Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6182203
03/09/18 11:58 AM
03/09/18 11:58 AM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,974 South metro, MN
Calvin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,974
South metro, MN
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ON the treatments, do what works for you. I always treat (most things now are "organic" anyhow and can be used when taking honey off) so much for the big bad chemical scares some like to try and instill). Anyhow, I know a woman who never treats. Uses tea tree oil and some other kockamamie "naturalist" treatment. Well her's never survive due to mites...Mine do. Maybe its more area specific...dunno. I owe it to my bees and ALSO my neighbor's bees HERE. They are just healthier when treated in my location...bottom line.
I watched a barn full of feral bees for a year and a half. My little experiment, I guess. Post death of them all revealed a mite issue.
This aint the 60s or 70s...Varroa showed up well after that.
But as always, do what's right for YOU.
I've always susbscribed to the Michael Palmer theory of beekeeping. It works for me.
I do like the nuc hotel above...Hmmmmm
Last edited by Calvin; 03/09/18 11:58 AM.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6182720
03/09/18 09:12 PM
03/09/18 09:12 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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Evening folks, been busy at work so few replies from me lately... Here goes: regarding the article on nucs and packages, a poorly informed consumer lends itself to a corrupted market. The best way to have transparency in the bee selling business is to have the end consumer informed. So, learn about where the bees are coming from before you buy. Make informed decisions... I give background on my bees when I sell them. I also offer advice, if asked, after the bees have been purchased. I want transparency with my customers. Moving hives: I have mine on portable stands which are at a similar height to my trailer. I place a ratchet strap around the hive, and my stands are constructed to facilitate this, and then a strap under it with hand loops. I put my hands through the loops and by simply rocking back pick the hive up. I rotate 90 degrees and set onto the trailer. Once on the trailer I just slide them around into place. I can easily move whole hives that are two 10 frame deep, with top and bottom attached. Before I start I just stuff a rolled rag in the entrance. My trailer holds about 15 full hives. Here are a bunch right after moving. Parasites/varroa: there does seem to be a correlation with the increased interest in beekeeping, movement of bees, packages and nucs coming from different states and the spread of pests and diseases. I don't know if we can ultimately keep bees without talking "harsh chemical" treatment in that environment. If a beekeeper has "clean" stock and infected stack is brought in by the neighbor, is that beekeeper supposed to allow their stock to die off? Should they be the ones to run away with their bees so they can keep them isolated? No, it is not the 60s or 70s. We are in a different type of epidemic.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6184241
03/11/18 12:30 PM
03/11/18 12:30 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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Cool video Jeff. I wondered about swarms where you are...guess they can build up fast enough to cast one, but is there enough season for the swarms to establish?
I assume some of what you showed is fireweed? What is the honey like?
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6189795
03/16/18 08:34 PM
03/16/18 08:34 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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Finally checked hives again today. Here is one of the 5 frame nucs after moving it to a 10 frame deep 3 weeks ago, and it has been too cold for the bees to fly much over 2 of those weeks. This is a beautiful sight to behold. I only wish they all looked like this today. They got another deep added. Here is another nuc which needs moving into a full deep: I have not feed any pollen sub or sugar water yet this year. My work schedule has not permitted me to tend them as much as I would usually, so those that make it will and those that don't, oh well. I think I am over the hump and what I have now should make it this year.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6189807
03/16/18 08:40 PM
03/16/18 08:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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Oh, in case anyone wondered I made these nucs last year in the middle of July. I used 2 frames, one with stores and one with brood, both covered with bees. I then added a queen cell raised from grafts prior to emergence. The queen in the nuc pictured above began laying mid August last year. Looks to be a prolific layer.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6189895
03/16/18 09:53 PM
03/16/18 09:53 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
trapper
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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Matt, yes I will be doing a lot of splits. My goals involve significant advancement in overall hive numbers. As soon as the weather gets a bit more predictable I will set up a queen builder hive and start grafting. Then I will make as many 2 frame nucs as I can. This hive is one I will graft from. I have two others that wintered well which I will graft off of as well. Two frame nucs should be large enough for me to split once more yet this summer. At that time my goal would be two 5 frame nucs during that split. Then, over winter as many 5 frame nucs as possible.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6189903
03/16/18 09:58 PM
03/16/18 09:58 PM
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328 North Carolina
fingertrapper
OP
trapper
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OP
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 1,328
North Carolina
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I have enough equipment for about 35 nucs right now. Just waiting for the weather to get right for it. Two frame nucs allow me to have an abundance of queens mated. Also, I was able to show that two frame splits could be built up enough to over winter if started in time.
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." Burke Let's go do something.
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Re: All things bees and beekeeping...
[Re: fingertrapper]
#6223901
04/22/18 02:43 PM
04/22/18 02:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 483 Van Buren, Arkansas
TravisJerden
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 483
Van Buren, Arkansas
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Anyone still after swarms, I’ve picked up 2 this week.
One of you experts know if paramoth works against wood roaches? I pulled out some medium supers and bottomboards and saw a few of those little fat beetles roaming around. All my equipment is left outside under cover but outside. Also I recently heard of fogging with mineral oil for mites......anyone do this with success or what is this years super mite killing success story.
NaturalStateWildlife.com
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