Got My Bees Ordered Today!

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 12:58:41 PM

Two 4# packages of lovely little Carnis...will call Day Valley their home in April, yeah!!! :-D

SystemShark · February 04, 2008, 03:57:32 PM

Congradulations and goodluck! :-D

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 04:11:48 PM

Yup...luck is what I need hahaha TX

KONASDAD · February 04, 2008, 04:15:11 PM

Beemaster has special downloadable instructions for hiving packages if i remember correctly. Good Luck.

pdmattox · February 04, 2008, 04:22:23 PM

Quote from: KONASDAD on February 04, 2008, 04:15:11 PM
Beemaster has special downloadable instructions for hiving packages if i remember correctly. Good Luck.

He also has a cool youtube video on the subject.

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 06:41:10 PM

Oh thanks and I will watch it and watch it and watch it!

tig · February 04, 2008, 07:40:40 PM

wtg! and the best of luck. keep us posted on what happens to them.

DayValleyDahlias · February 04, 2008, 07:49:26 PM

Oh O sure will tig.

I watched the Beemaster youtube on installing...noticed that you smoked, didn't spray with sugar syrup? And that you opened up the side screen, instead of opening the top and removing the can...once again, so many ways...must figure out the easiest way for me 8-)

Moonshae · February 05, 2008, 08:29:53 AM

I did mine by opening the top, you just have to do more shaking since the opening is smaller.

Alan Forbes · February 06, 2008, 01:22:39 AM

Why Carniolans and not Italians? Personal preference? Do they do better in Aptos? May I ask where you bought them? Sorry for all the questions, but I've got to place an order soon and the prices vary quite a bit.

Alan

DayValleyDahlias · February 06, 2008, 02:05:32 AM

Hi Alan,

I chose Carni's because that is what I started with and they have seemed to work well with me...as a "new bee", they made it through my novice beekeeping methods...I would like to try Italians one of these days...

Also I purchased them from www.honeybeegenetics.com San Francisco Bee Association is doing a club order for a price break, check with them SOON, and you may be able to hop on board with their ordering...hurry though!

steveouk · February 06, 2008, 08:44:06 AM

Congrats !

Cindi · February 06, 2008, 10:30:27 AM

Sharon, yea!!!! So, a four pound package, that is a wonderful size. A four pound package will build up very quickly, compared to say, a two pound package. Lots and lots of bees to nurse those babies that the queen will be creating, yeah!!! You will need to give these lots of room when they get established, four pounds is a lot of bees, good show!!! Have the most beautiful and wonderful day, love our life we live. Cindi

DayValleyDahlias · February 06, 2008, 10:31:31 AM

Very exciting! I know I will have to keep them busy so they don't run away!

Alan Forbes · February 06, 2008, 11:48:59 AM

Thank you so much and good luck with your new bees.

I have put my name in with the local fire departments for swarms, but I want to get an early build up for the nectar flow so will probably order a package. This year should be an excellent one for honey because of all the rain we've had and the previous marginal years.

Scadsobees · February 06, 2008, 01:48:25 PM

Quote from: Alan Forbes on February 06, 2008, 11:48:59 AM
I have put my name in with the local fire departments for swarms, but I want to get an early build up for the nectar flow so will probably order a package. This year should be an excellent one for honey because of all the rain we've had and the previous marginal years.

You might want to talk to a few exterminators too, they get swarm calls as well. The smaller independent ones are probably the most willing to work with you on it.

Rick

Brian D. Bray · February 06, 2008, 07:16:00 PM

Quote from: Alan Forbes on February 06, 2008, 11:48:59 AM
Thank you so much and good luck with your new bees.

I have put my name in with the local fire departments for swarms, but I want to get an early build up for the nectar flow so will probably order a package. This year should be an excellent one for honey because of all the rain we've had and the previous marginal years.

Maybe, but I've learned that it usually takes 2 years to recover sufficiently from a drought. The longer the drought the longer the recovery. We've only had a "mild drought" here in Western Washington over the past 2 years (at least in my area) so 1 year maybe sufficient but I'm not counting on it. I look at it as more of another rebuilding year.

Billy The Beekeeper · February 06, 2008, 08:09:59 PM

Congrats ive been a beekeeper for 3 years but i bought my first hive and got swarm for a second and on my 3rd year i finally done a package and it was a heck of an experience... as of right now my beekeeping career is at a halt cause im serving my country in the US Air Force but would really like to get back to it i still have 3 hives at home that im lookin forward to gettin back to me well ill ttyl grats again

Billy The Beekeeper :-D

Michael Bush · February 06, 2008, 08:21:04 PM

>Maybe, but I've learned that it usually takes 2 years to recover sufficiently from a drought. The longer the drought the longer the recovery.

Maybe that explains this year. I've been puzzling over it. We DIDN'T have a drought this year for the first time in eight years, and still there was no fall flow and not much of any other flow.

johnnybigfish · February 06, 2008, 08:22:15 PM

Yay for you Sharon!
I'd like to order bees again but I better just catch some this year!
When I got my package bees last spring I think I was on the edge of being a "Blubbering Fool"..I felt like there was a Santa again and he left me bees at the post office! I hope you go through the same thing. I dont know what it is, but package bees are a different kind of "exciting" than a caught swarm.Or maybe it was just because they were my first bees.
Now,....you're gonna HEAR the clock ticking the minutes away till your bees get here!
your friend,
john