Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[babylady4]

No mites, no viruses, nothing..... when they get cold they will not move from one spot...... very disappointing as they were fantastic producers.

Nice to see you survived the cold Jim!

 

[ParkfieldFarm]

We banded the Icies and the Dorkings today, and separated out the Australorps. We also found out that Eerika the Icelandic is actually an Eerik.

 

[babylady4]

So if you look closely, you will see bees packed into the comb cells. They are looking for food. Notice right below the cluster is a supply of honey.

 

[bigzio]

Holy foghorn here today. Visibility is about 100 yards, but I'll take it over the cold any day! The roosters are crowing up a storm here today with the warmer temps, and the wings are just a flappin.
Oh well bl4, you'll just have to try again with some new bees. I know my chicken and egg laying hobby sure isn't a money maker with $50 per month feed costs and all the eggs given away....but I sure enjoy having a couple coops of birds.
GO RAMS!
bigz

 

[No More Empty Nest]

So if you look closely, you will see bees packed into the comb cells. They are looking for food. Notice right below the cluster is a supply of honey.
View attachment 1661863

That's really too bad about the bees. That cold was no fun.

 

[babylady4]

Final autopsy: not enough bees in the hive, they were doomed from the start. I found one bee with a mite before I emptied out the bees. Total weight: approximately 10 oz of bees. Not even a pound. After scraping all the bees out, I screened them for mites. Unfortunately this included all the bees off the bottom board, which would then include the mites killed during treatment. I would estimate I found around 100 mites..... not enough to kill off the hive....

So, not enough bees to stay warm so the cluster would not move and they starved/froze. Will do better next year..... I think chickens have to be easier!

 

[bigzio]

Here we go with the chill in the air this afternoon, although things are looking up with almost a week into Feb and the daylight slowly gaining some more time. Dealt with the icy driveway today with wood ashes and rock salt, with over 100 yards in length, I had a workout in early today.
Keep the fire going..... bigz

 

[Hurley]

So sorry to hear about your hive. So sad to loose something you watch grow and pamper. Better luck with the next batch! Interesting reading, I know little about bee keeping.

Update on my eggs following our power outage in during the -28* day: 6 of 7 eggs hatched today in my little incubator with the 7th looking at least mostly developed, but not moving/pipping. Not bad for eggs shipped in. The other batch is due to hatch in 2 days. Had 11 eggs growing strong, will see how many survived the cold. At least a few still have movement.

 

[bigzio]

Congrats on the hatch Hurley. That's amazing results for shipped eggs, one couldn't expect better results than that. The pullets will be laying by fall for sure.
Fresh couple inches here already.

Stay Safe..... bigz

 

[Hurley]

I'm more than pleased with the hatch. Couldn't ask for more.

Was raining and freezing my windshield on the way home tonight. Mow we have drifts of sleet balls turning to snow. Yuck.