tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6633683509554833202024-03-13T07:55:34.300-07:00Wallace BeesBeekeeping near the Wallace Lake Mountains.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-5631366319454596342014-04-27T21:35:00.002-07:002014-04-27T21:35:58.232-07:00Feeding Apparently Not Needed.The bees were fed 1:1 sugar syrup yesterday, and they barely touched it, which is a good sign, they are not starving as I thought. There were some good activity during the sun breaks yesterday, foragers were bringing pollen. Today was hail and freezing rain, so I'll let the quart of sugar syrup. I also added an "attic" to the hive, since the bottom of the roof was moldy. The attic box was filled with wood shavings and paper. <br>
So far so good for this year. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-48952546090073587722014-04-21T10:39:00.000-07:002014-04-21T10:39:11.274-07:00Slow Start for 2014After showing good activity, a few weeks of rain have taken their toll, and activity at the entrance is now moderate. I saw a worker bee dumping an almost fully form larva. It probably died from starvation. This is an indication that I should feed them if the weather turns to rain again.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-59240840521171747972014-04-02T14:02:00.002-07:002014-04-02T15:09:02.256-07:00Season 2014 in ON!!The beehive has awaken from the winter and appears healthy from watching the entrance activity.
Foragers are bringing in pollen, which indicates that the queen is laying.
The hive will be opened on the first weekend that breaks 60F. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-59282940756458274522013-06-09T12:46:00.000-07:002013-06-09T12:46:29.643-07:00Super added on May 22ndUpdate post to make the date on the first inspection, during which one super and one nadir were added. The colony was found to be very strong, with 4 boxes containing combs, three boxes relatively heavy. A fourth box was full of bees, but no comb. Total number of boxes after inspection is 7.
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T22pQpLSCp8/UbTbi5NdmKI/AAAAAAAABAk/K9lFOnW6Stc/s1600/First-Inspection-2013.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-T22pQpLSCp8/UbTbi5NdmKI/AAAAAAAABAk/K9lFOnW6Stc/s320/First-Inspection-2013.JPG" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-24747532233898459642013-03-09T13:38:00.000-08:002013-03-09T13:59:41.692-08:00Expected colony failure<p>My second hive was a late small swarm of last year. It had three handicaps: a very late swarm, a small swarm, and a third swarm from the same hive. Here is the beehive where I set it up:</p>
<p><center>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcRDRo2od8Y/UTuoQ3qeqvI/AAAAAAAAA_I/8EzpsqUnUzA/s1600/IMG_1790b.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HcRDRo2od8Y/UTuoQ3qeqvI/AAAAAAAAA_I/8EzpsqUnUzA/s320/IMG_1790b.JPG" /></a>
</p></center>
<p>I only put two sections, knowing it was already doubtful the colony would have time to fill them up. To have a chance to survive our winter, a colony should have at least two full sections. With three sections, survival is more likely.<br>
A few days ago, my other colony was very active, while this one showed no signs of life at all. Today is sunny, and again, my other colony is active, while this one was quiet, so I decided to open it. After removal of the roof:</p>
<p><center>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBPT3ud-aJU/UTupmrKGFCI/AAAAAAAAA_U/3gbBqCtNtBw/s1600/IMG_1792.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBPT3ud-aJU/UTupmrKGFCI/AAAAAAAAA_U/3gbBqCtNtBw/s320/IMG_1792.JPG" /></a>
</p></center>
<p>Cool bee art, but no bees. The bottom of the hive section shows some mold, which is pretty common, except mold usually forms at the periphery, not the center like here.</p>
<p><center>
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</p></center>
<p>After removal of the top section, the section below was completely empty:</p>
<p><center>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_hgeFaQhu8/UTurATcooDI/AAAAAAAAA_o/0K1W0yZWyVY/s1600/IMG_1794b.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1_hgeFaQhu8/UTurATcooDI/AAAAAAAAA_o/0K1W0yZWyVY/s320/IMG_1794b.JPG" /></a>
</p></center>
<p>The bottom of the hive showed must less dead bees as I expected. It looks like the colony absconded, or merged with another colony.</p>
<p><center>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-941rn99qZfM/UTurgkjek2I/AAAAAAAAA_w/hQfnflvJqxY/s1600/IMG_1795b.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-941rn99qZfM/UTurgkjek2I/AAAAAAAAA_w/hQfnflvJqxY/s320/IMG_1795b.JPG" /></a>
</p></center>
<p>I will probably add a new colony from a package in this spot. I may try to put the hive on a stand, as I am not happy with the hive being on the ground, too much moist gets in, as well as ants and other critters.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-58606652202697848682013-03-06T20:08:00.001-08:002013-03-06T20:11:23.425-08:00Emergence 2013<p>The picture below was taken two days ago. Looks like the colony survived the winter. This year I may try comb honey. The Warre hive is ideal for comb honey. I better start preparing the honey super.</p>
<p><center>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx2temrftVI/UTgSkAmvu9I/AAAAAAAAA-4/85niJmT9lRc/s1600/IMG_1789b.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yx2temrftVI/UTgSkAmvu9I/AAAAAAAAA-4/85niJmT9lRc/s320/IMG_1789b.JPG" /></a></center></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-47962488864935100722012-10-25T17:32:00.000-07:002012-10-25T17:32:22.640-07:00Hive StatusW10: My main hive, produced 2 gallons of honey this year. It is resting on 5 sections.
W11: made of a swarm I got from Jack. It was a small late swarm (3rd swarm), and has a low probability of survival.</p>
<p>That is all, after 2011 losses, I decided to have only one hive until I get a full harvest, which actually happened. W11 was not planned, as it was a swarm.<br>
I will only increase my number of hives if I get a swarm next year.</p>
<p>As far as equipment, I do need to improve the honey harvesting method. Smoking the bees out of the honey super is fine, but the filtering process was too slow. Once I get several producing hives, it won't be manageable.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-15572776194071079752012-08-19T11:54:00.002-07:002012-08-19T13:02:26.865-07:00HARVEST TIME !!!Well, the bee escape did not work, most of the bees stayed trapped inside the super, and were really pissed off when I opened the hive for harvest. I set a table 20 feet away from the hive, brought the full honey super (heavy!) on the table, and tried to figure out how to "invite" those bees to leave the honey (their hard work) and go back to the hive. I set the super on small blocks and smoked it from underneath. Bees rushed to the top of the super, I brushed them off with a handfull of grass. Within a few minutes, all the bees were gone, and I brought the super in the kitchen for harvest. I was not too sure how to do that either.<br>
I started cutting the combs free from the hive walls, removed the first two combs without much trouble, and started cutting the combs in small pieces over a strainer. Here is a the second comb resting on top of a bucket. A section was cut off already.
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The cut off section has been shredded with a very sharp bread knife, and is draining above a strainer.
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Honey from the first two combs, 7 more to go.
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Third comb, nice full straight comb, and it is heavy.
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Other side.
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The harvest is ongoing. My only regret is that I would have loved to show all this to a smart little boy. He is in my heart.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-91815907886863272782012-08-15T13:21:00.000-07:002012-08-15T13:21:03.068-07:00Checking the Honey SuperI checked the honey super last weekend, and it is full. Back in Spring, I added both a super at the top, and another at the bottom of the hive. The hive did not swarm, and the top super is about 90% full of capped honey. I just put a bee escape, and we will harvest during the coming weekend. That will be our first harvest.
I have another hive from a small swarm in our garden. This hive will probably have to be few.
That is all the hives I have at this time.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-21960707249271444102012-07-09T15:49:00.000-07:002012-07-09T15:59:11.659-07:00Too Hot for BeesIt was another hot day Saturday. The bees in the Warre hive were making the beard and congregating outside the hive, in an effort to keep the inside cool. Warre hives are better than standard Langstroth at keeping the colony warm, which often leads to overheating in the summer, which the bees deal with by "bearding". In the picture below, we can't really see the beard hidden by the grass, below the landing board. There was a nice pack of bees underneath that landing board.
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This colony is W10.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-45811707154343387792011-04-20T13:31:00.001-07:002011-04-20T13:51:56.069-07:00Welcome Seaon 2011The winter was harsh for the bees. I lost the 3 hives in Snohomish, and possibly another in Gold Bar. The 3 hives in Snohomish starved. One of them had an ant nest conveniently installed right under the hive. They must have had a few parties this winter, high on honey! <br /><br />Here is the list of colonies:<br /><br />L1: Alive, very active. Fed on 04-17 (1 jar 66% sugar water).<br />L2: Alive, low activity. Fed on 4-17 (1 jar 66% sugar water).<br />W1: Dead (starvation). Terminated (hive dismantled and cleaned).<br />W2: Dead (starvation + ants). Terminated.<br />W3: Dead (absconded, goat disturbance, then beetle infestation). Terminated.<br />W4: Alive, low activity. Not fed yet. Low probability of survival.<br />W5: Dead after hiving (2010), sick swarm.<br /><br />Lx stands for Langstroth number x.<br />Wx stands for Warre number x. Warre is a style of home made hive. <br /><br />The loss of hives was quite disheartening, so I decided to get only one package of bees this Spring, and take a better care of it than I did last year. The ants will be dealt with by using an electric barrier (two copper strips with a voltage differential, spaced by 1mm, at the base of the hive, inside and out), plus a chalk line (ants don't walk over chalk). The feeder is upgraded to hold 1 1/4 gallon. The top bars are now nailed, and set at 9 per box. The hive is set in a different spot, better protected from wind, but still receiving morning sun.<br />We will be getting our bees today, and I'll add pictures during the hiving. This will be hive W10.<br /><br />For the new visitors of this blog, here is a fun way you can record your hive status, while sharing informations with other beekeepers and friends.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-78063730718769479482010-09-03T12:30:00.000-07:002010-09-04T13:12:21.940-07:00August 18 harvestWe harvested hive L1 from Gold Bar in August 18. Ashley took some really good pictures that I thought I would share. First pic is the hive entrance as we arrived. It was a hot day, so there are quite a few fanners, and some foragers. Some cool "flight positions" visible, see those legs tucked along the abdomen. Click on the picture for a closer view.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFNoPRxDTI/AAAAAAAAAmc/jEHChWypIV0/s1600/IMG_0825.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFNoPRxDTI/AAAAAAAAAmc/jEHChWypIV0/s320/IMG_0825.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512772772569353522" /></a><br />Last year I harvested the first and last frames, and replaced them with top bars. As a result, the bees attached these combs to the lower body, as can be seen in this pic:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFN8qNlTQI/AAAAAAAAAmk/NkymKLAIAtI/s1600/IMG_0831.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFN8qNlTQI/AAAAAAAAAmk/NkymKLAIAtI/s320/IMG_0831.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512773123396947202" /></a><br />The top body, filled with honey and some brood, was set in the shade. It was too hot to work in the sun under the bee suit. As we pealed off the top cloth, bees were coming out to check the intrusion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFOVul_XTI/AAAAAAAAAms/SWseATUOc7Q/s1600/IMG_0837.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFOVul_XTI/AAAAAAAAAms/SWseATUOc7Q/s320/IMG_0837.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512773554069790002" /></a><br />Due to the lack of side and bottom bars, the bees built "free style". A lot of cross combs attached to the wall. We had to do a lot of cutting. You can see below, the handle of a pan we set under the super, to collect dripping honey.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFOpwsxJbI/AAAAAAAAAm0/ZPd_tOfp-L0/s1600/IMG_0840.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFOpwsxJbI/AAAAAAAAAm0/ZPd_tOfp-L0/s320/IMG_0840.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512773898232473010" /></a><br />The first comb is coming out whole, exciting moment!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFO2eC8A7I/AAAAAAAAAm8/SxgcURX1tEg/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFO2eC8A7I/AAAAAAAAAm8/SxgcURX1tEg/s320/IMG_0844.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512774116563485618" /></a><br />Here is the comb, with about 50% capped honey. Now we need to remove those bees.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPGeK3K-I/AAAAAAAAAnE/JHbrhmEfvZ0/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPGeK3K-I/AAAAAAAAAnE/JHbrhmEfvZ0/s320/IMG_0845.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512774391474629602" /></a><br />Here is how we did it. Better to use grass that hair (like a brush) that aggravates the bees. With grass, the bees stay calm.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPYTwLr3I/AAAAAAAAAnM/jvW0zcKruiw/s1600/IMG_0848.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPYTwLr3I/AAAAAAAAAnM/jvW0zcKruiw/s320/IMG_0848.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512774697916018546" /></a><br />Well done Andy!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPgznG5VI/AAAAAAAAAnU/9BLNtN0Cb08/s1600/IMG_0852.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPgznG5VI/AAAAAAAAAnU/9BLNtN0Cb08/s320/IMG_0852.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512774843906843986" /></a><br />The honeycomb is cut in sections to fit in the bucket:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPsfF0MgI/AAAAAAAAAnc/RqoG9qGQJGk/s1600/IMG_0853.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFPsfF0MgI/AAAAAAAAAnc/RqoG9qGQJGk/s320/IMG_0853.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512775044556927490" /></a><br />Here is a pic of the super with one comb removed:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQCoijl-I/AAAAAAAAAnk/i9CFHtSM49k/s1600/IMG_0857.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQCoijl-I/AAAAAAAAAnk/i9CFHtSM49k/s320/IMG_0857.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512775425050515426" /></a><br />The second comb was a lot more difficult. Here is a pic of the honey dripping in the pan:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQOGfISVI/AAAAAAAAAns/e3vpfKWYjiY/s1600/IMG_0858.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQOGfISVI/AAAAAAAAAns/e3vpfKWYjiY/s320/IMG_0858.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512775622067767634" /></a><br />When we removed the top bar, about half of the comb stayed attached to the super:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQfZO7W_I/AAAAAAAAAn0/MhNVP3wV6Js/s1600/IMG_0863.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQfZO7W_I/AAAAAAAAAn0/MhNVP3wV6Js/s320/IMG_0863.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512775919157861362" /></a><br />Lots of honey dripping:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQqCgatZI/AAAAAAAAAn8/gq18KqAXE9A/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQqCgatZI/AAAAAAAAAn8/gq18KqAXE9A/s320/IMG_0864.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512776102035764626" /></a><br />Here, I finally extracted the two pieces of combs from the super:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQ7t10u0I/AAAAAAAAAoE/60dUY3_ZE7M/s1600/IMG_0865.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFQ7t10u0I/AAAAAAAAAoE/60dUY3_ZE7M/s320/IMG_0865.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512776405726051138" /></a><br />The two removed top bars were replaced with frames from the 5th body. Since the bees did not expand the colony (they were still occupying three mediums, as they were last year), I only extracted as much as last year. I did however left the 4rth body, so that they have room to expand next Spring, instead of swarming.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFRfHvf8AI/AAAAAAAAAoM/bM9JTJcC_-U/s1600/IMG_0884.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TIFRfHvf8AI/AAAAAAAAAoM/bM9JTJcC_-U/s320/IMG_0884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512777013974265858" /></a><br />After harvesting, extraction was made by crushing the combs in a strainer, and filtering the honey. This was a small harvest for my second year.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-23142985039318447472010-08-13T22:41:00.000-07:002010-08-13T22:48:14.697-07:00Inspection on W1W1 was inspected, equipped with a better sump (from W5) and moved a few yards because it was too close to the electric fence. Only the top hive body is filled, and there is some weight in it. This is a small colony tugging along, and if the end of the season is good, they may make it. They would need to fill a second hive body for that. I will probably feed them at some point. Here too, the quilt was filled with ants, like with W2, so it was removed. The colony was on 3 hive bodies, I removed one. I have some hope for this colony, but there obviously will be no harvest.<br />Tomorrow is harvest time for W2, and inspection on K1-W3. K1 will get its roof and quilt back, since it was borrowed for W5.<br />Sunday, I will inspect L1, L2 and W4, and I may harvest some honey too.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-15638405114612124292010-08-13T08:51:00.000-07:002010-08-13T09:03:31.111-07:00W5 is deadW5 hive is dead. This was a big swarm cough around July 18 in a gas station in Bothell. We suspect someone in the neighborhood is making repetitive use of pesticides. I learned in horticulture class that homeowners are a big source of pollution in urban areas (particularly water pollution), due to yard care products. There are quite a few nasty products on sale at big box stores. These products should never be used on preventive routine applications, but only on curative applications, once a pest problem has been identified, otherwise the product may do more harm than good.<br />The bee colony dwindled until all bees were gone. Another sad loss, this was a strong swarm. I will pick up the hive tonight, as I need some material this week end for harvest and winter preparation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-20814440136396860442010-08-12T08:39:00.000-07:002010-08-12T08:47:01.083-07:00Hive Design: Escape BoardToday, I checked W2 sump and saw that the combs are now reaching the screen bottom board. I am going to harvest on Saturday, so now is a good time to put an escape board, and add an empty hive body at the bottom. I immediately got to work on building an escape board, since it was already ~ 6pm. About an hour later, I had my first escape board built. I set it next to W2 hive, on top of an empty hive body. Here is the bottom view:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQWjji0X-I/AAAAAAAAAiM/agWoJBH3ZHA/s1600/IMG_0794.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQWjji0X-I/AAAAAAAAAiM/agWoJBH3ZHA/s320/IMG_0794.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504549444646100962" /></a><br />And here the top view:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQW0zdlf_I/AAAAAAAAAiU/4dCxELe1bBA/s1600/IMG_0795.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQW0zdlf_I/AAAAAAAAAiU/4dCxELe1bBA/s320/IMG_0795.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504549740976898034" /></a><br />W2 suffers from ant infestation, so the quilt was removed yesterday. Here is how the hive looked like just before I opened it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQXECQpw7I/AAAAAAAAAic/24CP9-2dQwk/s1600/IMG_0797.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQXECQpw7I/AAAAAAAAAic/24CP9-2dQwk/s320/IMG_0797.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504550002647221170" /></a><br />Here, the escape board is set in place, just before I set the top body full of honey to be harvested, and the roof:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQXTAdxB0I/AAAAAAAAAik/1N4V6M_rpFU/s1600/IMG_0800.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TGQXTAdxB0I/AAAAAAAAAik/1N4V6M_rpFU/s320/IMG_0800.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504550259863390018" /></a><br />The harvest will be two days from now. We will see how well the escape board performs.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-48277060456517480162010-08-02T12:32:00.000-07:002010-08-02T12:49:43.581-07:00Sump designHere are pictures of the sump, or base, of my hives. First picture is the base with the 1/2" hardware cloth acting as a mouse guard:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceXxTSCOI/AAAAAAAAAg8/MmzE0X7eW4w/s1600/IMG_0767.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceXxTSCOI/AAAAAAAAAg8/MmzE0X7eW4w/s320/IMG_0767.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500898863576385762" /></a><br />Here is a picture of the base upside down, showing how the 1/2" hardware cloth is stapled to the wood:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceo0jerTI/AAAAAAAAAhE/cCFigCwV6d8/s1600/IMG_0768.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceo0jerTI/AAAAAAAAAhE/cCFigCwV6d8/s320/IMG_0768.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500899156507405618" /></a><br />View of the inside, with the back door removed:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceyTBM6pI/AAAAAAAAAhM/neudwtjEtPk/s1600/IMG_0769.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFceyTBM6pI/AAAAAAAAAhM/neudwtjEtPk/s320/IMG_0769.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500899319303957138" /></a><br />Backdoor in place:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFce5nC2jtI/AAAAAAAAAhU/4CyFT6_fprA/s1600/IMG_0770.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFce5nC2jtI/AAAAAAAAAhU/4CyFT6_fprA/s320/IMG_0770.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500899444938673874" /></a><br />The screen bottom board, essential part of IPM:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfDy4kDUI/AAAAAAAAAhc/96t5HWTq-KE/s1600/IMG_0771.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfDy4kDUI/AAAAAAAAAhc/96t5HWTq-KE/s320/IMG_0771.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500899619915435330" /></a><br />How the screen bottom board fits in the base. Hopefully I left enough gap for the particle wood to expand. Plywood would be a better choice. The hardware cloth should be 1/8th", but I could only find 1/4", so I used two 1/4TH inter-spaced.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfTycoT2I/AAAAAAAAAhk/t8yCKCBBafw/s1600/IMG_0772.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfTycoT2I/AAAAAAAAAhk/t8yCKCBBafw/s320/IMG_0772.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500899894676180834" /></a><br />View from the top. Notice the landing board is shorter, so as to not obstruct the mesh. I am now thinking the landing board should not extend inside, to avoid giving a chance to varroa mites to grab a passing bee.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfzWZtIQI/AAAAAAAAAhs/p_fJH6Goejo/s1600/IMG_0773.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcfzWZtIQI/AAAAAAAAAhs/p_fJH6Goejo/s320/IMG_0773.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500900436903534850" /></a><br />Last view from the back, with the screen bottom board and the sticky board in place. The sticky board is just a piece of plywood to collect fallen varroa mites. It will be painted white, and a grid drawn on it to facillitate counting the varroas. Oil will be spread over it to make the mites stick and die. The sticky board is not staying in the sump, it is set a few days at a time, to monitor varroas. In normal operations, only the screen bottom board is in place.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcf9sXQyeI/AAAAAAAAAh0/g-KXah1RudQ/s1600/IMG_0775.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TFcf9sXQyeI/AAAAAAAAAh0/g-KXah1RudQ/s320/IMG_0775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500900614597560802" /></a><br />This design still has a flaw: the combs in the lower box can extend inside the sump. To correct this flaw, my next sump will have a screen bottom board that mounts flush with the top of the base.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-40784904233490070412010-08-01T18:01:00.000-07:002010-08-13T22:54:05.441-07:00Inspection of W2, new sumpToday, W2 got a new sump with a mouse guard, a screen bottom board, and a sticky board for monitoring varroa. W2 needed to be inspected since a comb broke and fell to the bottom of the hive during the last inspection. <br />W2 is doing good, with the top body full of honey, and the second body full of brood and honey. The broken comb was replaced. The comb was laying at the bottom, partly laying on the landing board<br />W2 is the first hive to get the new sump. Pictures of the design will be posted tomorrow. The next hive to receive the new sump will be W5, because the bees decided to start building on the lower body, and one comb is now extending in the sump. That comb will have to be cut.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-34845867494386413162010-07-26T12:48:00.000-07:002010-07-26T13:06:04.040-07:00Inspecting W5 (Chris')We inspected Chris' colony on Friday afternoon. This is a big swarm that was hived just one week ago. I used material available, since my spare hive was already used for another swarm. I was missing a piece of burlap to cover the top bars, so I used what I had on hand, a piece of landscape cloth. Big mistake.<br /><br />The following pictures were taken by Tero. The quality is much better than my camera's, so better details are visible. Here is a closeup shot, with nice details on the bee body and wings:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3oBJ_xPxI/AAAAAAAAAgI/BDhobAWLoDw/s1600/Closeup.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 229px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3oBJ_xPxI/AAAAAAAAAgI/BDhobAWLoDw/s320/Closeup.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498305826650144530" /></a><br />Activity at the landing board:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3oQR8bIGI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/WCue7NnjMVE/s1600/IMG_5926.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3oQR8bIGI/AAAAAAAAAgQ/WCue7NnjMVE/s320/IMG_5926.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498306086481633378" /></a><br />The landscape cloth I used was coated with toxic herbicides, which badly affected the bees. There were a few hundred bees dead on the grass, with more crawling. As a result of the toxicity levels at the top of the hive, the bees started building below AND ABOVE the top bars of the second body. Here is a closeup of one of the combs above the bars, covered with mostly Italian bees, and a few black bees:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3o2avpbiI/AAAAAAAAAgY/laB4p_Gzgbw/s1600/IMG_5936.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3o2avpbiI/AAAAAAAAAgY/laB4p_Gzgbw/s320/IMG_5936.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498306741678992930" /></a><br />Another closeup:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3pY7ElIAI/AAAAAAAAAgg/bhDEcDAPAwM/s1600/IMG_5946.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3pY7ElIAI/AAAAAAAAAgg/bhDEcDAPAwM/s320/IMG_5946.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498307334472278018" /></a><br />Here is what happens when you deal with wild creatures: you can never predict! This will be a mess in a few weeks.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3pstPxkMI/AAAAAAAAAgo/CMQpFQIcL4M/s1600/IMG_5953.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3pstPxkMI/AAAAAAAAAgo/CMQpFQIcL4M/s320/IMG_5953.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498307674358517954" /></a><br />The hive was closed as is. I did not remove the messed up combs. I will let the bees occupy the space as best as they could, and let them spend the winter that way, with minimum disturbance. The cleanup will happen next Spring. Here is the hive just before closing it up:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3qUKvlgmI/AAAAAAAAAgw/MR6pwHWfELE/s1600/IMG_5956.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TE3qUKvlgmI/AAAAAAAAAgw/MR6pwHWfELE/s320/IMG_5956.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498308352291471970" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-49199580119417058082010-07-26T12:25:00.000-07:002010-07-26T12:48:29.118-07:00List of coloniesNow that I am managing my 6 colonies plus Kristen's colony, as well as helping Andy's 2 colonies, I need to stay clear on the need and status of each colony. I will know the status after the August 15th inspection, here is the list:<br /><br />L1 = Gold Bar (Mike F). 2009. Swarmed in 2010. Medium strength at last inspection. <br />L2 = Sultan (Alex S). 2010 package. Weak colony.<br />W1 = Snohomish garden. 2010 package. Weak.<br />W2 = Snohomish barn. 2010 package. Medium.<br />K1-W3 = Snohomish small pasture. 2010 wild swarm. Weak.<br />W4 = Gold Bar (Rob R). 2010 swarm from L1. Medium.<br />W5 = Mill Creek (Chris W). 2010 wild swarm. Weak to medium.<br /><br />Material/care need for each colony:<br /><br />L1 = inspection & Harvest, winterization. Fix quilt screen (falling apart).<br />L2 = inspection and winterization.<br />W1 = inspection, screened sump, move further from electric fence, set with 9 top bars, winterization.<br />W2 = inspection and harvest, screened sump, removal of broken comb, set with 9 top bars, winterization.<br />K1-W3 = inspection, cleanup of dead brood from W3, screened sump, winterization.<br />W4 = inspection and harvest, screened sump, increase roof size, set with 9 top bars, winterization.<br />W5 = inspection and winterization. Possibly cleanup of messed combs. Screened sump.<br /><br />All this should be done during the August 15th inspection & harvest, so I'll be busy during the next 2 weeks.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-47807454571335574622010-07-22T10:57:00.001-07:002010-07-22T11:36:22.159-07:00Hiving Chris' SwarmTwo days after hiving Andy's swarm, I hived another swarm for Chris. That swarm was captured from a tree on a gas station. Pictures of the capture will come shortly.<br />Jonathan, my son, has expressed interest in beekeeping, so I proposed to him to ask his sister if he could borrow her suit and to come help me. Here is the setting, on Chris' property, Jon and I, and the box containing the swarm on top of the opened hive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiHpWMQ7hI/AAAAAAAAAeY/AzRQ-GRFIFQ/s1600/IMGP0439.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiHpWMQ7hI/AAAAAAAAAeY/AzRQ-GRFIFQ/s320/IMGP0439.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496792489607097874" /></a><br />The box was closed tight to prevent bees to escape while they were resting in my garage, so the first thing to do was to cut the box open.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiH7_0NT4I/AAAAAAAAAeg/9EiQx74ECMA/s1600/IMGP0440.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiH7_0NT4I/AAAAAAAAAeg/9EiQx74ECMA/s320/IMGP0440.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496792810018131842" /></a><br />Bees are pushing at the door. This was a big swarm and the box openings were too small, a lot of heat was produced inside the box. I even had to set a fan to make sure the bees wouldn't suffer from the heat they were generating.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiIOuz6DRI/AAAAAAAAAeo/mvc9DyIsNx4/s1600/IMGP0441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiIOuz6DRI/AAAAAAAAAeo/mvc9DyIsNx4/s320/IMGP0441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496793131870981394" /></a><br />Several top bars were removed so that I could dump the swarm inside the hive. The process seems brutal, but that is the way we hive bees (swarms or packages). Here the box is cut opened, but I am still holding it closed with my hand while removing the top bars (I should have done it before):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiIvLhlNvI/AAAAAAAAAew/fvYNQOg8i8Q/s1600/IMGP0443.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiIvLhlNvI/AAAAAAAAAew/fvYNQOg8i8Q/s320/IMGP0443.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496793689334560498" /></a><br />Opening the box was quite un-nerving, that swarm was big, and the bees were not happy been trapped in that box:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiI8JSC5oI/AAAAAAAAAe4/XSLGFhOgMvE/s1600/IMGP0444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiI8JSC5oI/AAAAAAAAAe4/XSLGFhOgMvE/s320/IMGP0444.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496793912070825602" /></a><br />Dumping the bees. I cut a few small branches from the tree where the swarm landed. Those branches will have to be removed from the hive, but for now, I am just trying to get as many bees (and particularly the queen) inside:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiJQm7-_pI/AAAAAAAAAfA/K3AMqeNITdc/s1600/IMGP0445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiJQm7-_pI/AAAAAAAAAfA/K3AMqeNITdc/s320/IMGP0445.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496794263628742290" /></a><br />Removing the branches. Each branch was shaken off its bees above the hive, in case the queen was on it. The spray bottle was filled with sugar syrup, and each small cluster of bees on those branches was sprayed before been shaken. That way, the bees were falling in rather than flying out.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiJ5cClYAI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Yjg9kihFHVM/s1600/IMGP0447.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiJ5cClYAI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/Yjg9kihFHVM/s320/IMGP0447.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496794965078269954" /></a><br />Putting the top bars back without crushing too many bees:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiKFE9_N2I/AAAAAAAAAfY/TlviHRenVE8/s1600/IMGP0448.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiKFE9_N2I/AAAAAAAAAfY/TlviHRenVE8/s320/IMGP0448.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496795165043406690" /></a><br />Everything looked good at this point. All the top bars were set, and the quilt and roof were ready to be set on top of the hive. Notice the bees on the front of the hive, marching toward the entrance? That means the queen is very likely inside the hive. On the landing board, fanners are calling in the lost bees by ventilating pheromones outside.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiKn3uz0dI/AAAAAAAAAfg/9m8gJ_TQWPw/s1600/IMGP0450.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiKn3uz0dI/AAAAAAAAAfg/9m8gJ_TQWPw/s320/IMGP0450.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496795762785505746" /></a><br />Jonathan collecting the tools after his first beekeeping experience. He said he was a little nervous at some point, when many bees were flying around him. I was very nervous! Bees are wild creatures that deserve respect, and for the inexperienced like us, that respect first materializes as fear.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiLL1OiVaI/AAAAAAAAAfo/d-3VHd9hpQA/s1600/IMGP0451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiLL1OiVaI/AAAAAAAAAfo/d-3VHd9hpQA/s320/IMGP0451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496796380588561826" /></a><br />Here is a closeup view of the fanners on the landing board. The bees that are firmly standing on the board, with their wings moving (not visible) are fanning. Bees may do this for 2 reasons: cooling the hive, or, in this case, calling in the lost bees by fanning pheromones from the queen, or from their own pheromone gland at the end of their abdomen (near the sting gland). You can also see on this shot the varied genetics of the swarm: many Italians (yellow), but also some darker bees (Russians or Carniolans) are visible.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiMqE1s7eI/AAAAAAAAAfw/p2nVJ09OBN4/s1600/Fanners.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEiMqE1s7eI/AAAAAAAAAfw/p2nVJ09OBN4/s320/Fanners.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496797999687069154" /></a><br /><br />Chris has a great place for bees. The hive was set under evergreen trees, so they should have plenty of sap for the propolis. The property is surrounded by (but still resisting to) blackberry bushes, and it is in a urban area, so the bees should be happy. Best success to this new colony. The first inspection will happen one week after the hiving (which will be tomorrow).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-20117783607271920482010-07-21T14:22:00.000-07:002010-08-02T14:59:06.990-07:00July 10 swarm (Andy's)Jack called me on Sunday, because an unusual amount of bees were flying around the hive. I told him not to worry, since this is a recent package that has barely filled one hive body and still has two more bodies empty, the reason they are flying out is probably the heat, but if the bees were congregating on a tree branch or other similar place, he should call me back, although it was very unlikely ... several minutes later, Jack called back: "we have a swarm". I took my spare hive and my equipment and drove to his house. Here is my first sight of the swarm:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdmJSyBYSI/AAAAAAAAAcY/KZu_Vj_3bzM/s1600/_MG_0492.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdmJSyBYSI/AAAAAAAAAcY/KZu_Vj_3bzM/s320/_MG_0492.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496474180075479330" /></a><br />As the bees were congregating on a tree branch, that branch eventually broke and fell to the ground. Luckily, the swarm did not look for another place to regroup, as they usually do in case of a disruption of the cluster.<br />Jack and I lost no time and started to get ready. Before putting the suits on, we set my spare hive in the desired location, ready to receive the bees. <br />I believe Jack was using his suit for the first time.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdnKMgGMTI/AAAAAAAAAcg/9LvfVpYMf8c/s1600/_MG_0494.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdnKMgGMTI/AAAAAAAAAcg/9LvfVpYMf8c/s320/_MG_0494.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496475295081181490" /></a><br />I was not too sure how to catch all the bees laying on the ground, so we intended to try the white sheet method:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdnlPPmlAI/AAAAAAAAAco/lt3DDVwQqPw/s1600/_MG_0499.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdnlPPmlAI/AAAAAAAAAco/lt3DDVwQqPw/s320/_MG_0499.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496475759673775106" /></a><br />A white sheet is layed on the ground, to make the dark entrance of the box more attractive to the bees. If we are lucky, they are going to march en mass toward the box. I never tried this method, nor do I think it is very efficient, but I thought why not try it?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdn76BqQzI/AAAAAAAAAcw/-9rucDQQp18/s1600/_MG_0502.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdn76BqQzI/AAAAAAAAAcw/-9rucDQQp18/s320/_MG_0502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496476149115142962" /></a><br />After setting the sheet and the box, I realized that most of the bees were still on the branch, so I lifted the branch, and Jack started to cut the extra length:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdo7ABCRlI/AAAAAAAAAc4/O2rzw8pvZWM/s1600/_MG_0506.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdo7ABCRlI/AAAAAAAAAc4/O2rzw8pvZWM/s320/_MG_0506.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496477233054893650" /></a><br />After lifting up the branch, it was pretty clear that the queen and most of the bees were on it, so we decided to dump the swarm directly into its hive. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdpchy1KGI/AAAAAAAAAdA/dLcq_VDfo2M/s1600/_MG_0507.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdpchy1KGI/AAAAAAAAAdA/dLcq_VDfo2M/s320/_MG_0507.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496477809057802338" /></a><br />Jack started to cut each branch holding bees, and I shook the bees in the hive:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdpxQWdE7I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/yTas5PSpk60/s1600/_MG_0509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdpxQWdE7I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/yTas5PSpk60/s320/_MG_0509.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496478165152633778" /></a><br />Piece by piece, the whole swarm ended inside the hive. Jack used the sugar water spray to reduce the amount of bees flying:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdqGzoo1lI/AAAAAAAAAdY/heZjk8W40M4/s1600/_MG_0513.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdqGzoo1lI/AAAAAAAAAdY/heZjk8W40M4/s320/_MG_0513.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496478535401395794" /></a><br />Here are the bees left on the rock:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwIjNqbOI/AAAAAAAAAdg/mt_NcvY63bE/s1600/_MG_0514.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwIjNqbOI/AAAAAAAAAdg/mt_NcvY63bE/s320/_MG_0514.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496485162422791394" /></a><br />There were still a lot of bees flying around, but about half an hour after the following picture was taken, the rock was clean and most of the bees were inside the hive.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwkwa4FBI/AAAAAAAAAdo/70WMZLzGkVw/s1600/_MG_0515.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwkwa4FBI/AAAAAAAAAdo/70WMZLzGkVw/s320/_MG_0515.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496485647004210194" /></a><br />Jack finished up the hiving process, by placing the cloth, the quilt and the roof:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwzqDKMVI/AAAAAAAAAdw/9B7wfRLd_QE/s1600/IMG_0521.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdwzqDKMVI/AAAAAAAAAdw/9B7wfRLd_QE/s320/IMG_0521.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496485902992159058" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdw8DtrP9I/AAAAAAAAAd4/Xzn4W5DVZ6E/s1600/IMG_0524.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdw8DtrP9I/AAAAAAAAAd4/Xzn4W5DVZ6E/s320/IMG_0524.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496486047320326098" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdxHgJMTLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/w6BNmb88vPg/s1600/IMG_0526.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdxHgJMTLI/AAAAAAAAAeI/w6BNmb88vPg/s320/IMG_0526.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496486243930492082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdxNKajtwI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/SaElEQwE2wc/s1600/IMG_0528.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_B4MiiPF0-vU/TEdxNKajtwI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/SaElEQwE2wc/s320/IMG_0528.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496486341176964866" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-43452611441113826282010-07-19T22:02:00.000-07:002010-07-19T22:42:43.008-07:00A lot of things happened in the last month:<br />1. An inspection of the 3 hives on the Snohomish property showed flaws in the hive design. W2 had a comb floating, only hanging from the sides, no top bar to support it. It was build between the first top bar and the wall, because the space between them was too wide. The comb fell down when I opened the hive. W2 will need some work soon, and a taller sump, the current sump does not allow me to remove a fallen comb. Otherwise the hive is progressing well, with 2 full bodies.<br />2. K1-W3 is finally cleaning the combs of dead larvae. The hive is progressing too slowly. Less than 1 full body.<br />3. W1 is OK, slow progress too. Less than 1 full body.<br />4. L1 is doing good, no more queen cells, but not much progress either, still occupying 3 mediums. Its quilt is falling apart.<br />5. L2 is progressing too slowly. Less than 1 full medium.<br />6. L3-W4 is progressing fast, but making a mess, same reason as W2, too much space between the hive wall and the first/last top bar. L3-W4 was equipped with 9 top bars. A comb extending through two sections was removed. 1 full medium (Lang part), 1 full body (Warre part).<br />7. Andy's hive swarmed, with one and a half sections full. This is a surprise. This hive had a comb extending through two bodies, due to excessive space. A ninth top bar was added after the comb was sectioned. The swarm was huge. Jack used my spare hive to capture it. I don't have any spare hive at the moment. Andy's hive is doing very well.<br />8. Chris called me for a big swarm in town. We captured it. Where is my spare hive ?? Oh Yeah, right! I build a sump this past Friday morning, and robbed K1-W3 off its quilt and roof. The weather is warm enough that K1-W3 can survive without them for a few days. I had three available hive bodies with no top bars. I cut wider top bars, and put 9 top bars in each bodies. The swarm was installed on Chris' property Friday noon. Big swarm with yellow bees and black bees. Mixed genetics, good looking swarm, lots of blackberries nearby, plus urban location is good for flowers. This should be a successful colony. This is W4. I have 7 hives again.<br />9. All hives that had a feeder built burr combs full of honey between the top bars and the bottom of the feeder. This is another design flaw.<br /><br />Thing to do:<br />1. K1-W3 needs a quilt and a roof.<br />2. Build a full size sump for W1 and W2, and add a mesh at the bottom to block mice.<br />3. Add a wire mesh under all existing sump to block mice from wintering inside the hives. To make this easier, build a spare sump with the mesh, and exchange it, then upgrade the sumps one by one.<br />3. Fix W2 fallen comb.<br />4. Remove all unused hive bodies currently set in occupied hives, and install 9 top bars in them, evenly spaced and secured with beeswax.<br />5. Set the feeders to receive 5 jars instead of 1, and fill the space under the feeder floor.<br /><br />Requests for hive received so far:<br />1. Chris' property - FULFILLED.<br />2. Sultan cabin. <br /><br />Space available for new hives:<br />1. W3 old position.<br /><br />The beekeeping operation is progressing well. I need to build spare hives in addition to the two hives that will be added next Spring. <br />Karen and Jonathan want to participate. They will take the class with Kristen next October. This is becoming a great family project.<br /><br />Next post: pictures of W4 (Chris'). I will inspect this hive Friday or Saturday.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-22078994167680670682010-06-02T09:14:00.000-07:002010-06-02T09:26:54.987-07:00Feeding scheduleThis weekend, I inspected all the hives except L1:<br />W1 doing OK, feeder was almost empty. They got a refill.<br />W2 doing great, this is now my best 2010 colony. Feeder empty, got a full refill.<br />W3 dying. Empty feeder, got a feeder for the survivors.<br />L2 doing OK, feeder 80% full, no refill. Hive undisturbed so far.<br />L3 doing good, feeder empty, got a refill. L3 was transitioned to Warre. This is now L3/W4.<br />K1 is weak, empty feeder, got a refill. This very small feral swarm had build 2-3 combs only. They will receive W3 survivors.<br /><br />L1 is a second year colony, their top supper has 8 combs full of honey (very heavy), and should not need feeding. They will be checked next weekend for queen cells and food stores.<br /><br />I will improve my feeders once they are no longer needed, to prepare for next season. They will have 5 holes, to accommodate 5 jars, and they will have a window to simplify feeder inspection.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-663368350955483320.post-9971172087978132332010-06-02T09:09:00.000-07:002010-06-02T09:26:35.475-07:00W3 StatusI added a can of sugar water yesterday to W3, after spraying the dying bees with sugar water. Tonight I found a few thousands bees very active on the feeder, which was already half empty. I opened the hive and inspected each comb. Many bees died in the combs, while there was a good quantity of brood going to hatch very soon. No sign of the queen, the erratic behavior of the survivors tells me she is dead.<br />I will probably try to merge the survivors with K1, which is very weak.<br />I had trouble finding sleep tonight after the loss of this colony. It is a sad sight. I better get used to it, with CCD, this is not going to be a rare occurrence. Nevertheless, this loss was entirely my fault.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0