There was not a lot happening with the hives in the past few weeks worthy of a post. However, now that the weather's turned cool, there are some interesting activities to report.
For the past week or so, I've noticed a few dead bees and white larvae at the entrance to each hive; mysteriously they vanished within a few hours. Since the numbers weren't large, I wasn't too alarmed (I knew the hives weren't being robbed) — but I did open my beekeeping books to do a little research. I learned that, since bees are very hygienic creatures, they take advantage of mild weather days to do some housekeeping. The girls drag dead bees and larvae out of the hive and then the bodies are carried away for disposal. Mystery solved.
This morning I did a quick inspection. Sweet Beezus has a few frames of honey along with a few frames of brood in the top super! When I harvest the honey in a few weeks, I'll take the frames that are honey-only and leave the brood frames. Way to go, first year bees!
Apollo also has some honey in the top super, but only on the frames in the center of the box. I'm a little surprised the Apollo girls haven't stored more, but then they had better things to do this spring and summer. They were busy, swarming more than once and then defending their hive against would-be robbers and other intruders like bumblebees and yellow jackets.
The Rocky girls were angry this morning when I opened their hive, so I was hopeful that meant they were protecting a supply of honey. No luck, though — bees are in the top super building out comb but nothing has been stored. Haven already given up their honey supply earlier this summer, they're probably holding a grudge against me!
There are small hive beetles present in all three hives, so on harvest day, I'll install some traps. It will also be time to reduce the hive entrances and put in some pollen patties for the girls to eat during the winter. I think the extra protein from the patties, along with installing the beetle traps and reducing the hive entrances to better keep out the cold air, helped keep my girls healthy last winter.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sweetness!
It was finally time to collect honey from the Rocky hive this week. With the smoker, wheelbarrow and a sheet, I went out early Thursday morning while the day was still cool enough to tolerate.
Unfortunately, the escape screen had not worked as well as expected and there were still quite a few bees in the honey super. I decided the best course of action was to remove one frame at a time, using the smoker and bee brush to gently move the bees off. When each frame was bee-free, I put it in the wheelbarrow and covered it with the sheet. Pretty soon, I had seven honey-filled frames (the eighth and final frame had built-out come but no honey). I hurried them into the garage and shut the door to keep the Rocky bees at bay. Bees will automatically try to retrieve the honey that you rob from their hives, and will follow it wherever it goes!
The two-can filtering system works great for a small beekeeping operation like mine. It's easy to use the cold knife to scrape the wax and honey into the top can. And then the honey runs down through the filters and into the bottom can, which has a gate for filling the jars. Here's a photo of just a small portion of the harvest.
Later I took the empty frames, inserted them back in their box and set it out on a table in the yard. The bees were immediately all over it, cleaning every vestige of honey left behind on those frames. Honeybees are such efficient creatures. Nothing goes to waste.
Unfortunately, the escape screen had not worked as well as expected and there were still quite a few bees in the honey super. I decided the best course of action was to remove one frame at a time, using the smoker and bee brush to gently move the bees off. When each frame was bee-free, I put it in the wheelbarrow and covered it with the sheet. Pretty soon, I had seven honey-filled frames (the eighth and final frame had built-out come but no honey). I hurried them into the garage and shut the door to keep the Rocky bees at bay. Bees will automatically try to retrieve the honey that you rob from their hives, and will follow it wherever it goes!
The two-can filtering system works great for a small beekeeping operation like mine. It's easy to use the cold knife to scrape the wax and honey into the top can. And then the honey runs down through the filters and into the bottom can, which has a gate for filling the jars. Here's a photo of just a small portion of the harvest.
Later I took the empty frames, inserted them back in their box and set it out on a table in the yard. The bees were immediately all over it, cleaning every vestige of honey left behind on those frames. Honeybees are such efficient creatures. Nothing goes to waste.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The waxy element.
For the past couple of days, we've experienced unseasonably cool temperatures for July in Georgia, making it much more appealing to suit up and inspect the hives this morning. I made sure there was plenty of fuel in the smoker and took an escape screen with me.
The Sweet BEEzus girls have moved up into their shallow super on top, but it looks like they are only storing pollen there so far. The Apollo bees are making honey in their top super, but very little of it is capped off.
I saved Rocky for last. Despite the smoke, these girls are feisty and they did not like it one bit when I took the cover off their hive and started poking around in the top super. The buzz was angry!
Their honey super is very heavy, and the middle frames are full of honey and mostly capped. Even though the end frames are not filled in, I decided to go ahead and insert the escape screen today (for more about how the escape screen works to separate the bees from the honey box, see http://beewaxingeloquent-helen.blogspot.com/2010/11/honey-harvest.html). I will be able to harvest this honey in a few days.
My decision was based on the sheer difficulty of being able to work with this hive. The amount of wax and propolis the girls are making have tightly sealed together not only all of the frames in the honey super, but also the inner and outer covers to the hive. It takes some muscle to pry things apart and even more finesse not to break anything!
So, honey harvest and photos coming soon. Once I've un-gummed up the works.
The Sweet BEEzus girls have moved up into their shallow super on top, but it looks like they are only storing pollen there so far. The Apollo bees are making honey in their top super, but very little of it is capped off.
I saved Rocky for last. Despite the smoke, these girls are feisty and they did not like it one bit when I took the cover off their hive and started poking around in the top super. The buzz was angry!
Their honey super is very heavy, and the middle frames are full of honey and mostly capped. Even though the end frames are not filled in, I decided to go ahead and insert the escape screen today (for more about how the escape screen works to separate the bees from the honey box, see http://beewaxingeloquent-helen.blogspot.com/2010/11/honey-harvest.html). I will be able to harvest this honey in a few days.
My decision was based on the sheer difficulty of being able to work with this hive. The amount of wax and propolis the girls are making have tightly sealed together not only all of the frames in the honey super, but also the inner and outer covers to the hive. It takes some muscle to pry things apart and even more finesse not to break anything!
So, honey harvest and photos coming soon. Once I've un-gummed up the works.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Up close views
FYI to those following this blog: You can see a much larger view of the photos by clicking on them with your mouse.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Now, that's progress.
Just a quick note about today's inspection. The girls of Sweet BEEzus have filled the two main supers with brood and stored sugar-syrup, so it was time to remove the feeder. I added a shallow super on top and hope that they'll make some honey by fall.
Apollo has made more progress in the top super and I'm optimistic that I'll be able to harvest some honey there later this summer. The Rocky girls were angry when I took off the inner cover today, a sure sign that they're guarding some major honey stores. Sure enough, most of the middle frames are capped and they're starting to fill in the frames on either end of the box. Hopefully that means a harvest in a couple of weeks.
Also, Apollo and Rocky are "bearding" in this hot weather. Last year, I freaked out the first time I saw this behavior. This year, it's just normal.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sweet BEEzus!
Friends and followers, you were all quite creative with the names you submitted for Hive #3, but I think pretty much everyone agreed that "Sweet BEEzus" was outstanding! Thank you, David. I'll be sending you the first jar of honey I harvest this summer.
Today's hive inspection was so exciting! First, Sweet BEEzus is queen right and thriving. A look into the top super showed the queen is laying in a nice pattern and the girls are storing honey/sugar syrup in the tops of the frames. In a couple of weeks when I stop feeding these girls, I'll add another super on top just in case they decide to make some honey.
Now, for Apollo. The original hive is going strong, despite producing a couple of swarms and some robbing activity. A peek into the third super shows the girls are storing honey on about three of the frames, but it is not yet capped. I'm hopeful they will make at least one super of honey by the end of the summer.
Rocky had the best suprise of all. My scrappy swarm hive captured last summer is very productive! This hive also swarmed twice in the spring and has fended off "robbers." When I pulled out some frames in the third super, they were heavy with honey, most of it capped! I'm pretty sure I'll be able to harvest this honey in a couple of weeks.
All of this honey activity sent me hurrying to my computer to order more supplies. I ordered two shallow supers with frames for more honey production in Apollo and Rocky; an escape screen for separating the bees from the honey super; and nylon strainer bags for the honey filtering system.
What a sweet morning it's been. I love my bees.
Today's hive inspection was so exciting! First, Sweet BEEzus is queen right and thriving. A look into the top super showed the queen is laying in a nice pattern and the girls are storing honey/sugar syrup in the tops of the frames. In a couple of weeks when I stop feeding these girls, I'll add another super on top just in case they decide to make some honey.
Now, for Apollo. The original hive is going strong, despite producing a couple of swarms and some robbing activity. A peek into the third super shows the girls are storing honey on about three of the frames, but it is not yet capped. I'm hopeful they will make at least one super of honey by the end of the summer.
Rocky had the best suprise of all. My scrappy swarm hive captured last summer is very productive! This hive also swarmed twice in the spring and has fended off "robbers." When I pulled out some frames in the third super, they were heavy with honey, most of it capped! I'm pretty sure I'll be able to harvest this honey in a couple of weeks.
All of this honey activity sent me hurrying to my computer to order more supplies. I ordered two shallow supers with frames for more honey production in Apollo and Rocky; an escape screen for separating the bees from the honey super; and nylon strainer bags for the honey filtering system.
What a sweet morning it's been. I love my bees.
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