The Honey Factory

[Sally PB]

I listened at the hive openings a couple weeks ago. Hive #1 had the usual hum, hive #2 was worryingly quiet. It was 50° yesterday, and we took a listen... silence... a quick peek... Yeah, they're all dead in #2.

So I'll be bringing the boxes back to the house and cleaning them out. Probably not today, unless we get a break in the rain.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I listened at the hive openings a couple weeks ago. Hive #1 had the usual hum, hive #2 was worryingly quiet. It was 50° yesterday, and we took a listen... silence... a quick peek... Yeah, they're all dead in #2.

So I'll be bringing the boxes back to the house and cleaning them out. Probably not today, unless we get a break in the rain.

Hopefully hive 1 will be strong in the spring and you'll be able to split. Even set out a swarm trap.

 

[Sally PB]

Hopefully hive 1 will be strong in the spring and you'll be able to split. Even set out a swarm trap.

We split it last April when it seemed that they were exploding at the seams. We thought #2 was strong; lots of activity and brood. It was that hive that had ANY honey. When I take it apart, I'll see if I can figure out why they died.

We left all the honey, btw. Hive #1 didn't make any in the super we put on. We took the super off when we wrapped it for the winter.

We will probably buy a nuc to fill #2. And #1, if they don't make it. There's a lot of winter to come yet.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We split it last April when it seemed that they were exploding at the seams. We thought #2 was strong; lots of activity and brood. It was that hive that had ANY honey. When I take it apart, I'll see if I can figure out why they died.

We left all the honey, btw. Hive #1 didn't make any in the super we put on. We took the super off when we wrapped it for the winter.

We will probably buy a nuc to fill #2. And #1, if they don't make it. There's a lot of winter to come yet.

Here we're going to have a 2 wk stretch of cold weather for us. Have to get a look at the sugar blocks to see were we stand. Hopefully they haven't started on them. Blocks are made so it will be a quick slip if they need it. These blocks have pollen patties in the center to give them a boost in February before the Maple pollen comes in.

 

[Apis mellifera]

Hives here are still buzzing, but they have a long way to go. I check nucs for stores around mid March.

 

[jerryse]

Took time to lift - tip hives today. Still heavy.

 

[Sally PB]

A week from tonight, we could have below zero low temps. The hive is wrapped with tar paper to keep the wind out, but dang! that's cold!

 

[R2elk]

A week from tonight, we could have below zero low temps. The hive is wrapped with tar paper to keep the wind out, but dang! that's cold!

No, -40⁰F I had in 2023 and -35⁰F I had in 2024 are cold.

 

[Sally PB]

No, -40⁰F I had in 2023 and -35⁰F I had in 2024 are cold.

True! We have 'pseudo-cold" compared to you.

The winter of 93/94, we had air temps that were -30, before factoring in any windchill. The meteorologist said we weren't likely to have temps like that again in our lifetimes.

Wow, that was 30 years ago.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

Sun shines on the boxes and on 40 t0 45 degree days they fly from the bottom. None exiting from the 1" vent hole in the sugar board. Boxes are heavy and don't expect any flights from the top till end of February. I will probably have to put some blocks with pollen patty centers then.