Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Tucker1 on November 15, 2009, 10:52:02 PM

Title: What to do in the down time?
Post by: Tucker1 on November 15, 2009, 10:52:02 PM
We got our first dusting of snow. It drops to the low 30s at night. The hives are well stocked for winter. All of the standard "winterizing" stuff is done (i.e. mouse proofing,etc.) Bee keeping activities aren't taking up much time.   It seems like I should be doing stuff, other than look at catalogs. There is stuff to be ordered and built, but that won't take much time.  What else should done during this down time?

Regards,
Tucker1
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: RayMarler on November 16, 2009, 02:50:14 AM
Cleaning, repairing, building, and making plans!
Posting and Chatting on Bee Forums!
Eating this years harvest!
"Reading" Sports Illustrated?  :evil:

Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: bigbearomaha on November 16, 2009, 09:25:05 AM
The queen bee in your house now needs to be tended too.  After you paying all that attention to those 'other gals' for so long this year, she needs to be fed and entertained and even chased around a little.

Big Bear
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: danno on November 16, 2009, 01:18:59 PM
Quote from: bigbearomaha on November 16, 2009, 09:25:05 AM
The queen bee in your house now needs to be tended too.  After you paying all that attention to those 'other gals' for so long this year, she needs to be fed and entertained and even chased around a little.

Big Bear
I like the chasing around part of winter the best
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: Keith13 on November 16, 2009, 01:35:38 PM
saving money for next year

Keith
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: riverrat on November 17, 2009, 11:12:04 AM
well if you are a newbee you can do what most newbees do the first winter . take a seat in the lazy chair for the day then go to bed and toss and turn all night worrying yourself up to the point of going to the nut house wondering if the bees are doing alright on there own out in the cold :-D
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: danno on November 17, 2009, 12:21:39 PM
I planned on building 40 more deeps, 20 more bottom boards and covers but except for the frames they are about done so I think I'll build another doz swarm traps. 
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: annette on November 17, 2009, 02:39:59 PM
Quote from: riverrat on November 17, 2009, 11:12:04 AM
well if you are a newbee you can do what most newbees do the first winter . take a seat in the lazy chair for the day then go to bed and toss and turn all night worrying yourself up to the point of going to the nut house wondering if the bees are doing alright on there own out in the cold :-D

Yiks!! I still tend to do this even now, especially after a bad storm.
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: hankdog1 on November 17, 2009, 03:23:04 PM
i worry about my bees until i get a chance to look in on them and tend to spend loads of money on now gadgets that are supposted to be saving me money on making my own equipment.  huumm might come out even after i've built my 1000th hive lol.
Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: Two Bees on November 17, 2009, 04:20:55 PM
I am somewhat worried about the warm weather so far this fall.  But not much!  I'll just keep a check on the ole' honey stores and supplement if needed!

Also, planning for next year is the thing that I'm working on now.  Reviewing my notes about the flubs that I had last year and trying to anticipate them better.

Work, work, work!


Title: Re: What to do in the down time?
Post by: Michael Bush on November 17, 2009, 08:30:19 PM
What down time?