My new bees

[old243]

I have been getting quite interested in bee keeping, I friend of mine has about a hundred colonies. I have been talking with him and he agreed to move 2 of his hives to my place. They arrived about six weeks ago, early one morning. He outfitted me with a suit, so I could get close. They were getting out of the hives in the back of his half ton, and were not in good humor. I have them behind a shed so they are sheltered from most wind. It took them a couple of days to get oriented. They are in much better humor now and busy with the golden rod and fall flowers. He put an empty super on to start. When he inspected them , the other day, it was completely filled with honey. He put a bee excluder under the super, so will take it off right away. Our wild flowers will soon be over, and expect a frost before long. I have been keeping a water source for them. The first few days they were visiting my neighbour and drowning in his dogs water dish. Not a good way to start out. I am going to get my own suit so I can get more personal with them and will probably buy them from him . old243

[histopicker]

First of all, i am sorry for the delayed reply. I can tell you are quite interested in the bees. They are a great thing to have around and will bring you lots of enjoyment. Let us know how it goes with them and lets hope they survive the winter. Best of luck sir.

[farmertrappe]

Sounds like a great way to get involved with bees, have fun and enjoy.

[old243]

We took a full super off the other day and medicated them, I don't know all the reasons yet but will learn. I helped him extract the last of his honey the other day. Had ten shallow hives , averaged about 20 pounds per hive. He had one of his best years ever.


We had snow on the ground today, the bees are all inside , keeping warm. Very interesting to watch, hope they survive till spring. They still have to be wrapped, to help some. old243

[old243]

He brought the winter covers today and put the bees to bed for the winter. It was the first time I had seen covers. they were an insulated plastic cover with a zipper on top. The only holes are at the top and at the entrance which was reduced. The bees have been active whenever the weather was suitable, the seemed to be carrying pollen, as all our flowers are frozen now. Hope they survive the winter. I have been busy getting lumber ready to build some boxes and hive parts for next year. I have a sawmill, so there is no shortage  ,of off cuts and cull lumber, that will suit the project. More later when , I have progress. Also trying to get some deer hunting in. My grandson got a nice 8 point buck last Monday, at my farm. Got it cut up, and making some jerky. No shortage of things to do. old 243

[swampcat]

This is exactly the same thing I'm doing.. glad I noticed this post.. I've always been interested in bees, Dad kept a couple of hives here when I was a kid.. This summer I gave permission for a couple of hives to be placed on my property. I have gone with the keepers most every time they inspected the hives. I've gotten used to not wearing a suit and so far no stings to report.

So I'm building small catch boxes for the spring. I put one out this fall and caught a small swarm, we combined it in with one of the hives as it was about soft ball size and might not have made it through the winter.. so far I've made 10 boxes I will put out most of them on my property and might get permission on one of my friends places..

Not really sure I want to go into the honey business, I think I would just like to multiply some bees.

I've started planting buckwheat and clovers on my place and find it a good rotation for the crops I grow here.
so I've learned something new and benefited from it already..

Good Luck with the bees..

[Brad H.]

Nov 29, 2016 14:49:06 GMT -5 swampcat said:

This is exactly the same thing I'm doing.. glad I noticed this post.. I've always been interested in bees, Dad kept a couple of hives here when I was a kid.. This summer I gave permission for a couple of hives to be placed on my property. I have gone with the keepers most every time they inspected the hives. I've gotten used to not wearing a suit and so far no stings to report.

So I'm building small catch boxes for the spring. I put one out this fall and caught a small swarm, we combined it in with one of the hives as it was about soft ball size and might not have made it through the winter.. so far I've made 10 boxes I will put out most of them on my property and might get permission on one of my friends places..

Not really sure I want to go into the honey business, I think I would just like to multiply some bees.

I've started planting buckwheat and clovers on my place and find it a good rotation for the crops I grow here.
so I've learned something new and benefited from it already..

Good Luck with the bees..

I've been meaning to set out swarm boxes for the last couple of years but always seem to run out of time in the summer. Do you have any tips on making them successful? Did you bait them with anything?

[swampcat]

Brad, I looked at you tube and studied about making these catch hives.

read about them being certain sizes and having frames in them, and all.. and I tried, but you know everyone
has their own way.. My way and after making a few, I decided to mix up some ideas.. after all the bees I catch probably are living in a hollow tree, and who knows the size or conditions inside any tree could be any thing..
so I have some small boxes and larger ones, what I settled on is a box the top just sits on, with top bar type runners for the bees to hang on and build comb on.. that frees up space inside the box for a mason jar type feeder.. a dab of lemon grass oil inside and a pint mason jar feeder.. Is what I settled on..

So the box that caught the small swarm had frames in it.. the bees hung on two frames those had to be pulled to drop the bees into another box.. I decided if the bees are going to hang on to the top anyway just use the top bar type top pull the top and shake the bees into the new box.. quicker and not having to fool with two frames..
The runners hold the top from moving around. My box is in three sections a bottom board, sides, and the top..
most only have three runners in them.. after all I don't expect to keep bees in the box long..

[Brad H.]

Nov 29, 2016 20:06:00 GMT -5 swampcat said:

Brad, I looked at you tube and studied about making these catch hives.

read about them being certain sizes and having frames in them, and all.. and I tried, but you know everyone
has their own way.. My way and after making a few, I decided to mix up some ideas.. after all the bees I catch probably are living in a hollow tree, and who knows the size or conditions inside any tree could be any thing..
so I have some small boxes and larger ones, what I settled on is a box the top just sits on, with top bar type runners for the bees to hang on and build comb on.. that frees up space inside the box for a mason jar type feeder.. a dab of lemon grass oil inside and a pint mason jar feeder.. Is what I settled on..

So the box that caught the small swarm had frames in it.. the bees hung on two frames those had to be pulled to drop the bees into another box.. I decided if the bees are going to hang on to the top anyway just use the top bar type top pull the top and shake the bees into the new box.. quicker and not having to fool with two frames..
The runners hold the top from moving around. My box is in three sections a bottom board, sides, and the top..
most only have three runners in them.. after all I don't expect to keep bees in the box long..

What do they say are the best locations?

[swampcat]

[/quote]What do they say are the best locations?[/quote]


I will share some of my thoughts on the subject, bear in mind, I do not have any bees of my own and mostly talking out my hat...

I am sure there are others here much more experienced with bees, and I do hope they will chime in here..

I am thinking I will put out some sugar water in the spring and if bees find it then develop a bee line I will try to follow them back to the hive, I hope to able to put a catch box somewhere in that general area..

There is a swampy area on the back side of the property and it has some hollow trees down there, I am thinking it would be a place to leave a box..

I am planning to put a box or two at the edge of a field of buckwheat and a couple near the field of clover..

My plan is to set on sign where ever I see or know where bees are.

From what I've read its pretty much set on sign, like any other trapping..

Thats what my plans are right now, that may change spring is a while off yet..

[old243]

We had a few days of cold weather a week ago. No bee movement . They seem to be hauling out dead bees. on any nice days. I understand they kick the drones out in the fall. They have been more active as the weather improved. Not flying just guarding the reduced entrance.

I have been tinkering in the workshop. Making some bee equipment. I have all kinds of cull lumber, getting it planed up , and cut into parts. I found an excellent site for hive plans, have been following their plans. It is Michigan bees, go to in the beekeeper's  workshop. You can watch the video's and download the plans. I have been making deep 10 frame and mediums. May make some nukes as well and set them out as swarm traps.


I probably won't get into bee keeping to heavy. Will likely just let my friend use, my equipment, for a couple of jars of honey. I just like puttering around , watching them. Keeps me out of the house and something to do. old243

[swampcat]

Nov 30, 2016 21:53:10 GMT -5 old243 said:

We had a few days of cold weather a week ago. No bee movement . They seem to be hauling out dead bees. on any nice days. I understand they kick the drones out in the fall. They have been more active as the weather improved. Not flying just guarding the reduced entrance.

I have been tinkering in the workshop. Making some bee equipment. I have all kinds of cull lumber, getting it planed up , and cut into parts. I found an excellent site for hive plans, have been following their plans. It is Michigan bees, go to in the beekeeper's  workshop. You can watch the video's and download the plans. I have been making deep 10 frame and mediums. May make some nukes as well and set them out as swarm traps.


I probably won't get into bee keeping to heavy. Will likely just let my friend use, my equipment, for a couple of jars of honey. I just like puttering around , watching them. Keeps me out of the house and something to do. old243

Thanks I'm not a wood worker, and about drove myself crazy trying to make a box joint.
I will try this spline joint.. I think I can manage that..

[old243]

I was working on doing the rebate joints today. I screwed an upright board about 10 inches high to my saw T square then a nother upright board that ran along on top of my fence . Hard to describe . To this I clamped the box side. worked well . I am making 4 deep boxes and 10 medium boxes. Still have to cut the splines, mine will end up a bit over 1/4 inch. I plan on using my dado blade. to do the handholes. as wide as possible, then lower the board unto the dado blade slowly. Will let you know how they turn out.  Also have some screened bottom boards on the go. They take a bit of fiddling around to get them right. I like how well this site describes the step by step plans. It is cold and snowy , here today, nice to have a project in the shop. Good luck with your projects . old243

[old243]

I made the hand holes today, for my boxes. Used all the spacers with my dado blade set and ended up with a handhole about 3/4 inch wide and about 1/2 inch deep. I think this will work just as well as the usual profile. Clamped a piece of 2x6 to my saw table and lowered the hive side unto the dado blade, slowly. Have nothing assembled , yet just a few stacks of parts. This project has a lot of steps, But I have lots of time. Good project. old243

[old243]

I have my medium hive boxes assembled now. Have the deep boxes and nukes cut out and ready to assemble. Have an oil furnace in my shop, it is on the fritz, so too cold to work for long without heat.

Plan to look into the cause of the furnace failure, clean everything up and do some trouble shooting, have done a bit of playing with them before. But it has been a while. Me being a bit cheap and having lots of time , will likely figure it out. Waiting for a warmer day. Always a project. old243

[old243]

Finally got some heat in my workshop. Don't know how many people have experienced , clouding and wax formation in their furnace oil. Our weather had been super cold for a week or so. The oil forms wax solids, as temperature gets below about 15 degrees farenheit, to offset this you have to use fuel treatment to lower the start of waxing.. I had never heard this before. Anyway , after a lot of cleaning lines and replacing nozzels, Also gave my fuel supply a super shock of additives.  I have heat . I realise this has nothing to do with bee keeping , but might save someone else, some grief.

 Back to bee keeping  I was able to get the rest of my deep boxes , assembled. Still have some nucs , cut out but not assembled. We have about 18 inches of snow on the ground, my hives are likely covered, will go back and clear them out a bit, when we get a nice day.


To all the swampers, have a merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. old243

[bk]

Dec 22, 2016 21:54:08 GMT -5 old243 said:

Finally got some heat in my workshop. Don't know how many people have experienced , clouding and wax formation in their furnace oil. Our weather had been super cold for a week or so. The oil forms wax solids, as temperature gets below about 15 degrees farenheit, to offset this you have to use fuel treatment to lower the start of waxing.. I had never heard this before. Anyway , after a lot of cleaning lines and replacing nozzels, Also gave my fuel supply a super shock of additives.  I have heat . I realise this has nothing to do with bee keeping , but might save someone else, some grief.

 Back to bee keeping  I was able to get the rest of my deep boxes , assembled. Still have some nucs , cut out but not assembled. We have about 18 inches of snow on the ground, my hives are likely covered, will go back and clear them out a bit, when we get a nice day.


To all the swampers, have a merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. old243

Good advice on the oil, old243.

Do you have upper entrances on your hives?  I try and keep my hives cleaned up after snows but don't stress too much as they have upper entrances to use as needed.  Gives me an excuse to listen for life in each hive.  I have been making shims with entrance hole and it is a great place for sugar cakes and patties - gives bees room to work the food - and put them on top of the hives and under my moisture boards or quilt boxes. 

Good luck with your ladies in the new year!

[old243]

I do have upper entrances on the hives. Checked today , 20 f, no action around entrances. There are a lot of dead bees on the snow bank. Expect this is cleaning up inside hive, drones etc. Quite a while till spring so hope they make it.


Have hive bodies assembled now, also made some inner covers. Now will make some screened bottom boards. Good winters project. old243

[bk]

Jan 1, 2017 22:26:05 GMT -5 old243 said:

I do have upper entrances on the hives. Checked today , 20 f, no action around entrances. There are a lot of dead bees on the snow bank. Expect this is cleaning up inside hive, drones etc. Quite a while till spring so hope they make it.


Have hive bodies assembled now, also made some inner covers. Now will make some screened bottom boards. Good winters project. old243

Can be a bit concerning to see the little bodies in the snow, but it is normal. 

Took a peek at mine yesterday.  They were looking out their upper entrance and wanting to know what I was doing.  Looks like one of my nucs didn't make it.  Added sugar cakes in my shim and will check again in a couple weeks.  If cakes are being used, I'll add more.

Hoping for a mild winter for the sake of the ladies, but sounds like another polar vortex is coming. 

[old243]

We had a major , February thaw the last week or so, Most of our snow has melted, in the fields. We still have all of March to get through yet. We usually get a couple of big blows, in March. The bees have been out a bit , dragging out dead bodies, spring house cleaning. Some were flying out somewhere, don't know if they were finding anything. Both hives are in good shape yet. My friend that owns the bee's said he had lost about 15% of his hives, he blames verroa, Put treatment strips in my hive, just in case.

Have been busy in the shop building more equipment, have another 10 hive bodies cut out, and ready to assemble. Great winter's project. I would get bored sitting in the house. Hope others are having a good winter. old243

[swampcat]

Update from garden zone 7.. The bees have been busy for a little over a month now.. Trees are starting to bloom here now.. I sometimes sit beside the hive and watch, I've been seeing a few drone bees land so it seems the new spring hatch is out and flying.. there are a marked number more bees working too..

I've put out about 10 of my catch hives here on 20 acres and have two left over.. I will be making a stand for one more to place near a field I plan to sow in buckwheat later on.. holding the last one for if I make a catch I will place it at or near that area.. only thing I have done is bait with lemon grass oil,, maybe later I will buy a few quart jar feeders and put them in the hives.. to see how that might work out..

about a week ago the keepers came opened up the hive and was happy with what they saw, didn't go all the way through the hive just a quick look.. the bottom box was half full of brood and the other half honey..they are starting to put honey in the top super..

the keepers are going to come back at some time and split the hive, there were two hives here last year a strong one and a weak one.. they were combined, then when I caught a small late swarm those were added to the hive.

I know the keepers have lost a few hives over winter.. so I would like to see how we can multiply the bees here..
I am very careful about what I plant and the chemicals I use here. always have been. I eat what I grow..

[Brad H.]

Mar 5, 2017 13:08:36 GMT -5 swampcat said:

Update from garden zone 7.. The bees have been busy for a little over a month now.. Trees are starting to bloom here now.. I sometimes sit beside the hive and watch, I've been seeing a few drone bees land so it seems the new spring hatch is out and flying.. there are a marked number more bees working too..

I've put out about 10 of my catch hives here on 20 acres and have two left over.. I will be making a stand for one more to place near a field I plan to sow in buckwheat later on.. holding the last one for if I make a catch I will place it at or near that area.. only thing I have done is bait with lemon grass oil,, maybe later I will buy a few quart jar feeders and put them in the hives.. to see how that might work out..

about a week ago the keepers came opened up the hive and was happy with what they saw, didn't go all the way through the hive just a quick look.. the bottom box was half full of brood and the other half honey..they are starting to put honey in the top super..

the keepers are going to come back at some time and split the hive, there were two hives here last year a strong one and a weak one.. they were combined, then when I caught a small late swarm those were added to the hive.

I know the keepers have lost a few hives over winter.. so I would like to see how we can multiply the bees here..
I am very careful about what I plant and the chemicals I use here. always have been. I eat what I grow..

Thanks for the update. Sounds like you are about two months ahead of us here in WI. Can't wait to see the bees flying again. I've had enough of winter!

[pokeyjeeper]

Good stuff keep it coming good luck with your swarm traps