Last Year I Started Beekeeping - So Exciting

[sgtmom52]

so where can I find this man that will take roosters off my hands and give me honey in exchange?? <JK> but I do think you got a deal there.

 

[sgtmom52]

We installed 6 packages today at 2 different farms where we have hives set up. We also put out bait hives for swarms as there are reports from several other beekeepers in our are of swarms this week. It is early for swarms ~but everything seems to be early here this year.

 

[madamwlf]

I just watched my newly installed bees swarm and fly away! Unbelievable.

 

[madamwlf]

Any tips on how to keep the remainder of my bees in the hive?? We found the queen on the ground and put her back in the hive. I have pollen cake on top of the frames along with a sugar block. I have one deep body, do I need two to start with???? I noticed there was no comb drawn on the frames. I have an extender on because of the sugar block and there was comb drawn there. I have since gone back in and sprayed the frames down with a 1:1 sugar solution hoping to encourage comb drawing there. Spotted the queen. I also put a entrance feeder with 1:1 sugar solution in it thinking maybe not enough food. Anything else I can do?

 

[sgtmom52]

Any tips on how to keep the remainder of my bees in the hive?? We found the queen on the ground and put her back in the hive. I have pollen cake on top of the frames along with a sugar block. I have one deep body, do I need two to start with???? I noticed there was no comb drawn on the frames. I have an extender on because of the sugar block and there was comb drawn there. I have since gone back in and sprayed the frames down with a 1:1 sugar solution hoping to encourage comb drawing there. Spotted the queen. I also put a entrance feeder with 1:1 sugar solution in it thinking maybe not enough food. Anything else I can do?

Did you start with a package of bees? Was the queen in a queen cage when you got the bees? When installing a package the queen should be left in her cage with cork removed and candy plug in place. The bees will let her out in about 3 days ~ this helps them to accept her better and usually prevents them from absconding. We spray the frames with sugar syrup before installing the package. This year we also added Honey B Healthy to the spray. I would get rid of the sugar block and add more syrup to aid in drawing comb. Sugar blocks (fondant) are great for winter feed but not real useful for build up. The bees need to consume about 10 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of wax. Feeding syrup is extremely important ~ feed until they quit taking it. One hive body is good for now ~ add the second one when about 75% of the comb is drawn in the first box. You may also want to add an entrance reducer on the hive until the population builds up a bit.

 

[madamwlf]

Yes, it was a package and I allowed them to release the queen. I do have a entrance reducer. I will wait a few days to remove the sugar block and keep an eye on their syrup.

I have a question. Will a swarm return to the hive if they realize the queen isn't with them? I swear that looked like a huge portion of my bees gone but when I opened the hive, wow there were a bunch in there.

Did you start with a package of bees? Was the queen in a queen cage when you got the bees? When installing a package the queen should be left in her cage with cork removed and candy plug in place. The bees will let her out in about 3 days ~ this helps them to accept her better and usually prevents them from absconding. We spray the frames with sugar syrup before installing the package. This year we also added Honey B Healthy to the spray. I would get rid of the sugar block and add more syrup to aid in drawing comb. Sugar blocks (fondant) are great for winter feed but not real useful for build up. The bees need to consume about 10 pounds of honey to produce 1 pound of wax. Feeding syrup is extremely important ~ feed until they quit taking it. One hive body is good for now ~ add the second one when about 75% of the comb is drawn in the first box. You may also want to add an entrance reducer on the hive until the population builds up a bit.

 

[zazouse]

Just got my first 2 hives on the 4th, they were splits off a local beekeepers hives, very gental bees.
I am also learning something new in my older age also, fun stuff these bees are.

 

[sgtmom52]

Yes, it was a package and I allowed them to release the queen. I do have a entrance reducer. I will wait a few days to remove the sugar block and keep an eye on their syrup.

I have a question. Will a swarm return to the hive if they realize the queen isn't with them? I swear that looked like a huge portion of my bees gone but when I opened the hive, wow there were a bunch in there.

There should be about 10,000 bees in a package. When you first install them they look like a big blob but then they spread out in the hive. The older bees will start taking orientation flights right away while the younger bees will stay in the hive with the queen. There may look like less bees in the hive if you checked them during the day when the foragers are out of the hive. If you can still find the Queen you should be good. Once she starts laying eggs she will replace all of the bees you bought within a month or two.

 

[sgtmom52]

Just got my first 2 hives on the 4th, they were splits off a local beekeepers hives, very gental bees.
I am also learning something new in my older age also, fun stuff these bees are.

Welcome to beekeeping! It is a great hobby ~ we started about 6 years ago as a "retirement hobby". The first year we had 1 hive ~ now we have 12 with plans for more. It is like "chicken math"!

 

[madamwlf]

We did find the queen and placed her back in the hive. I'm hoping with the spraying of the frames with sugar syrup and providing syrup, it will help to save my hive. Thank you for the help.

There should be about 10,000 bees in a package. When you first install them they look like a big blob but then they spread out in the hive. The older bees will start taking orientation flights right away while the younger bees will stay in the hive with the queen. There may look like less bees in the hive if you checked them during the day when the foragers are out of the hive. If you can still find the Queen you should be good. Once she starts laying eggs she will replace all of the bees you bought within a month or two.