Getting my first bees tonight.

gww · July 13, 2015, 09:04:37 PM

Hitech
I think I have it under control now. I have about a 1/2 inch or less entrance open now. I shouldn't have to feed cause I saw a couple of the bees leggs just loaded with some orange pollen. I just got scared and also canned peaches and had almost 2 quarts of 1/1 suger water I didn't want to go to waste. The hive is lite though and I don't know how much of that is due to robbing. I also don't understand the no capped brood thing. I have never had bees but believe due to all the rain there is no derth. I see lots of yard clover and some dandilions and my field had all kinds of blooming things.

I have started feeding and so guess I will keep it going for awhile. They took less then a half pint today and I don't know if it is a bad feeder or they have better pickings elswhere. I guess the robbing was going on due to the rain cause the bees where definatly trying to kill each other.

I think it is going to work out or at least have my fingers crossed.

Thank you for your responce.
gww

MikeyN.C. · July 13, 2015, 10:50:48 PM

Can ya find the source (hive) of robbers ? ? ?

gww · July 14, 2015, 12:05:02 AM

Mikey
I don't think so. I thought I knew which direction they were flying and mentioned it to the guy that helped me go through the hive and he seen some flying about 30 degrees from what I thought I was seeing. I have a terrible time trying to track bees in flight. Would it help if I did find the robbers?
Thanks
gww

Maggiesdad · July 14, 2015, 08:00:48 AM

I put some powdered sugar in a flour sifter, and dusted the bees that were robbing my nucs. The robbing flight pattern was faster and closer than what bees do when they are orienting, but it was still hard to tell. After dusting them I went back and waited at the strong hives and sure enough, it was just one hive causing the problems. Little ghost bees sneaking back in there. Screens helped.

gww · July 14, 2015, 10:35:20 AM

Maggies...
I only have one hive so the bees are from somewhere else that I don't know about. I have been in my woods cutting logs and now that I have bees I really try and watch in case I someday find a bee tree. I didn't put a screen but have the entrance really cut small. My mentor wants it a bit bigger. I have been watching the entrance a few times a day and this morning things seem back to normal. Normal has been an average of two to four bees flying in and out constantly with no real hanging around. I was worried about heat as it is going to get to 98 degrees today but the guy helping me said there are not enough bees in the hive to over heat. The bees are not backing up at the entrance so I will leave it really small for a bit. I also think the robbing pressure might be relieved a bit as this is the second day since a spell of hard rain and it is the first time I have seen a bee working a bloom that I know they like. So the pollen and nectar that was washed off by the rain must be returning. The bees look loaded that are coming and going. They didn't use much sugar water yesterday at all. I am thinking there is better pickings now. I am new enough that all this thinking might be fantasy. It is my best though.
Cheers
gww

BeeMaster2 · July 14, 2015, 09:53:12 PM

Bee careful closing up a hive with too small of a hole. Last winter I decided to reduce the entrance to my observation hive to try to keep the roaches out when the bee numbers drop during winter. The first warm day they tried to exit so fast, hundreds clogged the tube and died. I had to take it apart to clean the tube and remove the reducer.
Jim

GSF · July 14, 2015, 09:54:47 PM

gww, I've experimented a couple of times with robbers and smaller hives. I moved the hive being robbed and put an empty super in it's place. I'm thinking it makes the robbers think the hive is robbed out. The homeboys (girls) will either find their hive or stay in the empty. Just dump them around their home hive. I can't really say if it worked or not.

gww · July 14, 2015, 10:06:25 PM

saw and gsf
Thanks for the comments, I really think things have calmed down, I am hoping my feeder is working correctly cause they have ate zero sugar water today. I was more worried about the heat with the entrance so small but I think things are going well. The bees are gathering food but tommorrow I think I am going to take the binoculers down with me cause my eyes apparently could be better. When I was really close while screwing the reducer I seen bright orange pollen. Today is the first bees I have seen on plants in three days. I am pretty sure the jar feeder is ok and they just like the natural food better.

Thanks
gww

BeeMaster2 · July 14, 2015, 10:21:16 PM

GWW,
When your bees no longer take the sugar water that is a good thing. That is if it didn't go sour. It means there is a good flow on.
Jim

gww · July 14, 2015, 11:52:25 PM

saw......

QuoteWhen your bees no longer. Take the sugar water that is a good thing

I believe that is what is going on, I hope that is what is going on, I am scared I did the suger water feeder wrong and they can't get it. I drilled a bunch of holes in the lid and turned it upside down and it leaked for a bit and then quit and I set it over the hole on the top cover and put a medium box around it. I am hoping there is nothing keeping the bees from being able to get the sugar water out. It was freshly made yesterday so should not be bad. I believe them not taking it is good news. I do know they are forageing. I am a bit timid that I am doing something wrong yet.
gww

BeeMaster2 · July 15, 2015, 01:03:42 PM

Excuse the extra punctuation that my new Pad added for me.

I doubt that there is a problem with your feeder. When ever the flow starts, bees prefer nectar over sugar water and even honey. I once took a part a feral hive, in a truck box, in the middle of my apiary which had a dozen hives. Had honey every where. The bees could care less. If I had done that during a dearth, it would have been disastrous.
Jim

gww · July 15, 2015, 05:29:08 PM

saw....
I believe you are probly correct. I also did not quote to show puntuation, I knew what you were saying and even if I didn't, I am a high school drop out. Every one would spend more time correcting then reading if they look at my post very closely.
Thanks for your thoughts, they do help me contorl my fears.
gww

gww · July 22, 2015, 11:32:11 PM

Went through the hive today. Still no capped brood. The guy that sold them to me took them back to his house. His belief is that I got a new queen cause we can see larva. The bees grew too old during the making of the new queen and even though she is laying eggs there is no nurse bees to nurse them and the larva are not getting caped and are dieing. He is going to put on a hive with a queen excluder and let the nurse bees move up to my brood chamber and take care of my brood till they hatch.

Thoughts any one?
gww

ps I still have wax moth.

biggraham610 · July 23, 2015, 12:26:24 AM

Once the hive is strong, I have found they are pretty adept at keeping wax moths at bay. Nice of the guy to boost the hive. Sounds like a good plan. Is he just going to let a bunch of nurses move up, tend your brood, and then you are taking the hive home? Wish you luck. G

gww · July 23, 2015, 02:09:46 PM

biggr.....
On taking the hive home or not? The guy is a bit all over the board. He said he would just make me a nuc next spring and said he might be able to bring them back in a month. My veiw is it would be a pretty expencive nuc but also it would be much better then a dead hive. I think mostly everyone is just going to play it by ear and see how it goes. I would like bees cause I have made the equiptment. I was hoping to be able to split next year if they lived through the winter so I would have the resources to use the hives to pull each other out of emergencys like he is now going to do.

I don't want to spend a bunch of money and end up with nothing but like I told him, I appretiate any help he gives me but am not asking for a refund cause I knew I was taking a chance when I bought them the same as you do with any livestock.

I am thankfull the guy is trying to help get me started. I to this day don't understand why I have always had plenty of eggs and larva but have never had capped brood. This guy is bigg on the bee club and is running around and helping the new people with their hives and doesn't always remember what was said by who. I commend him for all the work he is doing but don't count on him remembering what we talked about. I am not saying this badly, just saying it keeps me a little confused on what advice to follow. He is going above and beyond his responcibility by taking the bees back and using his resources to keep them alive and I am thankfull.
Thanks for your imput
gww
Ps Part of the problim on communication could be that I don't understand bees well enough that when he says something, I may not be able to put into context what he is really trying to say.

BeeMaster2 · July 23, 2015, 07:19:33 PM

A lot of eggs and no brood may bee an indication that she mainly mated with her sons. Glag he took the hive back. Sounds like he will do his best to take care of you. I had something similar with my first hive. The replacement hive made 150 # of honey.
Jim

gww · July 23, 2015, 08:12:53 PM

Jim
Thanks for the reply. I am hoping to eventually have bees and have enough hives to help each other out with. I live on 20 acres and am retired and on a fixed income. I built a sawmill and have wood to build the hives. I tried trapping but had no success. I figure as long as bees don't become a big money pit that I really think they would fit with my liking to stay at home and having things that I can use, sorta like gardining and chickens. I really believe if I can learn how to take care of them and get enough hives to trade resources with each other that it will be a really interesting hobby and one that gives back as much as it takes. I am a bit intimidated right now with these first few mistakes and I am happy that I have this guy willing to help.

I hope it all works out and maby I get a bit better at it also.

I eat waffles every morning cause you can make big batches of them and they use a lot of eggs. I don't have any sugar maples to tap so the next best thing would be honey. Heck, If I can get it right, I may never have to leave the house. It does look like my being to cheep to buy packages in the spring, being over confidant on my trapping ability and all most killing my first hive is going to set me back another year. I still have high hopes though. I may owe this guy more then the $200 I paid for the bees if he saves them in time for winter.

I did not want to buy from an out of state guy for this very reason that I thought I might need help.
Thanks for your thoughts
gww

GSF · July 23, 2015, 10:17:16 PM

Someone that's willing to help and is good on his word is worth a million dollars. Especially putting his life on hold and helping new folks.

BeeMaster2 · July 23, 2015, 10:30:48 PM

GWW,
Since you are making your own equipment, beekeeping doesn't have to be a money pit. I don't buy bees. The best bees to get are local feral bees. I'm 2 years from retirement and I also have a 42 acre farm. We also have chickens as well as cows.
I have been trying to buy a sawmill. Just missed getting a really good woodmizer for $4000.
I just built a new barn and I am building a large workshop in one wing of it.
Jim

gww · July 23, 2015, 10:50:35 PM

gsf
I agree. I haven't known the guy long but believe he is dedicated to the bee club of which I am not a member. He lives 1.5 mile from me and has been here three times so he is a better man then me.

jim
I believe you will love retirement. I thought about a milk cow but have decided not now. I made the saw mill and one time tried to post pictures on this site but it is too hard. Keep watching craigs list and just generally keep your eyes open and you will end up with your mill. I have no building skills and got mine built for around $500. It is rickity but cuts good boards. I used an old weight set for the frame and cables and pullys for the up and down.
Tires for the band to ride on. The tires cost me $135 or so.

The bees have already cost $200 for only one hive. It is fine to get ferral hives but I had lemon grass oil in 13 traps and my three hives that were setting where I wanted to keep bees. No hits. I saw your vidio so you apparrently do better then me.

Thanks
gww