🐝💗Our Backyard Beekeeping Journey!💗🐝

[5Australorpasaures]

Our bees found the buckwheat patches I've planted in my garden. you go girls! The goldenrod is just starting to bloom. We're really hoping for another honey harvest.

@drstratton, do you do a mite check before you do the OA vapors? Since we'll have honey supers on, we're planning to use Formic Pro. I told hubby we need to do a mite check first, and he reluctantly agreed. He doesn't want to do an alcohol wash and kill 300 bees to see what the mite load is.

I use Formic Pro also, 14 day method. I pull the mediums off during treatment and do the 2 deeps. I know it is said you can leave the honey supers on, I just don't feel good about it. A chemical is a chemical and I don't believe the better living through chemistry line from the 60s, just look around. Plus, I have my problems from Agent Orange, thanks Dow, Monsanto and others.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Do you make your own?

When formic acid first came on the market years ago it was in a pad you placed on top of the hive at the right temperature with a shim and watched your bees die. It killed all my colonies that fall. Of course formic has come a long way since then. I don't recommend making your own treatments but my experience is a bit different. I didn't want to use synthetic treatments and if I waited for the EPA to approve anything I wouldn't have any bees. So I learned how to make my own treatments from reading what beekeepers were doing overseas. It was a struggle but I managed to overwinter bees. I love Randy's research and do use OAE, OAV, and thymol blocks if I have a hive with a very high mite count . I stay off of Facebook. Every beekeeper finds what works best for them.

 

[drstratton]

When formic acid first came on the market years ago it was in a pad you placed on top of the hive at the right temperature with a shim and watched your bees die. It killed all my colonies that fall. Of course formic has come a long way since then. I don't recommend making your own treatments but my experience is a bit different. I didn't want to use synthetic treatments and if I waited for the EPA to approve anything I wouldn't have any bees. So I learned how to make my own treatments from reading what beekeepers were doing overseas. It was a struggle but I managed to overwinter bees. I love Randy's research and do use OAE, OAV, and thymol blocks if I have a hive with a very high mite count . I stay off of Facebook. Every beekeeper finds what works best for them.

Thanks. I was asking if you made your own thymol blocks? With the assumption that you did. Seems a bit complicated, but doable?

We would like to keep it as natural and as safe for the bees as we can. I'm really hoping a good regimen of OAE, OAV and drone frames will make that possible.

 

[drstratton]

I use Formic Pro also, 14 day method. I pull the mediums off during treatment and do the 2 deeps. I know it is said you can leave the honey supers on, I just don't feel good about it. A chemical is a chemical and I don't believe the better living through chemistry line from the 60s, just look around. Plus, I have my problems from Agent Orange, thanks Dow, Monsanto and others.

I think if we were to use formic, we'd wait until after the last flow. We'd have to wait anyway, as it's too hot to use until sometime in September.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I think if we were to use formic, we'd wait until after the last flow. We'd have to wait anyway, as it's too hot to use until sometime in September.

It's a numbers game alright. I have a window now as the golden rod isn't in, want to get the numbers built up going into winter, 1rst priority for fall, honey 2nd.

 

[drstratton]

It's a numbers game alright. I have a window now as the golden rod isn't in, want to get the numbers built up going into winter, 1rst priority for fall, honey 2nd.

Yes it definitely is. Gotta make sure those girls are healthy.

 

[drstratton]

Good morning all and happy Wednesday!

Waxing foundations for a new honey super. I don't expect this to be drawn and filled. But, we are hoping for more drawn comb for next season.

I've probably said this before, but I've learned that it's best to wax the foundations before popping them into the frames. It also allows me to get wax all of the way to the edge. If you wax after it's in the frame it can warp. I warm a block of wax and use it like a crayon.

 

[drstratton]

I think I'm going to try an experiment. The prewaxed frames always have a smooth look to them. We forgot a deep frame and left it in the sun. It was halfway under something. When I found it the half that was exposed had that same smooth look. First I'm going to try the heat gun on a low setting to see if I can achieve that. If that doesn't work, I will set them in the sun. I will do 4 like that and leave the other 4 as they are after I've rubbed the wax on. I want to see if the bees prefer one over the other. I'll will mark the frames so I can be sure of what they are when I check them.

I will checkerboard (alternate) the frames. I've noticed that bees will sometimes fill out one side of a box first. I think checkerboarding will give me a better idea of what they prefer. I'm also hoping to see if one works better than the other to eliminate the chance of wonky comb.

Maybe it won't make a difference, but it will be good to know either way.

This is the frame that was melted in the sun. I wish I would have thought to mark it.

The super frames are yellow so it's harder to see the wax. You will have to zoom in.

Rubbed

Rubbed and heated

We will be installing the super tonight or tomorrow.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Thanks. I was asking if you made your own thymol blocks? With the assumption that you did. Seems a bit complicated, but doable?

We would like to keep it as natural and as safe for the bees as we can. I'm really hoping a good regimen of OAE, OAV and drone frames will make that possible.

Very easy to make, easier to make than the OAE sponges.

 

[drstratton]

Very easy to make, easier to make than the OAE sponges.

Thank you! Good to know.