Last Year I Started Beekeeping - So Exciting

[chigger bait]

That's to bad.

I'm so sorry for you.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Madamwlf, Oh NO! I'm so sorry to hear this. I have really learned a lot from your questions and inputs on this thread and have appreciated your presence here. I am SOOO SAD that you can't keep bees anymore! Of course, your health comes first and I admire your quick decision and action regarding same.

Good Luck to you and I hope I can contact you in the future if we decide to go down the Cream Legbar Road.

 

[Happy Chooks]

So sorry to hear that Madamwlf.


Anyone know about these questions above?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ed-beekeeping-so-exciting/350_50#post_9228839

That comb in between the frames is burr comb. We learned that it should be removed to make your life easier later.
I am new too. This is also my first year.

I usually remove the burr comb on top, but I wasn't sure about between the frames. I didn't remove it because I thought maybe it helps them get to the upper box and there were bees all over it.

 

[rsquared]

Good Morning Beeks,

Happy Chooks, like yourself am new to beekeeping and in your basic area, by the way ended up w/ 2 wellie roos and 3 pullets from your hatching eggs, and experiencing very similiar results in the hive. Have also joined my local S. OR Beekeepers assoc and has been a wonderful resource from info to supply...do you have one in your area? Re the burr comb, I do remove as it affects how the frames line up. I have black plastic foundation on my frames and the bees have shown some resistance to developing comb or one of my frames actually has burr comb on it! So, am going to remove the burr and will lightly coat new frames w/ some melted beeswax to encourage the bees as well as spray sugar water and compare results between the two Will do this when I place my first honey super on my stronger hive. BTW, am still feeding till the comb is drawn and filled 75% in both brood boxes.. The second hive is not quite as strong and am thinking I'm not queenright as I removed 2 active queen cells last week...am keeping a close eye. That 2nd hive seemed to be very crowded in the lower brood box and not moving up to the 2nd brood box...possible swarming situation so have tweaked accordingly.

Question for anyone, we have been having temps in high 90s' and had bearding the other day on my stronger hive...full sun all day till around 6pm. Have a screened bottom board w/ a plastic mite board in between screen and solid bottom...did remove the mite count board and put popsicle sticks under the top cover to help w/ airflow and didn't have bearding the next day which was also 97. Does that plastic board need to be in there all the time to catching droppings? Curious as to how others handle this situation.

Thank you, thank you to those who are sharing your knowledge w/ us newbies....have read this whole thread as well as several others on BYC

A quick shout out to Sgtmom52....appreciate your input.

 

[chigger bait]

rsquared, have they been bearding up on the outside of the hive during this hot weather?

 

[Blarneyeggs]

A few more questions:

My hive has had the 2nd hive body on for about 3 weeks now. They are drawing out and capping honey in the top box. I was expecting that the queen would have moved up there to lay eggs, but just honey up there. Is this normal?

Also, do you remove the comb that they draw to stick the upper frames and the lower frames together? I've been leaving it, but it's tough to get it back into place without squishing bees. I've been smoking them and then putting the frames back in place.

How often should I go into the lower box to check? From what I see from the top box, the population has increased dramatically.

Happy Chooks, so sorry, I thought I had responded to this. Not that I'm much help being a newbie myself, but I can tell you that we've removed comb growing in between the boxes. Burr Comb?

i've heard that smoking them too much when inspecting hives, gets them disoriented and then you lose precious pollen gathering time.

In my own news: We've added hive number three, it's not looking too good. Hubby checked it a few days ago and discovered no queen and no eggs! He called our 'bee guy' in DE who told him, 'if the honey cells are polished, then they are preparing for a new queen, just be patient'. I feel like we are wasting time and need to re~queen. Arrrrgh!

 

[rsquared]

Yes, they bearded up in one big mass on the outside....we were at 98 and hive is in the sun. The pattern wasn't a swarming bearded pattern per beesource and it is my healthiest hive....the most bees, if that all makes sense. Anywhoo, the popsicle sticks under the lid seemed to create a nice relase and I've yet, in the last 2 days w/ temps 97-98 see the same bearding issue.

Do I leave the plastic "sticky" board out or place it back in the hive....Thank you for your input.

 

[rsquared]

Happy Chooks, so sorry, I thought I had responded to this. Not that I'm much help being a newbie myself, but I can tell you that we've removed comb growing in between the boxes. Burr Comb?

i've heard that smoking them too much when inspecting hives, gets them disoriented and then you lose precious pollen gathering time.

In my own news: We've added hive number three, it's not looking too good. Hubby checked it a few days ago and discovered no queen and no eggs! He called our 'bee guy' in DE who told him, 'if the honey cells are polished, then they are preparing for a new queen, just be patient'. I feel like we are wasting time and need to re~queen. Arrrrgh!

Hi Blarney,

Know my master bee guy here would say to requeen w/ a bred queen. Your wasting precious time as they need to be developing the hive and stores necessary to survive the winter. Just one persons opinion.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Hey guys, where did everybody go?


I'm hoping my bees stick around - we have a huge forest fire near us and it's really smoky outside. Nothing I can do about it and we have a ways to go, as the fire is only 30% contained.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

Happy Chooks, I'm here, I'm here!! Very Scary stuff, fires. I hope you and your family are safe.

Rsquared, we should have requeened. DH checked this morning, no queen, no eggs