The Honey Factory

[jerryse]

Got to 56 degrees today . Both hives were very active .

 

[duluthralphie]

46 degrees but a fairly cold strong wind.

but I have bees in one hive at least.

no bees from either hive out flying.

I knocked on the door of the mean bees, but no one answered the door.

 

[jerryse]

46 degrees but a fairly cold strong wind.

but I have bees in one hive at least.

View attachment 2444399

no bees from either hive out flying.

I knocked on the door of the mean bees, but no one answered the door.

and you did not lift the lid ? LOL

 

[duluthralphie]

Nope.. too much work.

I have Menards imitation tyveck wrapped around it. All stapled into place.

 

[jerryse]

Nope.. too much work.

I have Menards imitation tyveck wrapped around it. All stapled into place.

I have bees flying again today .

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I finished bottling the rest of my honey from my 2 first year hives. My Italians gave me about 8 Medium frames full, all the rest was from my Saskatraz hive. Ended up with a little over 60 pounds of honey for the season. I left an extra box of honey on each hive for the winter. I used Hopguard 2 for mite treatment in the fall, so we'll see if they make it or not. Last month I already ordered a Saskatraz nuc (Lappe's Bee Supply, IA) to put in my new Long Langstroth Hive I'll be starting in the spring.

I made Honey Suckers and Honey Candies with my left over honey from last year. I made the Creamed Honey from the honey from this year.

 

[jerryse]

Ralphie you have below zero predicted next week . Good time to open the mean hive . See if they really did die . If not in those temps they can't chase you .

 

[Apis mellifera]

So has anyone tried the sugar shake - sugar roll for a mite count ?

I do and have been doing mite checks for years with the sugar roll. While the sugar roll is not as accurate as the alcohol wash, its one of those things that I use so much that I got quick and comfortable with it and can get a good picture of how my apiary is doing with mite loads. From early spring to mid fall routine checks are important for the way I keep bees.
I attached an article that Randy Oliver did comparing release agents for mites when alcohol disappeared from store shelves. I may give the dish soap a try next year.

Varroa Mite Monitoring - Michigan Pollinator Initiative (msu.edu)
Refining the Mite Wash: Part 4 - Comparing the Release Agents - Scientific Beekeeping

 

[jerryse]

I found this interesting .

 

[jerryse]

Another interesting video .