My bees didn't make it over the winter - many hives did not - cold temperatures, mites, moths, who knows.... very frustrating. One of my neighbors called it quits after years of losing her hives - I'm not quite ready yet. It took me years not to be afraid to go into the hive and even longer to remotely figure out what I'm doing (or what they are doing)
New bees came in April - today, May 26th, I added 2nd hive boxes. I was lucky as I probably should have been in there a week ago - frames 90% full - which is always a danger for swarms. For anyone new to bees reading this - it's like a crowded house - if there is no more room the queen and half the hive leave, which is not good for the beekeeper. I once saw a swam - it looks something like the tornado from The Wizard of Oz.
One hive looked good - brood solid pattern, pollen, nectar, honey. Other hive looked good and busy but hardly any brood. Time to call my friends at Hudson Valley Bee to see what suggestions they might have. By the way, if you are in NY they are a great resource with wonderful people and the only place where I have found they will build supers and hive boxes with wax foundation frames already assembled.
Even though we have lots in bloom right now, I'm going to feed the bees. Trying some things different this year. I am also going to treat for mites in July (July 21st preferably) with formicPro - I really hate having to use chemicals in any process of my homesteading but I also hate to see each year my hives die off. I usually only treated in the fall, but that is clearly not working so this year I am trying July and fall.
I am also going to look into this video to see if mushrooms may be the answer to having my bees survive over the year - who knows???
New bees came in April - today, May 26th, I added 2nd hive boxes. I was lucky as I probably should have been in there a week ago - frames 90% full - which is always a danger for swarms. For anyone new to bees reading this - it's like a crowded house - if there is no more room the queen and half the hive leave, which is not good for the beekeeper. I once saw a swam - it looks something like the tornado from The Wizard of Oz.
One hive looked good - brood solid pattern, pollen, nectar, honey. Other hive looked good and busy but hardly any brood. Time to call my friends at Hudson Valley Bee to see what suggestions they might have. By the way, if you are in NY they are a great resource with wonderful people and the only place where I have found they will build supers and hive boxes with wax foundation frames already assembled.
Even though we have lots in bloom right now, I'm going to feed the bees. Trying some things different this year. I am also going to treat for mites in July (July 21st preferably) with formicPro - I really hate having to use chemicals in any process of my homesteading but I also hate to see each year my hives die off. I usually only treated in the fall, but that is clearly not working so this year I am trying July and fall.
I am also going to look into this video to see if mushrooms may be the answer to having my bees survive over the year - who knows???
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