Stella's Social Club

[Happy Chooks]

Hive inspection day today to check on my new split. The good news is the split has made 6 queen cells, 5 of which are capped.

Here is a terrible picture of them, they are the dark peanut looking blobs. 1 is not capped and you can see the larva.


So this hive is well on it's way to having a queen. By my count, this should be Day 9, so another week and one will emerge and take over this hive.

The parent hive has been busy. When I gave them the super, I had 2 partial frames of honey that weren't finished off from last year that I had in the freezer. Well, their stores were very low when I split, and they have been busy moving all of that honey down into the hive body. The super is darn near empty. It's fine if they need it, but I have to make sure they don't wall in the queen and give her no place to lay. I'll be keeping an eye on them now that the blackberries are blooming well.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Woohoo!

One of our hives threw a HUGE swarm on Sunday, we tried to drop it in a nuc but it was too big and they reclustered. So we dropped it into a 10 frame deep instead on Monday!




Our pond is FULL FULL FULL. My chickens pens are MUDDY ICKY STINKY. We have received 1/3 of our annual rainfall in ONE MONTH. Blown all records out of the water. I swore I wouldn't complain about the rain since it's ended a 5 year drought, but gosh I am tired of the mud!

Typically you can walk all the way around the pond in front of the tree line.

 

[drumstick diva]

I'm guessing that's a good thing with the bees

 

[lonnyandrinda]

I'm guessing that's a good thing with the bees

Yes and no.... we have had SO much rain this spring we haven't been able to do proper frequent hive checks like we should have so the hives keep throwing swarms. Luckily I think we've caught most of them. But it means the parent hive is smaller and won't be able to produce as much honey. Also because it's been SO rainy the bees are stuck at home EATING their honey, and the rains are so heavy it washes all the nectar away and we have to wait a day or two for it to renew itself before there is anything for the bees to collect.

 

[1muttsfan]

Kelli I think that is a great picture!

Wow Rinda glad I only have one hive - they have been doing very well, but if we get a nice day I need to get in there and check and make sure the queen is laying. It has been mostly windy and cool, and now we are getting rain as well.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote: Glad you caught that swarm. And wow on so much rain. Hope you get a break in the rain soon!

We've been strangely cool in our temps.

Kelli I think that is a great picture!

Wow Rinda glad I only have one hive - they have been doing very well, but if we get a nice day I need to get in there and check and make sure the queen is laying. It has been mostly windy and cool, and now we are getting rain as well.

Hope all is well in your hive.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Rinda, do you thin your queen cells? I've read that the first queen that hatches will kill the rivals, but then I also read if you don't cull them down to 2 or 3 the hive will throw swarms? Now I don't know what to do?

 

[drumstick diva]

Oh my, I don't like this "throwing swarms," bit - just how far can they throw 'em?

 

[The Sheriff]

Oh my, I don't like this "throwing swarms," bit - just how far can they throw 'em?

I'm with you Diva. All this bee talk is foreign and scary to me. Rinda the rain has made for a lovely green to your place but I'll bet you wish it would go away. I just wish we would get a little bit more.

I started working on my Goodwill nightstand last night. I am hoping to have time to work on it today. I find it very relaxing and it takes my mind off selling the house.

Tomorrow night my granddaughter graduates from high school. I hate graduations but I'll go for her. Supposed to be 90 degrees and the ceremony is slated for four hours because they have 40+ speakers and over a 500 graduates. And, Mandy's last name starts with a P! Ugh.

 

[The Sheriff]

Ugh, change in plans. People driving in from San Francisco to see the house. Gotta put my paint project stuff away and straighten and clean for a showing. Sell already! Dang.