A BEE thread....for those interested in beekeeping.

[sgtmom52]

Got my new super yesterday.  Do I add it above or below the current super?  If I put it below, will the bees finish capping the one that is already there?

I super above.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
I've done lots of reading this morning, and that seems to be what is advised. Will do, thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

I heard the neighbors' lawnmowers today, and recalled hearing that sometimes bees go after loud things like lawnmowers? Someone please tell me this is a myth.

My husband was on the tractor and got too close to the hive and they started circling around him. He did not get stung, but he came in and said that my bees tried to get him.

They do not like loud noises right by the hive. Off in the distance is not a worry. They also don't like dark colors, and perfumes.

If you do get stung, go inside and wash. (or if you have a smoker lit, smoke the sting area) When a honeybee stings you, a pheromone is secreted to alert all of the other bees of the offender. The others will pick up on the scent and come after you.

I learned this personally last week. I had a bee get caught in my hair. I got it out by shaking my hair, but it stung me in the butt. I didn't think much of it and later went outside to collect eggs (nowhere near the hive) and got immediately attacked and stung again in the butt. I came inside and took a shower and changed my clothes before going back out, and no issues after that.

 

[sgtmom52]

Quote:
My husband also learned that you can't outrun honey bees on the lawn mower.

Another hint is don't eat bananas before you go near the hives. The alarm pheromone smells like bananas and they might come after you.

 

[1muttsfan]

Checked the queen cage last night and the queen had exited, they had started building comb on it and it was completely covered and filled with bees, so I put it on the floor of the hive and left it there for now. Bees have been very docile so far; only sting was from one caught between my legs when I took a step forward. Can't say I blamed her.

The weather has been very cool and rainy, so they have not ventured out much; they do have access to syrup inside the hive, and the bees looked fine in the hive. So far so good!

 

[OHhappychicks]

My husband was on the tractor and got too close to the hive and they started circling around him. He did not get stung, but he came in and said that my bees tried to get him.

They do not like loud noises right by the hive. Off in the distance is not a worry. They also don't like dark colors, and perfumes.

If you do get stung, go inside and wash. (or if you have a smoker lit, smoke the sting area) When a honeybee stings you, a pheromone is secreted to alert all of the other bees of the offender. The others will pick up on the scent and come after you.

I learned this personally last week. I had a bee get caught in my hair. I got it out by shaking my hair, but it stung me in the butt. I didn't think much of it and later went outside to collect eggs (nowhere near the hive) and got immediately attacked and stung again in the butt. I came inside and took a shower and changed my clothes before going back out, and no issues after that.

My husband also learned that you can't outrun honey bees on the lawn mower.

Another hint is don't eat bananas before you go near the hives. The alarm pheromone smells like bananas and they might come after you.

Thank you for that fascinating and great info!!! I didn't know that. How far away do you have to be to mow? We are setting our hive in the back of the yard, so we mow there. We are also going to lay a newspaper/mulch perimeter around it, about 4x4 area. Will that "bee" (sorry couldn't resist!

) enough room? Also another question. I've read that you should set your hive facing SE. If we set ours SE, it will be facing the cedar thicket and mostly shade, but if we set it facing E, it will get good morning sun. Will this be sufficient, or does it really matter? I'm not going to face it N for obvious reasons, and S or SW it will get the rain and wind from that direction. It is pretty protected from the N wind and from the prevailing sw winds as it is down at the bottom of a small hill, with the cedar thicket behind it. It will get dappled sunlight thru out the day. But E sounds to me the best. What do you all think?
And the picture in my mind of someone trying to outrun bees on a lawn mower, well,

, that had to be pretty funny to watch!!

 

[OHhappychicks]

Checked the queen cage last night and the queen had exited, they had started building comb on it and it was completely covered and filled with bees, so I put it on the floor of the hive and left it there for now. Bees have been very docile so far; only sting was from one caught between my legs when I took a step forward. Can't say I blamed her.

The weather has been very cool and rainy, so they have not ventured out much; they do have access to syrup inside the hive, and the bees looked fine in the hive. So far so good!

So, is there still time to purchase bees? I know you are supposed to order them in December or so, but really was hoping for a swarm. Our weather here has been crazy. Hot for a day or two and then cool and rainy the next. We even had frost on the chicken coop roofs 3 mornings in a row this week. Today back in the 80's with a chance of storms this eve. So the poor bees probably are laying low until old man winter finally gives up!!! If I don't get a swarm in a couple of weeks, I was thinking of trying to find someplace I could go to purchase and pick them up. I haven't checked around yet.

 

[OHhappychicks]

OH! I just remembered something else I've been wanting to ask. Do your chickens eat the bees? Our flock free ranges and they are frequently around the area we plan on setting the hive. Just wondering if that could be a problem.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Another hint is don't eat bananas before you go near the hives. The alarm pheromone smells like bananas and they might come after you.

Good to know on the bananas.

Checked the queen cage last night and the queen had exited, they had started building comb on it and it was completely covered and filled with bees, so I put it on the floor of the hive and left it there for now. Bees have been very docile so far; only sting was from one caught between my legs when I took a step forward. Can't say I blamed her.

The weather has been very cool and rainy, so they have not ventured out much; they do have access to syrup inside the hive, and the bees looked fine in the hive. So far so good!

Looks great!

Thank you for that fascinating and great info!!! I didn't know that. How far away do you have to be to mow? We are setting our hive in the back of the yard, so we mow there. We are also going to lay a newspaper/mulch perimeter around it, about 4x4 area. Will that "bee" (sorry couldn't resist!

) enough room? Also another question. I've read that you should set your hive facing SE. If we set ours SE, it will be facing the cedar thicket and mostly shade, but if we set it facing E, it will get good morning sun. Will this be sufficient, or does it really matter? I'm not going to face it N for obvious reasons, and S or SW it will get the rain and wind from that direction. It is pretty protected from the N wind and from the prevailing sw winds as it is down at the bottom of a small hill, with the cedar thicket behind it. It will get dappled sunlight thru out the day. But E sounds to me the best. What do you all think?
And the picture in my mind of someone trying to outrun bees on a lawn mower, well,

, that had to be pretty funny to watch!!

Just picture a woman running like heck, trying to get the bee out of her hair. It must have been pretty funny looking.

It depends on your weather patterns. If I put my hive facing SE, the entrance would get the full force of our storms. Everything here faces North, as our storms come from the South. The optimum placement from my understanding is somewhere that gets morning sun, but afternoon shade. We put ours near an oak tree, so it's shaded in the afternoon in summer - in winter, the oaks have no leaves, so it gets enough sun then.

OH! I just remembered something else I've been wanting to ask. Do your chickens eat the bees? Our flock free ranges and they are frequently around the area we plan on setting the hive. Just wondering if that could be a problem.

I've heard of people feeding chickens drone brood. My bees drink out of the chicken waterer, and I haven't noticed any issue with them getting eaten.

 

[Happy Chooks]

So, is there still time to purchase bees? I know you are supposed to order them in December or so, but really was hoping for a swarm. Our weather here has been crazy. Hot for a day or two and then cool and rainy the next. We even had frost on the chicken coop roofs 3 mornings in a row this week. Today back in the 80's with a chance of storms this eve. So the poor bees probably are laying low until old man winter finally gives up!!! If I don't get a swarm in a couple of weeks, I was thinking of trying to find someplace I could go to purchase and pick them up. I haven't checked around yet.

In my area, bee packages come out right about now. Many places have a bunch of customers already lined up, so you may have trouble finding one that has bees available. Check with some local beekeepers in your area.