Search found 130 matches

by donwal
Tue Sep 08, 2020 1:16 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: Environmental Center
Replies: 8
Views: 41896

Re: Environmental Center

I'm close to the Environmental Center too. I'm off Hickswood Road.
by donwal
Sun Jul 19, 2020 8:53 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: First Attempt at Queen Grafting
Replies: 7
Views: 38274

Re: First Attempt at Queen Grafting

This girl has had a busy weekend! Ended up having 12 queens to emerge and spent the weekend setting up new hive for the queens. With the help of Lease Pierce and Ken Keever, they all got a place to go. Ken is learning when beekeeping, plans change with the wind. Now the waiting game...hope they all ...
by donwal
Fri Jul 17, 2020 11:30 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: First Attempt at Queen Grafting
Replies: 7
Views: 38274

Re: First Attempt at Queen Grafting

Thank you Wally! I had 13 queens emerge this week from the 20 larva that were grafted. I am happy with this first round of queens. They are beautiful. Now hoping that they all make it out and back on their mating flights.
by donwal
Thu Jul 09, 2020 7:56 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: First Attempt at Queen Grafting
Replies: 7
Views: 38274

Re: First Attempt at Queen Grafting

Checked the queen grafting frame after work today. All 15 queen cells are capped. Will move them this weekend to splits, queen castle or mating nucs.
15 capped queen cells.
15 capped queen cells.
20200709_190156_Moment.jpg (237.28 KiB) Viewed 38212 times
by donwal
Tue Jul 07, 2020 2:02 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: First Attempt at Queen Grafting
Replies: 7
Views: 38274

Re: First Attempt at Queen Grafting

I have a few different plans for the queen mating setup (Queen Castle, Mini Mating Nuc Hive, 5 Frame Nuc Hives). The queens I keep will be put in 5 frame nucs or replace queens in the 8 frame hives in the bee yard. I will sell extra queens if I get a call for queens.
by donwal
Mon Jul 06, 2020 9:09 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: First Attempt at Queen Grafting
Replies: 7
Views: 38274

First Attempt at Queen Grafting

Finally got a chance to try queen grafting this year. My first attempt at grafting larva to raise queen cells. This has been a team effort. Pete (Gary Wallace) helped me make up the queen cell starter box last week. With the help of Lesa Pierce and Ken Keever on Saturday (07/04/20) afternoon, we sh...
by donwal
Tue Jun 30, 2020 9:57 pm
Forum: Wanted/For Sale
Topic: 5 Frame Nucs For Sale
Replies: 0
Views: 17470

5 Frame Nucs For Sale

I have 15+ - 5 Frame Deep Nucs For Sale. All hives were inspected by Don Hopkins on June 10th (for my permit to sell nucs and queens). All queens were raised this year - April, May and June. All queens are marked and laying full frames of brood. Nucs were made up from splits from hives that overwint...
by donwal
Fri Jun 26, 2020 9:51 pm
Forum: Wanted/For Sale
Topic: Bees for sale - hive refill $120
Replies: 2
Views: 16531

Re: Bees for sale - hive refill $120

I have some nucs I'm selling. All were just inspected by Don Hopkins on June 10th and are ready to go. If they are still looking to buy bees, send me their number.
by donwal
Sat Jun 20, 2020 10:14 am
Forum: Beekeeping 101
Topic: Newbie
Replies: 4
Views: 17529

Re: Newbie

Where in Guilford County are you located? If you can work with someone who has already been keeping bees to "learn the ropes" you can gain a lot experience before you jump into getting your own hives. I've had folks work with me in my bee yard helping me through the spring into fall. When ...
by donwal
Thu May 07, 2020 8:20 pm
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Swarm in Julian
Replies: 0
Views: 12349

Swarm in Julian

Got a call about a swarm in Julian. I am unable to go check on or get it. If anyone can go check on the swarm, please call 336-210-4400 to speak to Jeffrey Jones.
Julian Swarm
Julian Swarm
Julian Swarm.jpg (252.54 KiB) Viewed 12349 times
by donwal
Sun Apr 12, 2020 7:23 pm
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Three Swarms Today 04/12/20
Replies: 0
Views: 11858

Three Swarms Today 04/12/20

I had three more swarms in the bee yard today. Small one in a tree too high to reach, my neighbor is going to try to get them tomorrow. Caught a small one with two queens. Caged them both. The a HUGE swarm from one of my big hives. Biggest swarm I've ever had. Had extra queens, so I split up the swa...
by donwal
Sat Apr 11, 2020 8:48 pm
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Donna's Swarms
Replies: 0
Views: 11711

Donna's Swarms

So it has been a busy vacation week for me! 03/26/20 - First swarm - in home bee yard. Got it when I got off work. 03/27/20 - Second swarm - (small), it left before I got home. 03/28/20 - Two swarms in my bee yard, one swarm call in Lesa's bee yard. 04/03/20 - Two swarms in my bee yard. 04/05/20 - ...
by donwal
Sat Apr 11, 2020 7:43 pm
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Bees Swarmed Into Chimney
Replies: 0
Views: 11399

Bees Swarmed Into Chimney

I received a Facebook Message on the Guilford County Beekeeper's page from ...... A swarm of honeybees has entered his chimney and needs help getting them out. His cell phone number is ....... His address is ......, High Point. Please contact him for the details. Update: He just said "the probl...
by donwal
Fri Apr 19, 2019 9:02 am
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Cutout Scheduled for Saturday April 20
Replies: 0
Views: 11647

Cutout Scheduled for Saturday April 20

Weather permitting, I will be working with a new beekeeper with a cutout from an old two room house. We will be cutting the hive out from the outside of the house. If you are interested in helping / observing the cutout, please let me know. You can send me a private message with your contact informa...
by donwal
Tue Feb 26, 2019 12:06 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: Drones 2019
Replies: 6
Views: 33331

2019 SWARMS

I saw drones already flyig out and back into my strongest hives yesterday, 02/25. I will be checking this hive as soon as it is warm enough to get into it. In 2017 I had the first swarms on March 18th, then three more the following week. I think it is going to be early again this year. I will be mak...
by donwal
Mon Sep 10, 2018 12:15 pm
Forum: Beekeeping 101
Topic: Wintering
Replies: 4
Views: 12921

Re: Wintering

I overwintered three single 8 frame deep hives this past winter. Gave the hives a sugar block and pollen patty for food stores through the winter. Pulled 8 frames of honey from one of hives in June. It is now in a single deep and two mediums. The second one is in a deep and medium. Lost the third hi...
by donwal
Sun May 27, 2018 12:08 pm
Forum: Extractions, cut outs, removals and swarms
Topic: Swarm-4/30/18
Replies: 1
Views: 9150

Re: Swarm-4/30/18

Yes. Jess and I caught a swarm that was issuing from one of our hives. Jess caught a queen right away and we had put abot half of the swarm into a nuc box. We noticed that the cluster was not wanting to break up so we moved that box and started another box. Got the remaining bees into that box and m...
by donwal
Sun May 27, 2018 11:26 am
Forum: Wanted/For Sale
Topic: Nucs For Sale
Replies: 0
Views: 18249

Nucs For Sale

I have three nucs ready for sale. They are splits from my own hIves with 2018 queens. They will be sold in a five frame cardboard box or you may bring your own five frame wooden box and we will transfer the frames to your box. The queens have already laid two rounds of brood that have emerged and th...
by donwal
Sun Mar 18, 2018 7:27 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: Drones 2018
Replies: 8
Views: 25754

Re: Drones 2018

Helped Sally check her hive late this afternoon. Her hive came from the big hive I had last year that swarmed on March 22nd and then the hive we started with the swarm, swarmed again on May 14th. Her hive is a 8 frame set-up with a deep and two medium supers. They had built a lot of drone brood betw...
by donwal
Wed Mar 07, 2018 8:48 pm
Forum: Just Stuff
Topic: Drones 2018
Replies: 8
Views: 25754

Re: Drones 2018

I had the same thing happen in my best hive last year...it swarmed on March 22 and a couple after swarms. It never successfully requeened it self. But I got three more new hives from the swarms.