Second one from the same house

My sixth for the year, not counting swarms.

Wow

How old is that hive? Do you keep them?

I agree WOW......jk

Wow

Looks to be third year. The upper honey comb has suffered a collapse at some point, twisted on its side, which rules out this year as does the dark comb. Also there's not enough bees for the amount of comb which tells me they're in the third year decline from varroa.
I usually keep them but this client is taking up beekeeping so they'll get them back once if get them back on their feet.

Did the whole thing barehanded, to boot.

That's pretty neat. When you get them up on there feet do you requeen or treat them?

I definitely treat. Mainly I just want a laying queen right off the bat. After evaluation I determine if they're worth a bought queen or deserving of a combine.

Sir, you are a man of many talents. From beavers to bees and land critters too.

My brother just got his package of bees from a place in Georgia today. Got them all nestled into their new super, so we will see how well southern bees like a 40 degree night followed by 4-5 days of rain.

Here in Illinois I have never seen a swarm, although this year I have heard of 2 in my town.

You keep posting these and gonna get me back into it LOL. What treatment you use on hem for the varroa mites?

Im Glad there's honey... thats as far as Ill go

Glad there are people who have a passion for them!

I rotate treatments to avoid resistance. I really like formic pro but can only use it in the spring here as it has temperature limitations. Apiguard is effective and easy to use and I use apivar when I need good clean up.

I'm getting my first bees next week, have one hive put together, painted and ready, have another on the way but it'll be to late this year to get a second batch of bees unless I catch a swarm. Is there a preventative for mites? instead of fixing the problem after they get them can you do something to prevent them? Will it hurt to treat a hive if they don't have mites? My grandpa had bees the whole time I was growing up, man I wish he was still around to ask questions and get advise!

X2!

that's crazy

I can’t ever get good easy removals like that. I alway get the calls where I have to crawl under a mobile home or camper trailer so that mess can drip all over me !