Installed my first NUC yeaterday :)

Ghost · June 21, 2015, 03:02:23 PM

Well I received my bees and installed my first NUC yeaterday.
It was 4 frames. I added a boardman feeder with 1:1 sugar syrup.
Only had one little fella upset at me. He was trying to sting my finger. I smoked him and then brushed him off.

I only have one hive this year. I will be adding more this season (prepping one or two more) for the spring.

I will be feeding these little guys the syrup for a few days to help them build up.

I doubt I'll get any honey this year - but I'm happy to be in the game!

I'm also considering the powdered sugar method for verroa. Anyone have success with this?

Cheers!

Rurification · June 21, 2015, 03:07:27 PM

Congratulations! I love the feeling after a successful installation.

I tried powdered sugar for mites, but lost the colonies to the cold anyway. In the spring I noticed that the bottom boards had way more mites than I expected. I'll be using Mite Away Quick Strips this year. I like the idea of powdered sugar, but I fear that in practice, it's just not enough for what I need to get these girls through our weird winters.

Eric Bosworth · June 21, 2015, 05:31:45 PM

Quote from: Ghost on June 21, 2015, 03:02:23 PM
Only had one little fella upset at me. He was trying to sting my finger. I smoked him and then brushed him off.

He was a girl... Drones don't sting.

Ghost · June 22, 2015, 12:29:48 AM

Yes :) SHE tried to sting me.

I checked by today around sunset (just drive by on the ATV) and the hive had a little activity around the entrance. Looks like they used a bit of the sugar water too!

BeeMaster2 · June 22, 2015, 06:20:38 AM

Congratulations on your new hive.
I tried the sugar. You have to do it a lot in s short time frame to make it work. I prefer to let the bees take care of the mites themselves. It is a whole lot safer for them.
Don't let anyone tell you it cannot bee done. The problem is the you need to find bees that figured it out. If the person you bought the bees is treat, then you will also have to treat. Check around and see if there is some one local that does not treat and buy their bees.
Jim

Ghost · June 26, 2015, 02:18:54 PM

So:

I did my first hive check today:

1.) located the queen.
2.) observed some larvae.
3.) observed lots of capped brood.
4.) observed some capped honey.
5.) observed a few pollen cells.
6.) observed nectar or sugar water (likely sugar water because I'm feeding them).
7.) observed some drawn comb on the frames surrounding the NUC frames.

It was awesome :)

I did not observe and eggs though.... Larvae, capped brood - but no eggs. I'm not saying they weren't there - but I didn't see them.

The bees went through a pickle jar sized mason jar of sugar water in 24 hours... Is this normal? Doesn't appear to be leaking. I sat and watched them for a bit. And the hive entrance was busy - and occasionally I'd see a little bubble in the mason jar (presumably as they eat).

Thoughts / tips?

BeeMaster2 · June 26, 2015, 02:35:10 PM

Sound pretty good.
Being able to see eggs requires good eyesight and a little experience.
To see eggs, turn the frame upside down and look down into the cells with sun light coming over your shoulder so that the light is hitting the bottom of the cell.
Jim

mikecva · June 26, 2015, 03:12:32 PM

Sounds like you are off to a good start. The eggs will be about 1/8 the size of a piece of uncooked rice (length and width) so they can be hard to locate the first time but do not worry, once you start finding the eggs you will not have problems in the future. -Mike

biggraham610 · June 27, 2015, 01:26:07 AM

Quote from: sawdstmakr on June 22, 2015, 06:20:38 AM
I prefer to let the bees take care of the mites themselves. It is a whole lot safer for them.
Don't let anyone tell you it cannot bee done.
Jim

Jim, are you completely TF now? I am working that way, I have only ever put something in my hives twice, and that was on just 1 hive once the year before and once in one hive last. I am hoping that I wont have to again. I am seemingly having good success with the VSH daughters and grandaughters resulting from open mated to feral locals. I'm sure I will lose more hives in the future, but feel I am building a good stock to build off of. Will be adding some different genetics that are supposed to be mite haters in a couple weeks. I will be interested to see how they work in the mix. G

BeeMaster2 · June 27, 2015, 07:09:39 AM

G,
Yes. I have been since year 2. I still have the $80 Miteaway II that I was told that I had to have the first year. I put one of those pads in an empty hive box to test it and it destroyed the screen bottom and top boards. If anyone wants to come and pick it up, it is theirs.
I used to also have the original single package of Apiguard until the package got damaged. I have an aversion to putting that trash in the hives.
Jim

Ghost · June 27, 2015, 12:37:26 PM

I'm pretty sure I'll have to end up treating my colony. Although the breeder I got it advises their bees are picked for varroa resitance - they still treat them.

I have sourced a treatment free business in Ottawa that I'd like to try this spring for my two new hives (for spring 2016).

CBT · June 28, 2015, 11:15:29 PM

It won't be long till acid will be blessed by each state and a new kid will be on the block

Ghost · June 29, 2015, 09:20:12 PM

Do you mean acid to treat mites?

OldMech · June 30, 2015, 01:47:53 AM

Oxalic Acid.. federally approved, and now approved in a few states.. some states are dragging their feet..

Not harsh, doesnt bother the bees (unless they fall in the pan and get cooked), your queen doesnt stop laying, no sterilization of drones, no big beards because they all dislike the smell, so no hanging out the front when treated, and honey already has Oxalic Acid in it naturally... on top of all that, it actually works!
The down side?
The big companies dont want you to use it, because they cant make money on it..... They are the ones with all the money to bribe those who need to approve it for our use.... Might be a while before we can "legally" use it in all 50 states.....