Keepers in N. VA: How are things?

[Javin]

This is my first time keeping bees again in about 15 years, and mine seem to be doing incredibly well.  I installed a package 2 months ago, and I've already got two hive bodies completely filled (including capped honey).  I've added a third already, and the girls immediately started drawing it out.  (Literally.  I decided to sample some of the capped honey a few hours later, and they were already drawing comb in the new body.  This just seems REALLY fast to me. 

Have you guys been experiencing a particularly good spring due to the warm weather, perhaps? 

[Shanevrr]

Have you been feeding? Its fairly typical in two months.  Ive filled 2 deeps and 3 mediums in 3 months.  Sounds like good bees :-D

[Javin]

That's the thing I find odd about it.  I only fed them for the first week.  But yeah, they're great!  They're super sweet.  I went out in T-Shirt and jeans, and didn't even use smoke to install the package, or the first two times I checked on them.  The third time, I accidentally squashed one and that got them spun up.  Got one sting on the wrist.  (Again, no smoke, no suit.) 

Since then I've lost my nerve, and wear the suit and use the smoke. :D  But they're still super docile while I'm out there.  Even yesterday when we took one frame of capped honey to test out.  Brushed the bees off of the frame and they just kinda crawled back into the hive without seeming particularly upset about it.  They're a great hive.  Definitely going to split them if they continue to grow so fast.

[jataylor]

Agree that the bees seems to be doing quite well.  I installed April 29 and am into the second super about 50%.  Lots of capped honey.  They have been constantly bringing in pollen.  Expect to see my first hatching of brood by the end of the week and then expect to see things really accelerate.  As for calm bees, I agree.  I'm at my hive every night without veil and gloves observeing and they are very docile.  I wear the suit when I go into the hive, but they continue to be very calm.  Have seen some SHB and am treating for that with Beetle Blasters and nematodes. 

[Javin]

Aha!  Well that seems to answer my question then.  That's almost the exact rate that mine were building comb at.  (I'll warn ya now, though, don't let it go another two weeks before another inspection!  I had serious overcrowding when I did that.  Even had them building tons of bur comb between the lid and inner cover.  Lucky they didn't swarm.) 

So here I thought I had magic bees.  Sounds like the season here in VA has just been really good for them.  And yeah, I've got the same thing with the pollen!  I like to just sit in front of the hive and watch them come in one after the other with pollen on their legs.  Sometimes I get smacked in the back of the head for standing in their flight path.  :D  It's funny to me how they seem to be somewhat clumsy fliers.  No stings, just collisions.

Thanks for the info! 

[Javin]

Oh, and jataylor, a few questions if I may!

How long have you been keeping bees?

Did you do any of the following when setting up your hive:

1.) Feed them sugar water (and if so, for how long).
2.) Orient the hive entrance in a specific direction (and which direction is that).
3.) Level the hive making sure it was completely "upright."

I ask because I have a farmer that I get my eggs from that has tried to keep bees 3 years in a row, and all three years he's lost them all.  I have my theories as to why that is, but without more data, can't be sure.

[jataylor]

First year with my own hive.  Helped another fellow with his three hives for about 3 years. Have 1:2 sugar water still on the hive.  They have slowed on its uptake.  Entrance oriented to the East.  Hive in partial shade, due to being in a suburban area! Hive is as level as a pool table.  :-D

[Javin]

Interesting... I have my hive in partial shade too, and completely level.  However, I have it facing magnetic South.  (I think... I'll have to double check when I get home.)

I personally believe the leveling plays a massive role.  The farmer who lost his bees has the hives on a slight incline.  I suspect that may be playing a much larger role than people seem to think.  Particularly when orientation is how they communicate, and we're forcing them to build the comb in this odd "incline" with the foundation.  I'd be interested in hearing if anyone in the NoVA area is having problems with their hives, and if so, did THEY level them?

Thanks for the update!