I have two hives that are one deep each and have to get them to two deeps to make it thru winter up here. Started feeding them 2-1 sugar water, they have 4-5 weeks left till first frost, any ideas how to help them out? Thanks, Country :)
there is no reason, and probably no way, to get them into two deeps. if they are in one and have sufficient stores for the number of bees, they will be fine. feed them where they are and as the queen slows down laying they will backfill with the food. if you still have doubts, or as an extra measure of safety, put some dry sugar on over the winter. i do this every winter because i never know how ours will go.
There is no way to fill another deep brood chamber in such a short time. I would suggest insulating your hive well. Continue feeding till they don't take anymore syrup. I wintered my hive last year with one deep and they did perfectly fine. Mine had at least 4 frames of honey going into winter.
I thought you were having to get rid of them anyway?
Scott
My wife found a doctor that might, "might" be able to make me tolerant of them after 15 weeks or more of weekly injections of venom. So my dad will take them thru the winter for me till I find out if this is possible. I am very optimistic person! We will see! Right now I want to get the bees taken care of so that all the hives will make it thru the winter. I haven't been able to work with them for 4 weeks now. Dad is feeding them and moved them over to his farm for me so they won't sting me. I love him! So I want to give the bees all I can to make it. Dad is doing all I ask of him to care for the bees, this morning I mixed the feed 2-1 and he put them in for me. Thanks, Country :)
Bravo to your wife for not taking it lying down!
Scott
Feed them as much as they can take.
My wife is amazing! Hopefully the doctor can get me fixed by spring, then all is better. Right now I need a shot once every month for the allergy and must carry my epipen wherever I go. To make me tolerant, one shot a week for a minimum of 15 to 30 weeks then none for life if all goes well. That is amazing! I am so thankful to my wife and God for all!
My father was the one who got me into bees at a very young age. He's one of the ones you hear about that developed a severe reaction to the stings "out of the blue" and had to give it up...now carries an epipen everywhere he goes. He did have to go through many injections to try to "temper" his allergies but still has dangerous reactions. I wish you all the best and am confident that allergists have learned a lot since the seventies!
Scott
hardwood, does your dad still have periodic injections for his allergy?
He has several different injections now. It seems his allergies have expanded to include sweat bees,fire ants, and several types of wasps. He just turned 80 last month and is still very active with his organic gardening.
Scott
hardwood, I bet ya he taught you half of what he knows, he still has half in there. Those older beepeople have so much wealth of knowledge in there heads, back when there wasn't a computer and internet and all the easy ways of gathering information now. Everytime I see one working or hear about one I have to visit and bring coffee and just listen to them. They are so smart! All the little common sents stuff too, I keep thinking "what is wrong with me, why didn't I think of that", and they just come up with it on a whim! I hope that your dad lives to be 150! Have a great day today, Country :)