Building Hives.

[histopicker]

I started construction on 14 eight frame deeps today. One of my queens is really getting after it already. The county bee inspector wants to take grafts from her because of what he thinks are "Unusual Genetics". She is extremely productive and the bees are very gentle. I will get several queens from this so I am in desperate need of equipment to put the girls in. My plan is to start ten Langstroth and up to six more topbar hives this spring. He suggested I should start a queen raising program from my stock. I really don't want to get to involved in any project but sometimes things just happen.

[bk]

Things do just happen, histo.  I never planned on doing the bee thing, but one of my step-sons set the hook. Then came the building of hives (10 frame Langs), education by the school of hard knocks,  queen raising school...

Grafting queens is an interesting process - not difficult, but takes a commitment.  We are planning on grafting another batch this year.  Trying to raise our own queens and develop some good winter hardy stock.  Had very good success last year, and with the  splits  and the queens we have a mess of nucs that have made it so far.  Fingers crossed.

Good luck with the building process and with you new project!

[histopicker]

Mar 2, 2016 20:31:11 GMT -5 bk said:

Things do just happen, histo.  I never planned on doing the bee thing, but one of my step-sons set the hook. Then came the building of hives (10 frame Langs), education by the school of hard knocks,  queen raising school...

Grafting queens is an interesting process - not difficult, but takes a commitment.  We are planning on grafting another batch this year.  Trying to raise our own queens and develop some good winter hardy stock.  Had very good success last year, and with the  splits  and the queens we have a mess of nucs that have made it so far.  Fingers crossed.

Good luck with the building process and with you new project!

I got 14 boxes cut and ready to assemble today. These will be for 7 double deep brood chambers. I am going to pick up 1x12"s tomorrow for 20 more boxes. I am so glad I figured out how to make a box joint jig for the table saw. It is slow but working awesome. The wife says she would like me to build up to 100 hives in the next three years. I told her to buy the land to over
winter them on and she agreed to do so. Looks like these bees are forcing me into a business. I am to old and tired to get in to deep.
I also helped teach the beginning beekeeping class last weekend and am getting calls from that. I guess I am a southern Utah topbar hive guru now or something. Give me a break!

[rendezvous]

What is exactly meant by taking a graft? 

[histopicker]

Mar 3, 2016 7:26:55 GMT -5 rendezvous said:

What is exactly meant by taking a graft? 

Short version or long version? Ok; short version.
Three days after the queen lays eggs they hatch into larvae. On the forth day you carefully remove these new larvae and place them in little cups that hang upside down, these are called "Queen cups". You then take these queen cups with the new larvae and place them into a beehive full of young bees that have no queen. This hive is desperate to survive so, they make queens out of these new larvae. They care for the larvae, feed it royal jelly and finally enclose them in a special cell called a queen cell.
Just before the queens emerge, the beekeeper removes the cells and places each one into a very small hive with some young queen-less bees. This box is called a mating nucleus hive. The queen will emerge and hang around in the box for a few days getting her strength. After this short time she will go on a mating flight and mate with several male bees (drones). She then returns to the mating nucleus hive and hopefully begins laying fertilized eggs.
I hope this explains it a little, it is the short version.

Anything to add BK?

[farmertrappe]

Thats Awesome teaching the beginners class, and keep alive with your new booming Bee Business. Work it for the fun of it and it will be rewarding.

[rendezvous]

Histo, I only had an image of a tree graft, I knew that wasn't what you were talking about! The Bee is a pretty interesting creature, as is the creature that raises them. Thanks! 

[histopicker]

Mar 3, 2016 9:43:02 GMT -5 farmertrappe said:

Thats Awesome teaching the beginners class, and keep alive with your new booming Bee Business. Work it for the fun of it and it will be rewarding.

I don't quite know who is working who! The bees are wanting to expand so I am just providing them the opportunity to do so.

[bk]

Mar 3, 2016 9:08:36 GMT -5 histopicker said:

Mar 3, 2016 7:26:55 GMT -5 rendezvous said:

What is exactly meant by taking a graft? 

Short version or long version? Ok; short version.
Three days after the queen lays eggs they hatch into larvae. On the forth day you carefully remove these new larvae and place them in little cups that hang upside down, these are called "Queen cups". You then take these queen cups with the new larvae and place them into a beehive full of young bees that have no queen. This hive is desperate to survive so, they make queens out of these new larvae. They care for the larvae, feed it royal jelly and finally enclose them in a special cell called a queen cell.
Just before the queens emerge, the beekeeper removes the cells and places each one into a very small hive with some young queen-less bees. This box is called a mating nucleus hive. The queen will emerge and hang around in the box for a few days getting her strength. After this short time she will go on a mating flight and mate with several male bees (drones). She then returns to the mating nucleus hive and hopefully begins laying fertilized eggs.
I hope this explains it a little, it is the short version.

Anything to add BK?

Darn good short version, histo!  Thanks.

[bk]

Sounds like you will be a very busy beek, histo.  Building to 100 hive sure will take you to the top end of being a hobby beekeeper.  Guess the old saying, "Go big or go home" applies. 

Class will keep you busy with lots of new beeks.  Good luck with the woodenware and don't let the bees work you toooo hard.

[Brad H.]

100 hives holy cow! That sounds like a full time job! I had trouble keeping up with 3 last summer. Can wait to see the property the wife buys for you!

[histopicker]

Mar 3, 2016 20:30:16 GMT -5 Brad H. said:

100 hives holy cow! That sounds like a full time job! I had trouble keeping up with 3 last summer. Can wait to see the property the wife buys for you!

I would not hold my breath. It could be a few years before this happens.

[bk]

It sounds like a wise plan to work slowly up to 100.  Enjoy the journey.  Keep us in the loop.  Always interested in others bee adventures, even from half way across the country.

[histopicker]

Today's progress. I got all the lumber cut for 36 boxes. Here is what I got put together. These are eight frame deeps.

[bk]

Nice looking wooden ware, histo.  Well on your way to short and long term goals.  I always enjoy the pile on the shop floor when the boxes are put together and stacked like that - good sense of accomplishment.

[pipewrench]

You worked harder than me today Very nice work

[rendezvous]

Very nice work! 

[histopicker]

I have thirty something of them done now with hand holds cut. I have to move them out of the shop so I have enough room to build more. I guess it is time to paint them. I sold a top bar hive yesterday so now I need to build two more of those also.
It is getting really busy around here!

[rendezvous]

You sound to be as busy as a bee! 


I couldn't resist...