Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154615
02/11/18 02:21 PM
02/11/18 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,580 Georgia
warrior
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,580
Georgia
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So what's best to paint or seal with? I was going to get paint but wondered if tung oil or a stain would be better... also on colors I know red looks black tu bees so would blue yellows and orange be good colors to help them differentiate between their hives Any good exterior house paint. Treat exactly as you would wood siding. Stains, oils, sealers work as well but same as house siding paints give the best protection. Oil or latex your choice. I prefer oil as latex remains "sticky" and the boxes stick to each other and the paint can peel when unstacking. But that's just my preference. Do not paint the interior, though some do paint the bottom boards, just the exterior. Any color is fine, white is traditional, the bees don't care. Studies do show that geometric designs in contrasting color does help in orientation and may lesson drifting.
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154618
02/11/18 02:27 PM
02/11/18 02:27 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172 AK
Tradbow1
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,172
AK
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Jeff,
Steves Peterson is where i had been getting mine we've had extremely poor queen success rates the last 4/5 years.
Two years ago i did the 750mile rt trip for two queens in one day from keith, steve was out. By the time i was home one queen had died. The second never was accepted. That year i lost 5 hives in 2 areas so i dont believe it was area specific. Unmated queens, extremely poor acceptance, and 50-50 just poor laying, (some were slow to start....to reiterate for non arctic beeks, once behind you dont catch up )
My buddies are loosing queens as well. Both from Steve Victors and Steve Peterson. Yes Keith is crazy spendy! victors is 200 per anch prices. I dont know if theres a carge to fbks. I have not received Steve Petersons email. That should be anytime now.
Theres not enough time once you are behind. Barring Steve(s) has queens to begin with. Something has changed since i started. My buddies are doing just as poorly or worse, some are getting the from steve victors some from Steve Peterson . I didnt run bees last year because of the high failures.
Wintering is only a small part of the issue. Are you getting your queen to lay early? If not the hive comes out weak, first flights another issue. Look at wintering two fram nucs (guy in manitoba). He has a setup for getting the queens going. Seems intetesting though i prefer to let them go at their own rate. There has to be some beeks in northern russia etc who are wintering
This year has been crazy mild too!!!!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154633
02/11/18 02:50 PM
02/11/18 02:50 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
connellsville pa
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Nucs here in PA are anywhere from 140-200
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: warrior]
#6154641
02/11/18 02:56 PM
02/11/18 02:56 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
connellsville pa
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So what's best to paint or seal with? I was going to get paint but wondered if tung oil or a stain would be better... also on colors I know red looks black tu bees so would blue yellows and orange be good colors to help them differentiate between their hives Any good exterior house paint. Treat exactly as you would wood siding. Stains, oils, sealers work as well but same as house siding paints give the best protection. Oil or latex your choice. I prefer oil as latex remains "sticky" and the boxes stick to each other and the paint can peel when unstacking. But that's just my preference. Do not paint the interior, though some do paint the bottom boards, just the exterior. Any color is fine, white is traditional, the bees don't care. Studies do show that geometric designs in contrasting color does help in orientation and may lesson drifting. Thanks ill see if my local stores have any "wrong" mixes discounted. Hopefully the weather dries out this weekend so I can get them painted and aired out. Supposed to rain here all week
Last edited by wvuarmyeng; 02/11/18 02:57 PM.
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: warrior]
#6154692
02/11/18 03:57 PM
02/11/18 03:57 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
OP
trapper
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OP
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connellsville pa
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Have you tried getting bees from the north? I know they shop a lot from south to north. You would think that bees in the north moving south might be a tad hardier but would the warmer temps affect them? I'm just starting so I just know whay I've read and learned from my cousins
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6154840
02/11/18 06:48 PM
02/11/18 06:48 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
connellsville pa
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Haha all good yukonjeff I love reading and learning all I can. Weather here in pennsyvania has been cold and damp. It's actually almost 60 today but been raining since Friday
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6155549
02/12/18 11:46 AM
02/12/18 11:46 AM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,986 Shenandoah County, VA
l1ranger
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,986
Shenandoah County, VA
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wvu - we just started classes with the local organization. it runs through the end of march for 2 hours each saturday. you could check and see if your local organizations has somethign similar.
Josh
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6155911
02/12/18 07:21 PM
02/12/18 07:21 PM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208 connellsville pa
wvuarmyeng
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 208
connellsville pa
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Headed to the western pa conference in Monroeville on saturday
Red fox - 0/3 Gray fox - 0/3 Coyote - 0/1 Bobcat - 0/1 coon - 2/25 possum - 1/20 skunks - 0/5 beaver - 1/6
First in last out, firefighter for life!
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Re: Honey bees
[Re: wvuarmyeng]
#6158217
02/14/18 09:42 PM
02/14/18 09:42 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 25 Heyburn Idaho
oldude
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 25
Heyburn Idaho
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I have pretty much given up on packages as they seem to lose/kill the Queen, I have mapped my local area and have a pretty good idea where the swarms show up every year and am going to try to rebuild with swarms.
Freedom ain't Free
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