babsbag
Herd Master
Well it is too late for me to do that this year but it does sound like a good idea; I will remember that for next year; but it would really be nice to not need any new bees next year.
Hello Beepeeple!
- Thread starter Maggiesdad
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Happy Chooks
Loving the herd life
Ah okay. You had me worried for a minute. My raspberries are about to start blossoming as well, and the bees love them.
You asked about mite treatment. I do mine in late August/early September after I take the supers off.
babsbag
Herd Master
@Happy Chooks I remember reading last fall that you either were or had treated with Apiguard and that I had a hard time finding it in CA. I finally found someone that did ship it to our wonderfully over regulated state but by that time it was Oct. Our weather was so mild that I went to go and treat one hive and the bees were so incredibly mean that I escaped with my life after throwing the hive together and never got the treatment done. They were by far the nastiest bees ever and I wasn't even taking any honey, as they had none. At that point I didn't care if they succumbed to mites or not.
I have not been back to see them, the report is that they are alive so I guess I need to button up the suit a little better and go visit them. At this point I will use the Hopguard on them and maybe re-queen them if they are still aggressive.
I have not been back to see them, the report is that they are alive so I guess I need to button up the suit a little better and go visit them. At this point I will use the Hopguard on them and maybe re-queen them if they are still aggressive.
Happy Chooks
Loving the herd life
Yes, I used Apiguard in the fall. Where did you get it from? I bought mine before the shipping restrictions.
Wow, I wouldn't like having that aggressive of a hive - even though people say the more aggressive they are the more honey you get from the hive. My hive is mild mannered. I can check on the hive without smoking them, though in late summer when the hive is at it's highest population, it can be a bit tricky. Some will buzz me, but so far, I've done fine with them. I didn't smoke them even when I took their honey. I used Fishers Bee Quick (all natural) on a fume board, and I had no issues taking the super frames. It smells like almond extract and the bees don't like the scent and disappear down into the hive.
Wow, I wouldn't like having that aggressive of a hive - even though people say the more aggressive they are the more honey you get from the hive. My hive is mild mannered. I can check on the hive without smoking them, though in late summer when the hive is at it's highest population, it can be a bit tricky. Some will buzz me, but so far, I've done fine with them. I didn't smoke them even when I took their honey. I used Fishers Bee Quick (all natural) on a fume board, and I had no issues taking the super frames. It smells like almond extract and the bees don't like the scent and disappear down into the hive.
babsbag
Herd Master
I don't really remember as I looked at many sites to find it, it might have been Glory Bees. I know it wasn't any of the big names. I never have problem taking honey. I have a plastic tote that the frames fit it with a good lid and I just brush off the bees and stick the frame in the tote and then do another one. They never seem bothered by it. That hive that was/is mean didn't even have any honey to take. I had a couple of bees get inside my jacket and one was in my glove too. I am sure it was quite a site seeing me fleeing the bees and stripping off clothing as I went. I had NO desire to get stung in the places I could hear those bees buzzing.
Hey all, just as an aside, have you visited "Feed A Bee?" here's a report passed on from one of our bee club officers:
I’m happy to report it seems our goal might be a little low! We officially launched the campaign last week and this week it seemed to go a bit viral. It was featured on a site operated by the Today show. By this afternoon, we had reached 15 million flowers! That’s more than 5,000 seed packets that have been requested from around the country. The 'Feed a Bee 'website has had more than 50,000 unique visitors this week alone. Wow! Thanks to all of you who have shared this effort. If you need more information, visit www.feedabee.com.
I ordered my free packet of 200 flower seeds and brought the total to 25,679,866 flowers
Babs, I hope these bees last you at least a couple of years... Also hope they provide you some much deserved honey. Sorry about those mean ones... could they have become africanized somehow? Hope the re-queening helps.
I’m happy to report it seems our goal might be a little low! We officially launched the campaign last week and this week it seemed to go a bit viral. It was featured on a site operated by the Today show. By this afternoon, we had reached 15 million flowers! That’s more than 5,000 seed packets that have been requested from around the country. The 'Feed a Bee 'website has had more than 50,000 unique visitors this week alone. Wow! Thanks to all of you who have shared this effort. If you need more information, visit www.feedabee.com.
I ordered my free packet of 200 flower seeds and brought the total to 25,679,866 flowers
Babs, I hope these bees last you at least a couple of years... Also hope they provide you some much deserved honey. Sorry about those mean ones... could they have become africanized somehow? Hope the re-queening helps.
babsbag
Herd Master
I am in Northern Calif. so hoping no africanized bees here, that would be frightening. I really thought maybe they were queenless but my friend says there are still alive. I need to go and see them.
That is a lot of flowers. I have boxes and bags of flower seeds, I just need to go scratch the ground and throw them out. Might be too late though this year in our drought state. I also got some seeds to grow milk weed for the Monarchs. They are in trouble too.
That is a lot of flowers. I have boxes and bags of flower seeds, I just need to go scratch the ground and throw them out. Might be too late though this year in our drought state. I also got some seeds to grow milk weed for the Monarchs. They are in trouble too.
- Thread starter
- #38
Maggiesdad
Loving the herd life
My two packages are due in this Friday... 
- Thread starter
- #39
Maggiesdad
Loving the herd life
Um... make that tomorrow!
- Thread starter
- #40
Maggiesdad
Loving the herd life
Woot! I am a certified bee haver! Time will tell if I'm gonna be a bee keeper.
My buddy and I picked up four packages today.. he was hiving 6lbs of bees into a big Warre hive. He asked me if I wanted the extra queen. I said, um... yeah!
So I've got 3-2lb packages installed in TBHs tonite.
It will be really interesting to see how these girls do compared to my 5 frame deeps coming the end of May.
My buddy and I picked up four packages today.. he was hiving 6lbs of bees into a big Warre hive. He asked me if I wanted the extra queen. I said, um... yeah!
So I've got 3-2lb packages installed in TBHs tonite.
It will be really interesting to see how these girls do compared to my 5 frame deeps coming the end of May.
