Newbee needs more bees

GoatLady · June 04, 2011, 01:01:17 PM

Is it too late to get more bees this year? My first boxes came in mid-April from Bee Weaver in TX. But they are out now.

FRAMEshift · June 04, 2011, 02:46:22 PM

I don't know what your climate is there, but here in NC it's still possible to do splits if you want to increase your bee population. A good way to do it is to take the queen, three frames of brood and two frames of pollen/honey and put those in a new box. The foragers will return to the old box and make lots of honey and a new queen. Be sure to leave eggs/pollen in the old box so they have the resources to make a queen. If you can't find the queen or don't want to spend time looking for her, just do an equal split and set the two new hives facing where the old hive was sitting so the foragers will divide equally.

If you are in a dearth right now, you might have to feed unless you have lots of honey stores.

GoatLady · June 04, 2011, 03:03:10 PM

Thank you, but the April bees left with the queen and that's all I had. I'm a real newbee. Hope I don't have to wait for next year's crop!

FRAMEshift · June 04, 2011, 03:09:55 PM

All your bees absconded? Ouch! In that case, you might find some local beekeepers and see if they will sell you a split.

L Daxon · June 04, 2011, 05:07:41 PM

Get your name on some lists to collect swarms. Great way to get free bees. Watch JPs videos on this site to see how easy it is to get'em, assuming they are not up too high. Lots of video on YouTube also. Or put the word out to your Beekeepers club that you need some bees. Maybe someone will collect a swarm for you.

I gave my name to a couple of big termite/pest control outfits that don't like to mess with bees and they refer people to me now.

Linda D

FRAMEshift · June 04, 2011, 05:32:32 PM

Quote from: ldaxon on June 04, 2011, 05:07:41 PM
I gave my name to a couple of big termite/pest control outfits that don't like to mess with bees and they refer people to me now.
Linda D

Yes I've done that. I also gave my name to tree cutters. Sometimes they are hired to cut a tree that has bees in it and they prefer not to have to deal with them.

GoatLady · June 04, 2011, 05:42:57 PM

I've been reading/viewing all I can find on catching swarms. But I am under the impression that my chances of getting a queen are about zero. So will the swarm stay long enough for me to buy a queen on line?

A neighbor asked me to try to take some of the feral bees on his property that have taken up 2 residences too close to his horse corral. He just wants the numbers reduced as much as possible because they have taken over the water trough. He said they are in 2 old tree trunks, not too high. Seems that the best way for me to do this is with a couple of frames of brood/eggs, which I don't have at this time.

I took FRAME's advice and sent out emails to 3 local beekeepers in case they would sell me a split. Even sent one to The Killer Bee Guy in Bisbee, AZ! :shock:

Bee-Bop · June 04, 2011, 06:13:28 PM

Forget the E-mails !

Call, your asking a favor, this time of year.

Bee-Bop

AllenF · June 04, 2011, 06:33:12 PM

Ya, try to get some summer splits or some hives. There are always beeks out there who like cash.