Even smaller colonies

Cindi · February 20, 2007, 10:16:31 AM

5:30 A.M. the temperatures are certainly becoming more consistently normal. +5 celsius, (41 F). We have had rain for about 3 days now, non-stop, it has been pretty drenching. I imagine this year is the year for a new roof. We had new one installed about 15 years ago, but I guess time takes its toll in our dampness. Our bedrom roof showed signs of leaking, several water stains in a particular area. My husband went into the attic and checked it out, sure enough water had leaked and almost damaged a box of books. He removed these, they were safe, thank goodness. He brought up some buckets, they filled up and he emptied them a couple of times. All is well, no more water dripping. The water stains on the roof have dried up and I think that he caught the problem just in the nick of time. The rain has stoppped, the skies are clearing, still dark, but I can see that. I am grateful for the reprieve from rain and the weather channel indicates a high front coming in, which means that the skies may stay clear for a day or two. Yeah!!!!

Two weeks ago it was a very, very warm day, many, many bees were flying. I looked in quickly to see if there was honey left (about 10 seconds), I only lifted the inner cover on one side partially up and saw about 5 frames of bees each with still lots of capped honey.

On this past Saturday I gave my two colonies a pollen patty each, just before the rains began hard. It was quite nice out. I spent less than 30 seconds in the process, just smoked lightly, looked in, pollen patty and out quickly. I saw many bees bringing in bright orange pollen. BUT. The colonies are not in good shape.When I gave pollen patty there were perhaps 1 frame that I saw, maybe less. I am sure that I will lose them, but I am going to see if I can help them out as much as I can regardless. At this stage of the game, I feel that I can experiment.

Today I am on my way out to give them a little extra heat. I have a terrarium heater pad and our instructor also told us that he knows of a beekeeper that uses a curling iron that does work too. So, will give each colony a warming device. We will see what comes of this.

My second year of beekeeping, and still only on the tip of the iceberg. Successes and failures, but learning so much by each. Learning, listening, implementation.

I am beginning the Bee Masters Short Course 2007 at our local university on Monday. The course allows 50 students and it is full. It will be good to mingle with so many other beekeepers and instructors. I will complete it on the Friday, writing an exam on that afternoon, with the anticipation of one day receiving a diploma of "Beemaster". That will make me feel good and I know that I will pass the exam. A diploma is only a piece of paper, and I don't know what it will gain me, other than an attractive wall covering and a bit of an ego booster. LOL. All the youngsters around here will be proud to see the piece of paper that took their auntie, grandma and foster mother away from their lives for a week. I will not see them as I will be gone before they get up in the morning and probably get home by the time they are safely in their homes and on their way to sleep. It's gonna be a toughy being away.

Well, rambling is my thing and this I have done. Best of days. Cindi

Finsky · February 20, 2007, 11:22:20 AM

Hi Cindy, it seems that you a good touch to bees.

Pollen patty is good just for those rainy and cold days. It keeps bees brooding on.

If you give heater to the biggest hive, you get there most usefull brood.

To small (1-3 occupied frame ) it is just important that queen is alive. Colony is not able to rise up itsef. But when you give a farme of emerging bees from big hive, it get a new fresh start.

As long as bees eate patty, they need it. Small colonies are not able to eate much.

When you give to small colony a frame of emerging bees, it needs extra heat. Otherwise brood may die in periferia of comb because it is too cold there.

When big hive get more emerging frames, give them to small gives. You will se some miracles. This operation prevents swarming in big hives.

*****
Have you deminished the room of small colonies that they have only occupied combs?

Kirk-o · February 20, 2007, 06:51:52 PM

Spring is comming
kirk-o

Michael Bush · February 20, 2007, 08:40:29 PM

I've tried Finsky's Terrarium heater trick. It works great.

Finsky · February 20, 2007, 09:19:25 PM

.
To us February is the coldest month. We have here -25C. Spring is coming here like every year but after 1,5 months. :-D

Cindi · February 21, 2007, 11:41:59 PM

Quote from: Finsky on February 20, 2007, 11:22:20 AM
Pollen patty is good just for those rainy and cold days. It keeps bees brooding on.
If you give heater to the biggest hive, you get there most usefull brood.
To small (1-3 occupied frame ) it is just important that queen is alive. Colony is not able to rise up itsef. But when you give a farme of emerging bees from big hive, it get a new fresh start.
As long as bees eate patty, they need it. Small colonies are not able to eate much.
When you give to small colony a frame of emerging bees, it needs extra heat. Otherwise brood may die in periferia of comb because it is too cold there.
When big hive get more emerging frames, give them to small gives. You will se some miracles. This operation prevents swarming in big hives.
Have you deminished the room of small colonies that they have only occupied combs?

Finsky, great information. I hang my head in shame, I have not diminished the room of the small colonies so that they only have to heat the occupied combs. I forgot. Plain and simple. And yes, I do remember you saying another time that if the colony is small that the room in the box must be diminished. Oh dear. I will reduce it tomorrow on both small colonies.

I understand it would be impossible for a struggling tiny colony to keep things warm enough. If the colony grows up somewhat, at that point in time I will give more room in the box.

I cannot perform a queen check yet, it is too cold. It will have to wait a couple of more weeks at least. Best of days. Cindi

Finsky · February 22, 2007, 01:26:08 AM

A piece of styrofoam insulating board is easy to make, instal and move for bigger room. You may put in both sides so bees have warmer hive. That is special treatment. Colony in the pic got 200 pound honey - but not with it's own aid. I took emerging frames from bigger hives as soon as it can be taken.

The 15 W terrarium heater cable was in the empty part of hive.

Cindi · February 22, 2007, 10:08:33 AM

Finsky, I have that size of styrofoam at my house, I will use it. That is my agenda today, to warm up the little hives. I think that the bee colony size of mine are not even that big that you show in the picture. When I put the pollen patty on, I saw far less than your picture, but maybe the bees were clustered lower on the frames and I just couldn't see them. Thank you for posting the picture. Best of days. Cindi