Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: CTbeeman on March 31, 2008, 03:55:54 PM

Title: 2 nucs in 4 weeks
Post by: CTbeeman on March 31, 2008, 03:55:54 PM
Should I have medications ready ahead of time, just in case? I want to try to use all organic. This is my first year. I know I have to feed,feed,feed. But what about meds?
Title: Re: 2 nucs in 4 weeks
Post by: dlmarti on March 31, 2008, 04:37:42 PM
If you want to go organic, why would you be considering meds?
Title: Re: 2 nucs in 4 weeks
Post by: annette on March 31, 2008, 04:41:04 PM
I have never used medications in my hives and they are doing fine. I just powder sugar dust for the mites every couple of weeks, and remove drone brood once in a while.

Hope this helps
Annette
Title: Re: 2 nucs in 4 weeks
Post by: bassman1977 on March 31, 2008, 08:10:27 PM
QuoteI just powder sugar dust for the mites every couple of weeks, and remove drone brood once in a while.

I don't even do that.  I monitor the mites, which are very minimal and leave it at that.  Regression has helped a lot.
Title: Re: 2 nucs in 4 weeks
Post by: Michael Bush on March 31, 2008, 11:07:23 PM
>I want to try to use all organic.

Then I'd go natural cell and don't treat.  Monitor Varroa mite levels to make sure things are working out.

> This is my first year. I know I have to feed,feed,feed.

Actually I wouldn't.  I would only feed until they get some stores and there's a flow. Then I would stop.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfallacies.htm#feedingcanthurt
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm

> But what about meds?

If you plan on not treating, why would you want meds?

http://www.bushfarms.com/beespests.htm