Guilfordbeekeepers.org

I have removed some full frames of capped honey, but I don't want to extract the honey for another couple of weeks. Is it okay to freeze the frames till I'm ready to extract?

Today was day 4, so I checked the frame of brood/larvae for queen cells and didn't see any. It looked as though the bees were caring for the larvae, so maybe a virgin queen is there? Should I wait two weeks and check again?

I do have another colony with brood frames. I will give that a try tomorrow...putting a frame of brood with eggs in the hive and check back in 4 days. Thanks.

I marked a new queen in this hive in August. I last inspected 4/12/23. At that time I couldn't find her but saw larvae (open and capped) in the bottom two boxes, so wasn't too concerned. Today I don't see any eggs, larvae capped or uncapped, and could not find the queen again. Lots and lots of bees....

My first honey harvest was last year and I used the crush and drain method. But I want to switch to a hand-crank extractor because I don't want to have my bees have to draw out comb in the honey boxes. All I need is a two or three frame extractor. I have seen one at a bee store I use for over $400!!...

I fed my hives sugar cakes this winter since honey stores were low. The blocks are about 9"X9"X2". I noticed one hive gobbled one up entirely just in the last two weeks. Upon inspection this week the colony is storing quite a bit of nectar in the hive, but I'm not sure if it's sugar n...

I recently inspected a hive that had a deep on the bottom followed by two mediums. On inspection I found a nice brood nest in the top box. The other two boxes were just drawn out comb with some nectar with plenty of room to lay. I moved the top box down one to the middle instead of to the bottom, th...

I started beekeeping on my own February, 2021. I don't know a lot, so I appreciate any response to my "newbie" type questions. How do we know when the spring nectar flow begins? Someone said at GCBA meeting Tuesday that it only lasts one month! Is that true? If it is, wouldn't that mean we...

Have you upgraded your extractor and have a used one you want to get rid of?
I am interested in purchasing my first set of harvesting equipment and with just two hives was considering a smaller hand-cranked extractor.
Also in need of an oxalic acid vapor wand. Thanks!

My bees have been busy on these warm days lately. I observed them about 4:30pm yesterday bringing in yellow pollen. I have a red maple in the yard, but it doesn't appear to be blooming as of yet. Do you have any idea what they would be getting yellow pollen from this time of year?

Thanks Jacobs, when I inspected last I noticed they were a little low on honey stores. I started 1:1 sugar water a few days ago, as you suggested, and both hives sucked down the first bottle within 12 hours. Been adding fresh quart bottles daily since then. Should I keep feeding till they stop takin...

Hi, I have two hives in a residential area. This is year two with them. Last year the person I was learning from came over and used oxalic acid vaporization. I just tested for Varroa and hives were 2% and 2.3%. Should I treat for mites at this level? Would Apiguard be a good choice if I should treat...

If we are in the dearth, should I start feeding my bees sugar water? If so, what concentration? Just inspected today and after harvesting honey they still have a fair amount of honey. I am ready to feed, just don't know when to start.

donwal, I am definitely interested. I live in High Point also. I will send you a message.

Hi! I live in a Guilford Co. residential area and I'm interested in keeping a couple of hives here at home. There are no neighborhood covenants against it and I have spoken to neighborhood association President and received a nod. I know nothing about beekeeping. I was planning on going to a meeting...