Installed three today

[reinbeau]

Despite the pouring rain and 40° temperatures the three installs today went very smoothly.  We're trying the division board feeders this time (to avoid the loss we had of a package last year that wouldn't go up into the top feeder) and we've also left the can in place over the inner cover that came in their package.  It was so cold they literally poured out of the packages, we only had a few flying around.  This time the packages looked good, there were very few dead bees at the bottom, unlike last year where there was one to two inches deep of dead bees!  :shock:  They had to cut our order, though, from four packages to three (and many others had their order cut, too) when the supplier (who will remain unnamed but is a large honeybee distributor in southern Georgia) decided to cut our whole club's order - how they can do that is beyond me (well, I guess they can do whatever they want, they've got the bees).  So from bad packages last year to not enough this year I can't say we're very happy campers - but at least we've got bees in the backyard again! 

Next week we're getting another package to install at my mother's, then at the end of May we get the four nucs for Maine.  This was a tough winter, we were left with only two hives, one at Mom's, one in Maine.  Bummer!  Both of those surviving hives are going great guns, though.

[Cindi]

Ann, good about getting the packages hived so nicely.  Bummer about your colony losses, it kinda bums ya out eh?  Oh well, upwards and forward, hopefully this winter will be better, smiling.  Have a wonderful, most awesome day, life health.  Cindi

[JP]

Pouring down rain, 40 degree temps, hey, that's perfect install weather Ann! :-D

Had you had them for a few days already?

Glad you got more bees, good for you and the chopper.


...JP

[reinbeau]

We had just picked them up, but we knew it was going to be windy and cold the next day, so we set up the patio umbrella over the hive and just got it done.  They poked out a bit yesterday, it was warmer, and today they should be out a bit, but it's still cool.  They've got plenty to eat in there, and fully furnished condos they have to clean out (we started them on drawn comb, with one or two that need to be drawn just to give them something to do until she's out laying).  It's good to have bees again, I was so bummed out when the crocus bloomed and I knew those bees weren't ours - although it was good to see them!  We've got a fellow club member less than a mile away, their bees came to visit, I guess!  :)

[JP]

Oh ANN, I can feel your excitement! Wonderful you and the chopper got more bees. How's he feeling these days, btw?

How dare those other bees work your flowers! ;)


...JP

[reinbeau]

Oh ANN, I can feel your excitement! Wonderful you and the chopper got more bees. How's he feeling these days, btw?

How dare those other bees work your flowers! ;)


...JP

He's doing really well, all back to normal, just wish he could get back to work - problem is there isn't any work to get back to right now  :(  Oh well, more time to play in the garden with me and help get things going around here!

[woodchopper]

Wonderful you and the chopper got more bees. How's he feeling these days, btw?

Thanks for asking JP. Once I get back to work I'll have money to fix the things I have the time to do now. Say that three times fast.  :-D  I do feel alot better and realize how lucky I was my doctors were on the ball. Although we had more winter losses than expected we do have alot of drawn out comb to help the girls get a faster start this year. As Ann said the quality of the bees were much better and give us hope for better and healthier hives this year. We can only hope. :flyingpig:

[JP]

Sounds good chopper, yep those drawn out frames are a big help, gets those queens laying quickly.

Glad you are feeling better. Thanks for the update and happy birthday Ann!


...JP