Mistakes

Donovan J · December 05, 2019, 01:31:57 AM

I've made some mistakes this fall. First, I didn't ventilate the hives as soon as I should've. Queen Rose's cluster is looking small maybe about two frames. The other two are looking okay. Is there any way I can save it? I will be adding sugar bricks this weekend when the temperatures go over 50.

Michael Bush · December 05, 2019, 08:21:15 AM

> First, I didn't ventilate the hives as soon as I should've.

I seriously doubt that was an issue this early in winter.

van from Arkansas · December 05, 2019, 10:09:22 AM

Small cluster, this has Varroa written all over it. I know not any facts, but this is typical of the mite. The bees will keep dwindling if Varroa is the issue. I hope there are other causes than Varroa.

Donovan J · December 05, 2019, 11:30:06 AM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on December 05, 2019, 10:09:22 AM
Small cluster, this has Varroa written all over it. I know not any facts, but this is typical of the mite. The bees will keep dwindling if Varroa is the issue. I hope there are other causes than Varroa.

I treated all the hives in august with hop guard. I did find a small number of dead bees with carrots on them.

Oldbeavo · December 05, 2019, 04:36:19 PM

If we have a hive reduce to 2 or 3 frames then we would put them into a 5 frame nuc with honey or reduce to a single with honey and pack out the sides with polystyrene to reduce the volume the need to keep warm.
No experience of varroa, but the reduction in numbers can happen without Varroa, sometimes in mid winter it is due to the bees not breeding in Autumn and so the geriatrics die off over winter. Autumn breeding is very important to us to have bees available for almonds in early spring.

van from Arkansas · December 05, 2019, 04:44:33 PM

Beavo, is Australia still Varroa mite FREE?

Donovan J · December 05, 2019, 05:36:18 PM

Quote from: Oldbeavo on December 05, 2019, 04:36:19 PM
If we have a hive reduce to 2 or 3 frames then we would put them into a 5 frame nuc with honey or reduce to a single with honey and pack out the sides with polystyrene to reduce the volume the need to keep warm.
No experience of varroa, but the reduction in numbers can happen without Varroa, sometimes in mid winter it is due to the bees not breeding in Autumn and so the geriatrics die off over winter. Autumn breeding is very important to us to have bees available for almonds in early spring.

I dont have and nucs or polystyrene. At this point I dont know if they are still there I'm going to check in a few hours after school

Donovan J · December 05, 2019, 08:02:36 PM

Alright I can breath a big sigh of relief. I went out to feed them the first batch of sugar brick and I wanted to take a peek under the inner cover since the temps were about 50. The hive in question actually have about 5-6 frames of bees

I'm so excited all the hives are looking great.

van from Arkansas · December 05, 2019, 08:34:17 PM

Good news, thanks for the update. Always nice to hear the success of the bees.
Van

Ben Framed · December 05, 2019, 11:04:58 PM

Quote from: Oldbeavo on December 05, 2019, 04:36:19 PM
If we have a hive reduce to 2 or 3 frames then we would put them into a 5 frame nuc with honey or reduce to a single with honey and pack out the sides with polystyrene to reduce the volume the need to keep warm.
No experience of varroa, but the reduction in numbers can happen without Varroa, sometimes in mid winter it is due to the bees not breeding in Autumn and so the geriatrics die off over winter. Autumn breeding is very important to us to have bees available for almonds in early spring.

Good information Oldveavo. I like the way the way you handle a 2-3 framer in winter. Thanks again for sharing you good solid reasoning.
Phillip

Donovan J · December 06, 2019, 02:20:04 AM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on December 05, 2019, 08:34:17 PM
Good news, thanks for the update. Always nice to hear the success of the bees.
Van

Yes very nice. Feeling much relieved

Bob Wilson · December 06, 2019, 09:10:18 AM

Excellent Xerox. Glad it worked out. I was rooting for you.

Donovan J · December 06, 2019, 11:23:48 AM

Quote from: bobll on December 06, 2019, 09:10:18 AM
Excellent Xerox. Glad it worked out. I was rooting for you.

Thank you! Hopefully I can keep up with them eating the food

Donovan J · December 07, 2019, 07:16:37 PM

What I learned today: after putting the sugar bricks in a few days ago I decided to have a check to see which hives are the most hungry by how many bees are on the food. The two hives I combined this fall dont have any, the hive in question above has a good handful and the strongest hive has a couple. This tells me that queen Rose's hive is running low on food and I will have to keep feeding them.

Bamboo · December 07, 2019, 09:51:28 PM

Quote from: van from Arkansas on December 05, 2019, 04:44:33 PM
Beavo, is Australia still Varroa mite FREE?

Yes

Donovan J · December 08, 2019, 12:37:58 AM

Quote from: Bamboo on December 07, 2019, 09:51:28 PM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on December 05, 2019, 04:44:33 PM
Beavo, is Australia still Varroa mite FREE?

Yes

Ight I'm moving to Australia

make sure to treat my hives so I'm not the one bringing the mites in

Bamboo · December 08, 2019, 01:06:52 AM

Quote from: Xerox on December 08, 2019, 12:37:58 AM
Quote from: Bamboo on December 07, 2019, 09:51:28 PM
Quote from: van from Arkansas on December 05, 2019, 04:44:33 PM
Beavo, is Australia still Varroa mite FREE?

Ight I'm moving to Australia make sure to treat my hives so I'm not the one bringing the mites in
Yes