Surprised no forum on bee keeping yet. Getting my first package tomorrow. Trying an 8 frame box, hear they overwinter better. Should be a fun hobby. Who else keeps?
General Discussion
Raising bees
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When our kids were small, I used to raise Solitary bees (both Mason and Japanese Horn Faced).
After much trial and error, I just switched to buying the disposable tubes in 3/8" and 5/16" to put out in the Spring.
Like BMRR, I bought the nice houses to protect the straws.
Finally, for me in the Spring, I found it was best to keep my over wintered houses filled with straws in a shady part of my yard. If the bee houses received too much sun and therefore warmth, the bees would emerge and become active before there were enough flowers to feed on...
Finally, remember that Solitary bees are much more efficient pollinators than Honey bees !
After much trial and error, I just switched to buying the disposable tubes in 3/8" and 5/16" to put out in the Spring.
Like BMRR, I bought the nice houses to protect the straws.
Finally, for me in the Spring, I found it was best to keep my over wintered houses filled with straws in a shady part of my yard. If the bee houses received too much sun and therefore warmth, the bees would emerge and become active before there were enough flowers to feed on...
Finally, remember that Solitary bees are much more efficient pollinators than Honey bees !
Update. Harvested 64 pounds today, 2 hives were becoming honey bound and no room to reproduce. Worried maybe of swarming. Made 5 split so far, two hives have strong from overwintering. Three nucs have nice queen cells, two new queens look good for potential. Still no chemicals or treatment. Genetics game working so far.
?Kept 3 through winter out of 4 that I thought had good chances. Split one hive 2 weeks ago, queen ?out today. Took a picture. Look good, need her to fly off, mate and return. Will check again in a week. Started a second split-but numbers ?are low, will see if it takes. Will boost with bees next week if it looks like a queen cell is good. Queen is pale, middle of frame, right near the ?wood area, big eyed drone bee looking right at her.
All hives alive so far. Mild forecast and not crazy winter yet. Not out of the woods yet.
Anyone wanting to get into bees, now is when you need to secure packages/nucs and get gear. On those 30 degree days, bees are out and about. Hoping out of the 5 hives, at least 3 do get through winter and can split from there. I am trying chemical free with genetics, so did not treat any at all last year. So far, good. But will see. A risk, but so is treating and limping along weak genetics.
Displaying 1 to 15 of 109 posts
