Last Year I Started Beekeeping - So Exciting

[sgtmom52]

zazouse.....thanks for your thoughts. I've been told by a couple people that it's honey that just hasn't been fully capped yet. It was not in the area where the brood was. I'll be checking on them again next week, so I'll take a closer look then.

It is definitely not American Foul Brood. It is capped honey!

 

[ThePigeonKid]

I'm going to get my bees tomorrow. I know I have to feed them something to get them started, I just can't remember what... Can somebody tell me? Thanks.

 

[sgtmom52]

I'm going to get my bees tomorrow. I know I have to feed them something to get them started, I just can't remember what... Can somebody tell me? Thanks.

You can feed them 1:1 sugar syrup.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Yes this. I mixed my first batch with cold water and sugar and the bees wouldn't take it. Boil the water first so it dissolves the sugar. I did this the 2nd time and they drained it in a day! (versus the week it took before)

 

[CarolJ]

The easiest way we've found to mix the sugar/water is to empty a 5 lb. bag of sugar into a 1 gallon container. Add enough HOT water to make 1 gallon of liquid. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. As the sugar dissolves, you may need to add more hot water to bring it to a gallon. Our bees love this. A friend who teaches beekeeping, told us about this method - and it works great.

 

[sgtmom52]

If I am mixing up a couple of quart jars, I will fill the jar about 1/2 with sugar and then fill with very hot water. I mix until dissolved then top off with cool water. This helps to cool down the mixture for quicker use as you should not give to the bees while still hot.

 

[Happy Chooks]

If I am mixing up a couple of quart jars, I will fill the jar about 1/2 with sugar and then fill with very hot water. I mix until dissolved then top off with cool water. This helps to cool down the mixture for quicker use as you should not give to the bees while still hot.

I guess I wasn't clear enough there. I certainly didn't give it hot to the bees!

 

[madamwlf]

We put on out new bottom boards today. Didn't really bother them anymore then that. I'll probably wait until Wednesday to go in the hives again and have a look around. Hive #2 will be needing a new deep hive put on soon.

 

[ThePigeonKid]

I went to Brushy Mountain Bee Farm in PA yesterday and went to their demonstration and picked up my bees. It was a very good installation demonstration. So exciting!!

My first hives:

 

[ThePigeonKid]

You can feed them 1:1 sugar syrup.

Yes this. I mixed my first batch with cold water and sugar and the bees wouldn't take it. Boil the water first so it dissolves the sugar. I did this the 2nd time and they drained it in a day! (versus the week it took before)

The easiest way we've found to mix the sugar/water is to empty a 5 lb. bag of sugar into a 1 gallon container. Add enough HOT water to make 1 gallon of liquid. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. As the sugar dissolves, you may need to add more hot water to bring it to a gallon. Our bees love this. A friend who teaches beekeeping, told us about this method - and it works great.

If I am mixing up a couple of quart jars, I will fill the jar about 1/2 with sugar and then fill with very hot water. I mix until dissolved then top off with cool water. This helps to cool down the mixture for quicker use as you should not give to the bees while still hot.

Thanks!