The Honey Factory

[Apis mellifera]

Warm flying day here. Opened a few and all are alive, a few nucs on the weak side but should be fine. I won't need to feed any, it's like they barely used any stores this winter. Maples should bloom here in about 4 weeks then things will really get busy.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

I guess I'm a mentor. Had a visit today from a couple who got into bees last spring and lost them over the winter because of bad advise. They were given 2 complete "plastic deeps" less bees which I'm not at all familiar with and don't want to be. Was told only needed one of those little holes for venting, the condensation and lack of reserves no doubt killed their bees. They have ordered another NUK from where they got last yrs, same place we got ours. After strike one, for me, PLASTIC! Strike 2 the person who gave them the hive helped install their 5 frame NUK by knocking the bees off the NUK frames into the hive wasting all the eggs and brood of the NUK, WTH! May as well have gotten package bees. Long story longer they are riding down to our local supplier and getting all wood ware for one complete hive plus 2 Medium deeps. Needless to say when I lifted the tops of our hives his wife was livid because our bees were boiling, also flying and the completely different way we do things. Then the question, "can you help us when the NUK is ready"? How do you say no when I've known her husband since he was born, God I'm old . DW made up a nice little folder with feed recipes and beekeeping calendar and dimensions for feeder boards, syrup and block. His wife said to him, "I'll take care of that, he'll forget and leave it outside". I think his wife is going to be the Beekeeper.

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

I guess I'm a mentor. Had a visit today from a couple who got into bees last spring and lost them over the winter because of bad advise. They were given 2 complete "plastic deeps" less bees which I'm not at all familiar with and don't want to be. Was told only needed one of those little holes for venting, the condensation and lack of reserves no doubt killed their bees. They have ordered another NUK from where they got last yrs, same place we got ours. After strike one, for me, PLASTIC! Strike 2 the person who gave them the hive helped install their 5 frame NUK by knocking the bees off the NUK frames into the hive wasting all the eggs and brood of the NUK, WTH! May as well have gotten package bees. Long story longer they are riding down to our local supplier and getting all wood ware for one complete hive plus 2 Medium deeps. Needless to say when I lifted the tops of our hives his wife was livid because our bees were boiling, also flying and the completely different way we do things. Then the question, "can you help us when the NUK is ready"? How do you say no when I've known her husband since he was born, God I'm old . DW made up a nice little folder with feed recipes and beekeeping calendar and dimensions for feeder boards, syrup and block. His wife said to him, "I'll take care of that, he'll forget and leave it outside". I think his wife is going to be the Beekeeper.

Yep, I'm the beekeeper my husband is the "helper".

 

[Sally PB]

We saw a maple tree in bloom yesterday. I think it's too early; what type of low temps can they withstand? We have 20s overnight in the next week. It is too warm for this time of year, with waves of warm days/nights, and then more seasonable temps.

Fruit farmers are worried. So far, no buds, but dang! our last frost date is mid to late May.

 

[Apis mellifera]

I think it's too early; what type of low temps can they withstand?

I don't know what low temps they can withstand, but I do know the maple syrup farms around here get pretty excited about extended freezing nights and warm days.

How does temperature affect sap production?​

Temperature fluctuations between freezing nights and thawing days are crucial for sap flow. These fluctuations create the necessary pressure changes within the tree to stimulate sap movement.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

We saw a maple tree in bloom yesterday. I think it's too early; what type of low temps can they withstand? We have 20s overnight in the next week. It is too warm for this time of year, with waves of warm days/nights, and then more seasonable temps.

Fruit farmers are worried. So far, no buds, but dang! our last frost date is mid to late May.

Here in the Pine Barrens the bees have been working what we call Swamp Maples for the last week or so. Noticed pollen laying on the windshield of the car and truck. Want to chk for eggs and brood but temp is going to be a little too cool for my liking.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

It's inevitable, going to have to split one of the hives. Seventy degrees today and one hive is boiling and roiling out of bottom entrance and feeder vent hole. Have a deep with drawn comb, bottom board, short a deep and top cover. Have to make a couple wall frames to contain the split for warmth. Problems, problems, problems. I know, crying poor mouth with a loaf of bread under each arm.

 

[5Australorpasaures]

CONFINEMENT FRAMES
These are just frames made with 1x2 with 1/4" plywood as a solid wall to keep the NUK confined to their 5 frames of a split with 2 drawn frames on the outside of the brood area. When you have to split in iffy cool weather it keeps the cluster concentrating on brood warmth without losing heat to a larger area and loosing brood. They are a little deeper as they have to rest on the bottom board. I like the entrance reducer centered so as I drop frames I don.t have to disturb the brood frames. Buy that time weather should be warm enough you would be done with confinement. If I was better with Tech I would post a pic. I hope this helps.

 

[R2elk]

If I was better with Tech I would post a pic.

If the picture is on your phone, click on the Attach files link at the left bottom of the message area. It should open to where pictures are stored on your phone. Click on the picture/s you wish to post. Click on Select.

Once the pictures are uploaded click on Insert and then full image. If there are multiple pictures, below the uploads there is an Insert multiple link. Click on it, click on the square to the left (selects all) then click on Full image.

Once they are fully loaded you can click on Post reply.

 

[Sally PB]

My problem with pictures on my phone is that unless I have the "between the phone and computer" cable, the computer doesn't see the phone.

I only have one working USB port (don't know what's wrong with the other one), and I have the wireless mouse thingie in it. Yes, I can use the touch pad, but it is a major PITA for me.

I'm sure I'm missing some amazingly simple bit of tech, but that's my level of techno expertise.