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Started By
Message
New to bee keeping
Posted on 6/23/24 at 11:36 am
Posted on 6/23/24 at 11:36 am
My aunt gave me a hive of bees about two weeks ago from their apiary. Been reading and researching for a couple years try to get familiar with them. Strangely, my wife bought a bee suit when I did and got right in the hive with me. It was just a 10 frame brood box full of bees. It has a bunch of capped honey but little to no brood or eggs that I can see. Also have not found the queen yet. No swarm cells either. I’m not sure what I have at this point. I did pull half the honey frames and added a super and put them up top and added a waxed frames to the bottom with a queen excluder to make room for her to lay. I’m guessing we are in a dearth where I am in Claiborne Parish. Any thoughts of what I’m possibly looking at and what I need to do? I did put SHB traps in the hive. Thanks in advance
3
Posted on 6/23/24 at 12:12 pm to mudcat tiger
Do you know how old the hive was from your aunt? Queen could have swarmed, queens can be hard to spot to the untrained eye. Are there still as many bees in hive as original hive when you go it? How many frames of capped honey did you move into new super? Are you seeing zero capped brood or are there some capped cells? Welcome to one of the most frustrating hobbies. Have you asked your aunt any questions?
Posted on 6/23/24 at 1:26 pm to clickboom
Click, I believe the hive was a swarm catch from this spring. Queen could have swarmed but the hive is still full of bees, like every frame. I’m thinking I probably missed seeing capped brood because of so many bees on the frames. I should start seeing numbers drop quickly if I have no queen. I have asked my aunt and uncle questions as well. They have helped with several questions but I figured it wouldn’t hurt to get some thoughts from others as well. I can see it being frustrating at times for sure so im tempering my expectations until I gain some experience. Thanks
Posted on 6/23/24 at 7:04 pm to mudcat tiger
If you have eggs, you have a queen. If too many bees are on the frame and you can’t see in the cells, then shake the bees off the frame.
In Claiborne Parish, I would think tallow is done and likely a minimal flow. If I had your situation (assuming queen right) I’d remove the excluder, feed 1:1 syrup until they fill out that double deep. Then they’d be fat and happy for winter and ready to split in spring. I’d also treat for mites, but that’s just me.
In Claiborne Parish, I would think tallow is done and likely a minimal flow. If I had your situation (assuming queen right) I’d remove the excluder, feed 1:1 syrup until they fill out that double deep. Then they’d be fat and happy for winter and ready to split in spring. I’d also treat for mites, but that’s just me.
Posted on 6/23/24 at 7:30 pm to Columbia
Columbia, thanks for the advice. I do think the tallow is done too. What is the best way to feed? I’m thinking about a jar feeder in a super.
Posted on 6/23/24 at 8:03 pm to mudcat tiger
I use frame feeders inside the hive. I also use buckets and jars.
Posted on 6/23/24 at 8:32 pm to Columbia
quote:
If I had your situation (assuming queen right) I’d remove the excluder, feed 1:1 syrup until they fill out that double deep. Then they’d be fat and happy for winter and ready to split in spring. I’d also treat for mites, but that’s just me.
+1
Don’t expect honey year 1, especially starting now. Let them build reserves for winter. Remove excluder and help them build out. Shake bees and look for eggs. If you see them, you’re good. If you really want to set yourself up for success, you could replace that queen with a bought one. My go-to is thebfarm.com. A VSH supplier in Louisiana and they have always been very calm for me. I can mow and weedeat in front of them no problem.
A strong hive should be able to keep SHB at bay. Worry more about mites. Thymol might be the way to go right now unless you don’t have much capped brood, then I’d go OA.
I always run double deep brood boxes. It keeps swarming down for me. The biggest negative about that is keeping up on swapping out old comb but it’s just something you have to keep in mind each year.
Congrats on starting this journey. I love it and would do it full time if I could.
Posted on 6/23/24 at 9:38 pm to mudcat tiger
As others have said, getting a new queen would be beneficial. Most of the time older queens like to swarm. New queens like to make to make honey. I also use the in hive feeders. They take up about two frames worth of space. 1:1 sugar to water ratio. Don’t boil it. I also use pro health additive on new hives. Remove the queen excluder and let them build up. Harvest honey next year. Hive beetles are something that you will just have to deal with. They are a major pain in the arse. Diatomaceous earth spread around the dirt around the hive helps, but not completely. How is the temperament of the current hive? Gentle, mean, vicious?
Posted on 6/24/24 at 5:02 am to clickboom
quote:
Hive beetles are something that you will just have to deal with. They are a major pain in the arse.
I started treating my yard with GrubX in n early spring and late summer. I also sprinkle pool salt around my colonies. It’s rare for me to see a hive beetle. And this is coming from someone that use to find slime outs n my yard.
Posted on 6/24/24 at 7:08 am to Columbia
Good to know, I will definitely give this a try.
Posted on 6/24/24 at 8:15 am to clickboom
This is my first hive but I would say they are not too aggressive. Thanks for the advice guys. Much appreciated!
Posted on 6/24/24 at 11:04 am to mudcat tiger
quote:
my wife bought a bee suit
This one by chance?:
Posted on 6/25/24 at 8:24 am to mudcat tiger
I use a ball jar inverted at the opening. Reduces your opening and way easier to refill. I use 2:1 sugar to water mix seems to work well.
Posted on 6/25/24 at 10:57 am to Columbia
quote:
If you have eggs, you have a queen.
Not necessarily. If you have a full pattern of eggs you have a queen. If you have sporatic eggs in clumps of 2 or 4, then you have laying workers. If you don't see any capped brood and the hive has been put together over a week, then you likely don't have a queen.
Laying workers will screw up anything they touch so you'll have multiple eggs in a cell and lots of blank spots.
Posted on 6/27/24 at 6:23 am to mudcat tiger
Depending on where you live if there are not a lot flowers available for nectar you may attract lots of extra bees looking for a meal. Be aware of that activity and you have a good resource in your aunt ask her tons of questions and just pay attention to the bee behaviors.
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