Guilfordbeekeepers.org

What color should I mark a queen from a swarm ? She most likely was last year's?

Thanks for the reminder! I try to remember to check inner cover after finding Q on it this summer.

Miss hearing from everyone. With the warm weather this week, what are beeks doing with their hives? Anything ? I checked the sugar bricks on hives. All seems to be doing well. Saw a bit of pollen coming in. Does anyone do inspection this time of year with the warm weather? I did OA treatment couple ...

Too funny, I am going from all mediums to adding deep bodies. Only one hive accommodated my plan this summer.

I put a strip of duct tape on metal top. Sharpie notes are readable for season at least. I also just use a bee journal. Try to write up soon after. You are right with ten hives sometimes hard to remember which one was which. I will incorporate the queen right brick placement. That is an immediate no...

Thank you for your sage advice. Check this site every morning .

Give them room. I've been diligent on checking for QC and adding boxes as needed. Queen pheromone dissipates the more boxes you put on. Last week I just did a cursory check, not frame by frame. Of course they swarmed. Do we have a magic cubic yard number? Well, hopefully I made lemonade. Colony stil...

My goal is to be able to pluck the various bees right off the frame. I watch the videos where they pick queen and several attendants and put in queen cage; or pick queen up, transfer her to other hand then mark her. I get my hand near the frame and bees are running everywhere I don't catch anything ...

Retired from beekeeping Wally? Not even just a few backyard hives. Very informative at Randolph meeting. Thank you and Mark. We learned options to deal with swarm cells before the hive swarms. Using the queen castle or nucs easy way to start new colonies. I have been diligent on checking my hives fo...

Ha, so why am I using ladders and trees. How close to your backyard hives is this?

Awesome. My first year of bait trap. I only put one frame of drawn comb planned on quick drop on hive box, but I just used my last hive setup on a split, so if I caught a swarm now I would have to run to Beez Needz. I have been considering moving my bait box closer to my apiary . I think I've got it...

I've been meaning to practice catching with fingers. Other things have always been on the hive inspection agenda. Will make a date for catching drones this week I'm still a bit jumpy trying to handle bees. Have to practice my deep breathing.
Great article in the News & Record.

I was marking queens today. First one went fine. Second one buzzing in marking tube. Marked her then she didn't move! I put her back in hive. Bees took her away. Will check Wednesday to see if she revived. Makes me wonder why I bother to mark I'm so upset.

I must say I've been greedy. Thought I might do the same with a friend whose hives did not survive. But they are not asking ; so, I am going to Beez Needz for more hive bodies to house my growing apiary. I would like to find someone close to share queens or brood with if needed. And just to see anot...

Fun! Queen pheromone slight up above. Sounds like a cloake board method of queen rearing.

I did a split yesterday and put 4 medium frames of brood plus extra nurse bees in 8 frame deep box. Rest is deep foundation. Inhive feeder on top. Hoping bees eventually draw deep foundation. My plan is to use the comb they build under medium frames in mini mating box. They also will have to make q...

I did a split yesterday and put 4 medium frames of brood plus extra nurse bees in 8 frame deep box. Rest is deep foundation. Inhive feeder on top. Hoping bees eventually draw deep foundation. My plan is to use the comb they build under medium frames in mini mating box.

I have been using medium hives for everything. This year bought some deeps thinking if I caught a swarm they could draw out deep foundation. Of course, I'm trying to prevent my hives from swarming and may or may not trap a swarm in bait box. My question - what is best way to get the new foundation d...

So, tell me what that timing will be if flow is in two weeks. I was planning on doing a split today. Also. If I move a split to temporary site -over three miles at friends property, When can I return hive back to my apiary. ?