives down to two. Amazing how quickly things can change!

With the addition of the new bees I now believe the hives have what they need to survive. I am going to let the bees be bees to sort it all out. I’ll recheck the hives late next week to see if new queens have emerged.

Hooray, the hives stand!

I awoke this morning with a sense of trepidation, afraid of what I might find. To my delight the hives were untouched! I’m not sure if the bear returned or not. The bacon was all there.

I checked the hives this afternoon and in two I saw the queens! The third had eggs and is 48 hours post bear…so maybe. The fourth hive, which was my strong split and got hit twice, had larva and lots of capped brood. It’s all pre bear so I’m thinking it’s not viable. I will wait to see if they start eating it away to prepare the cells for new brood. I gave them all light syrup and saw pollen in all hives.

I also swapped out a brood box which was damaged by the bear. A total of four frames were lost to the invasion, though I was able to salvage the foundation/comb. They were damaged, but there was still a lot of wax on them that the bees can easily repair. Much easier than starting from scratch.

I have a feeling it will take a while before I can relax about the bear.

 

Round two :-(

April 27, 2017

Ol’ mister bear was back again last night. Now all hives have been taken down. On my way home from Sac I picked up a new battery for my solar charger. I was surprised and very happy to learn that the battery came fully charged! I was good to go for tonight. Unbeknownst to me, while I was at work Wayne did a temporary install of his AC charger and got the fence wire hot! A huge thank you Wayne! I have strung the wire with bacon hoping that ol’ mister bear will take a bite and get his nose zapped. I am told that you have to train the bear to the wire, otherwise it won’t stop them. With fingers crossed I’ll see what the morning brings.

Bad news bears :-(

April 26, 2017

It’s been quite a day. Gone is the bucolic quality of the bee yard, reality has set in…I have bears! After getting over the shock (and boo hooing on my neighbors shoulder) I got busy. I already had many of the supplies needed for the electric fence, but a trip across the canyon was never the less required.

Got the fence up and wired with the help of my friend and neighbor, Wayne Kopp. I am so lucky and grateful to have such a helpful friend! Tomorrow I’ll get a new battery for my solar charger and with a little sunshine get the fence up and zappy! I don’t know what to think about tonight, though. I am told that I should expect another visit. I put a light out in the bee yard. Hope all goes well tonight.

Here’s a close up of one of the frames. You can see the bear claw marks. Lots of dead and dying bees. I put the hives back together again as quickly as possible. I saw one queen, though I wasn’t really looking. It’s been wet, rainy and cold the past few days, so the bees are already stressed. Have no idea what to expect. Will feed again tomorrow. Thankfully tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm! Yahoo!

Back in the bee yard

It’s been a while, but I’m back! I’ve been a very busy bee lately and have lots to share. I’ll do some catch up posts to fill everyone in. Just wanted to get on to share how pretty the bee yard is. And as you can see, my apiary has expanded to four. More to come on that too!