Hive inspection and box reversal

[Happy Chooks]

We had a serious thunderstorm Friday night that absolutely dumped rain on us. Several days of cold weather, so no checking on the hives.

Today was warmer (70's), so I went in for a quick peek.

The small hive was working the syrup again, so I refilled it. They are about 3/4 of the way through the pollen patty I gave them, so that is great news. I'll give them another at the end of the week.

The main hive also needed a refill on syrup. They have 2 jars, but only 1 needed filling right now. (plus I ran out and have to make more) They are piled on top of the pollen patty, working it like crazy. Still a good number of mites dropping, even though treatment is basically done. I dumped the trays and left the thymol on the top frames for them to use the last of it up. The population in this hive is really high, so hopefully, I'll have a really strong hive coming out of winter.............which will hopefully mean a strong honey crop next summer.

 

[Maggiesdad]

I don't mess with them after dark either. They can still see you. Another beekeeper told me they can't see the red color spectrum, so use a red light. This is how I installed the queen I bought. (No choice but after dark there)

I do night checks on my birds and bees, and I found that the bees fly in the moonlight, too. I also got to see wax moths trying to get in. It becomes really evident how a strong colony has the resources to defend itself.

I broke down and got a Varrox vaporizer after seeing a few mites on the bottom boards of my Langs. I've started treatments on 4 of my 8 boxes. It's amazing to see the mite drop even on day 3 and 4... and with OAV, that's only 20% of the total colony mite population. No wonder problems start appearing when the brood decreases.

 

[Maggiesdad]

 

[Latestarter]

How do you deal with mites in the TBH's? Been curious about that... Also, how do you harvest honey from a TBH? Just cut out the comb? I mean, you can't spin it out...

 

[Maggiesdad]

I've got a follower board with a mousehole notch for the handle of the vaporizer. I wasn't going to do anything this year, but the more I read, the more I realized that I wouldn't be able to hold my ground with run of the mill Italian package stock from Georgia. So next year I plan to buy some nicer queens and rotate them into my boxes.

Yes, cutting the comb off is one way, (for comb honey or crush and strain)

You can filet(carefully) the honey off the midrib, leaving the whole sheet just like foundation - the bees take that and draw it right back out. Older comb can be put through an extractor if you modify the basket a little and take a little out of each side before spinning it up too fast. There's a youtube video of that.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Sent you some links...

 

[Happy Chooks]

Mites are a pain in the rear. Good thing you decided to treat. It amazes me how much pollen the bees "lose" while packing it away. Every time I put my bottom board in it get covered in pollen.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Even though we had 3 nights of frost, and it killed all my buckwheat, the bees are still hauling back two shades of pollen. Resourceful girls!

Part of treating w OAV is to keep the hive closed up for 10 min... The bees naturally want to come out and see why the entrance was closed, but with 100-200 bees loaded w/ pollen waiting at the door to be unloaded... the pollen won't be
denied. They just blow right through everybody.

 

[Alicia]

Little behind on this one....
So after u use the vaporizer you close the hive for ten min, no in or out? Uhmm, definitely need to get one of those.
Thanks everyone for all the posting and info

 

[Maggiesdad]

Yes, @Alicia , 10 min closed up gives them a chance to settle down after the vapors recrystallize. Then they go to grooming. If you leave the hive open immediately after the treatment they will come boiling out. I just use wet papertowels on the opening and anywhere I see vapors coming out. Then I move on to the next hive. So I'm working on 3 hives at the same time during a given 10 minute period. As my yards grow I'll probably wind up getting a second vaporizer, to really keep things moving.