Been a long winter

Brian MCquilkin · February 05, 2021, 03:24:41 PM

It's just a new experience keeping bees in the north and it's kind of driving me crazy. It's been 4 months so far that I haven't been to do anything with my colonies.
and probably another six weeks to go. I've been so bored I have milled my own lumber, built a small kiln to dry it, and made some supers and nucs. You can tell a beekeeper is board when he makes his nucs with dovetail joints. Now to top it off the temps are going to get really low over the next several days down to -18F with wind chills to -25 to-30F hope the bees can hand the temps. Life is really good just want to play with the bees.

The15thMember · February 05, 2021, 03:36:43 PM

I know what you mean Brian. While I've never kept bees in a cold climate, I used to live up north when I was younger, and winter seemed to last forever at this time of year. I've probably got about 3 weeks until my first inspections, but it's still quite cold here too. We've got lows in the 30's or colder for the foreseeable future. I'm sure HoneyPump will pop up and teach us not to complain though, since I saw on another thread his highs for the weekend are around -25 up there in Canada, and he won't see his bees until April.

Ben Framed · February 05, 2021, 04:54:41 PM

I don't know about your area Brian, but it amazes me the amount of honey and wax TheHoneyPump produces in such a short time. The Summers are short there. "They must be short and sweet" (honeywise)

.. Is your area an abundant honey producing area as well?

Brian MCquilkin · February 05, 2021, 05:47:46 PM

Quote from: Ben Framed on February 05, 2021, 04:54:41 PM
I don't know about your area Brian, but it amazes me the amount of honey and wax TheHoneyPump produces in such a short time. The Summers are short there. "They must be short and sweet" (honeywise) .. Is your area an abundant honey producing area as well?

The last season was my first in the north. I was delightfully surprised. The dandelion bloom was tremendous, not just a small amount like down south but hundreds of acers tightly[attachment=0][/attachment] packed a good hive can bring in about 60 pounds from dandelion alone. There was no dearth to speak of, my colonies had a surplus between 120-145 each

Acebird · February 08, 2021, 09:56:27 AM

A healthy hive has no problem in most parts of the north and it has less predators in the summer time due to the winter dearth. Winter is not hard on bees it is hard on me so I will not be returning to the north even though it is easier to have bees.

Jim134 · February 11, 2021, 08:04:35 PM

It didn't get cold for about 10 days... All the way down to about 70 F in the morning.. It is warm up now.. Because there's... Little snow Left On the continent of Asia.. Have a great day..

BEE HAPPY Jim 134

Nock · February 15, 2021, 10:16:05 PM

Red maples are getting close here. Finally looks like we may get some flying weather next week. Been about three weeks since we had any.