The Honey Factory

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Our hive situation has been really dire this year. I won't be buying bees from the same place again. I think I'm going to go back to Hygienic Italians too.
I was glad to get the 6 frames of honey I did get, however, I have quite a few people that will be disappointed because I won't be selling any honey to them this year.
Still grateful, every year I say it's the best honey ever, this year was no different.

Got some wax cappings for crafts too. Sometimes I make chap sticks, lotion bars, and candles.

 

[R2elk]

I finished bottling the last of the honey. Filled another 8 12 oz. honey bears to bring the total to 100 lbs. Refilled my personal honey bears to push the total to 102 lbs.

I really hope the good hive survives the winter. If the Saskatraz don't make it on their own, I will try a different kind next year. They have not impressed me with their massive production of 4 frames of honey this year.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Our hive situation has been really dire this year. I won't be buying bees from the same place again. I think I'm going to go back to Hygienic Italians too.

Did you find out why your hives aren't doing well?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Did you find out why your hives aren't doing well?

1 was sold to me as a nuc and it had Nosema and a laying worker instead of a queen.
2 was sold to me as a package. It seemed like a good package they had a good temperament. For no apparent reason I could deduct, they swarmed. So I bought an Italian Queen and let them be.
Yesterday we couldn't find the Queen but the Nuc right beside the hive had about a hundred bees and a Queen? What the heck?
We moved them over to the hive and took down the nuc. I don't feel too confident that they will accept her.
I'm just like what the heck is going on.
We are going to check them in a couple weeks and see if they accepted the other Queen, if not it'll be a dead hive.
Starting all over again next year after not having to for for all those years is shaking my confidence.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Starting all over again next year after not having to for for all those years is shaking my confidence.

I hear ya! I almost gave up after being wiped out a few times in my early years. I got some encouragement from fellow beekeepers and kept attending any seminars or meetings I could along with reading all the latest research. Plus I would miss having bees to much. All beekeepers get a reality check. Im still not immune to losing a few hives overwinter, but now I can bounce back quick without having to buy bees.
The big game changer for me years ago was learning to overwinter a 5 over 5 frame nuc for each production hive and raise queens. They're my resource hives and problem solvers. With resource hives you always have extra queens and brood on hand. Every hive/nuc now goes into winter with a home raised first year queen and a low mite count. If you can, always OAV / OAD swarms, packages or broodless hives, it gives them a clean start and greatly increases their chances of survival. Dont give up.

 

[duluthralphie]

I hear ya! I almost gave up after being wiped out a few times in my early years. I got some encouragement from fellow beekeepers and kept attending any seminars or meetings I could along with reading all the latest research. Plus I would miss having bees to much. All beekeepers get a reality check. Im still not immune to losing a few hives overwinter, but now I can bounce back quick without having to buy bees.
The big game changer for me years ago was learning to overwinter a 5 over 5 frame nuc for each production hive and raise queens. They're my resource hives and problem solvers. With resource hives you always have extra queens and brood on hand. Every hive/nuc now goes into winter with a home raised first year queen and a low mite count. If you can, always OAV / OAD swarms, packages or broodless hives, it gives them a clean start and greatly increases their chances of survival. Dont give up.

OAV? OAD?

 

[Apis mellifera]

OAV? OAD?

oxalic acid vaporization / oxalic acid drench. Very effective inexpensive mite treatment.

 

[R2elk]

No bees flying today.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

No bees flying today.
View attachment 2864482View attachment 2864483View attachment 2864484

I am not ready for that. I would cry, seriously.
My husband loves snow for first deer season, but it hasn't happened here for years.

 

[R2elk]

I am not ready for that. I would cry, seriously.

It's expected here any time after Sept. 1.