Bee guys, I have a question.
#7327799
08/11/21 08:06 PM
08/11/21 08:06 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482 Ne pa
Jerry Jr.
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OP
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Ne pa
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Does this look like my hive is splitting? This is my first year at this.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Jerry Jr.]
#7327805
08/11/21 08:12 PM
08/11/21 08:12 PM
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Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 5,214 Crivitz WI
Sprung & Rusty
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Crivitz WI
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Why are you so angry? The red angry guy by your name says so.
No Jab.
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Providence Farm]
#7327818
08/11/21 08:23 PM
08/11/21 08:23 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482 Ne pa
Jerry Jr.
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No it's called bearding. They do that when it's hot. Just got a call back from a local guy. He said the same thing. I thought with the clumps that I saw that they were starting to split. The hive has been doing very well. They filled up the first brood box pretty quick before I added the second brood box. They filled that one before I thought they would. The second brood box was full of honey so I added a supper on top of that about a week and a half ago. I thought I might have waited too long to put the supper on. Thank you for the reply.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Providence Farm]
#7327833
08/11/21 08:38 PM
08/11/21 08:38 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482 Ne pa
Jerry Jr.
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I No it's called bearding. They do that when it's hot. If I am on the internet that means that I am not out doing what I would like to be doing. That makes me angry.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: yukonjeff]
#7327875
08/11/21 09:16 PM
08/11/21 09:16 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482 Ne pa
Jerry Jr.
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If its hot there take out that entrance reducer it will help with the bearding.
Also might want to take a look inside and see if you have queen cells started. Or a laying queen. This is my first go at this. I sent a email to a local organization about getting someone to come out and take a look at my hive and give me pointers, but no-one got back to me. I will admit that I have not been opening the hive and looking at it like I should be. Mostly because I really do not know what I am looking at or for. I am not scared of being stung, got stung a few times and it doesn't hurt. I am more worried that I will do something wrong. I know a few other local bee keepers, I will have to talk to them and see if they will stop by and give me some pointers. It looks like I will have to go through the hive tomorrow. Thanks for the replies. I am open to any and all tips that anyone has to offer.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Jerry Jr.]
#7327947
08/11/21 10:14 PM
08/11/21 10:14 PM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 602 ontario, canada
old243
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Also check your honey super if they have it partly filled . I would take it off and add a second super. Just above the queen excluder, then replace the partly filled one on top. This will give them more room, I have 3 supers on several of mine now, top two are full and mostly capped. Your hive looks really strong, give them lots of room. Get into your brood frames, check to make sure queen has room to lay . If there is a lot of honey in brood boxes . Remove it and give her a couple of frames of drawn comb, or foundation. Don't be afraid to get in and inspect the brood boxes, you will learn , to recognize things as you play with them.
If you have a 5 frame nuc box , Take a couple of frames of brood, with day old eggs on it. a frame of food and a couple of frames of foundation. They will start queen cells and make their new queen, always handy to have a spare one around. You will have to feed the nuc, sugar water. Have fun with your bees. old243
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Jerry Jr.]
#7328046
08/12/21 12:31 AM
08/12/21 12:31 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,797 M.T.V. Alaska
yukonjeff
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Use a veil or a jacket and gloves have a well lit smoker and give a puff at the entrance before you start. Also a puff of smoke as you crack open the boxes. Once you take one box off give another puff of smoke gently across the top of the bees to drive the down in the frames so not on top and in the way.
Then push/pry the frames all to one side and pry one on the edge back and take it out to make room to work out the other frames. lean it against the hive ,bees and all. Then do the next one the same way gently lifting each frame up and inspect it. Gently put it back in the box.
First look for your queen , marked I hope. See if you have young brood and capped brood. Eggs are hard to see, you need sunshine at your back when you look, they are small. Dont worry as long as you see very young brood in all stages.
If the bees are getting angry and attacking your hands give them another puff of smoke across the top, and make a cloud in the air around you to calm them. Always move slow and deliberate.
Look on the bottom of the frames for conical cells hanging down might be a queen cell. Knock it down if you see one or more if you see you have a queen. Some are drones on the bottom of the frame. Make sure your queen has open comb to lay in or she will swarm away. Make sure you have space in your honey suppers as well, have one half empty at all times.
Put all frames back the same position that they came out.
When your flow is over in the fall extract your honey, treat for mites, and feed until they wont take any more and wrap.
If you take pictures of your frames and post them we can help here.
Good luck.
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Jerry Jr.]
#7328151
08/12/21 07:29 AM
08/12/21 07:29 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,154 Tug Hill, NY
Redknot
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Yukon, has very sound advice...The only thing I'll add about keeping your hive a bit cooler is to consider screened bottom boards...
~Illegitimi Non Carborundum~
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Redknot]
#7328253
08/12/21 10:06 AM
08/12/21 10:06 AM
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Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 602 ontario, canada
old243
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I also have screened inner covers, 2 inch hole . Creates lots of ventilation, the bees will close it up a bit , if they want less. My big hives the lids are propped up . This helps them get rid of the moisture from the nectar before capping. Those bees that are bearding on the outside. Need to be inside , fanning and concentrating , your nectar. Give them space. Watch your bees , they will show you , what they need. old 243
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Marathon]
#7328264
08/12/21 10:23 AM
08/12/21 10:23 AM
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,961 Indiana
Providence Farm
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Indiana
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Did you ever get a permit from the PA Dept. of Ag.? When you do this you get on a list to have your hives inspected. I think it's $10 for 2 yrs. regardless of the # of hives. I'm glad I don't live in such a communist state..
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Re: Bee guys, I have a question.
[Re: Jerry Jr.]
#7329549
08/13/21 09:51 PM
08/13/21 09:51 PM
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Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 1,482 Ne pa
Jerry Jr.
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Sorry for not getting back to you guys sooner. I went through the hive yesterday. My wife took pictures for me on her cellphone. She has not emailed them to me yet.
On the honey supper, they have started to draw out the frames with some honey in the middle. Below that is the queen excluder. Below that is the second brood box. It is all full of caped honey. On the first brood box the outside frames are honey and the inside frames are a mix of capped brood and pollen, nector, honey. The pics will clear it up if my ole lady ever sends them to me.
I did not remove the entrance reducer, my smoker was running very low and I just plain forgot. I think I saw the queen on the first or second brood frame (bottom box) that I pulled out. Not sure if my wife got it in the pic.
I do not recall seeing any very small eggs. I did see ones that were older (comma stage and older). I will admit, I was melting and I really do not know what i am looking for. I know there were some late stage ones that were attached between the first brood box and the second one. I know this since they were torn open when I took the second brood box off.
When my wife sends the pics I will post them. I am not good with words and a picture is worth a thousand.
Thank you to all the have responded.
Time is more precious than gold if you know how to spend it .... but what do I know, I'm just a dumb farmer.~My Dad NRA LIFE MEMBER, Endowment Member
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