Comment

Comment by Paul McCarty on March 2, 2013 at 11:43pm

My records also show all my hives were honey-bound on March 1st, and I had already made two swarm control splits by March 10th.

Comment by Paul McCarty on March 2, 2013 at 11:41pm

By the way, my calendar for last year shows on Feb 26th I had seen my first drones, and willow, apricot, and Cottonwoods were in bloom.

When you see your first drones, and it is a second year hive - you had best have a plan for swarming because the bees are already ahead of you.

Comment by Paul McCarty on March 2, 2013 at 11:36pm

Don't let the cold fool you. If it gets warmth from the sun during the day - all they need is 65 in the hive to draw comb. My first year I was shocked to find my bees had socked away two deeps of willow tree honey AND drew comb during a period in which it was consistently down into the 20's at night. If they are bringing in pollen, it's a sure bet they are raising brood. If you haven't started feeding, you might want to start soon.

It has been in the 45-50 during the day and down into the low 20's at night for the last two weeks. Today when I opened them up, I had to scrape the burr from the top of the frames out of at least 4 hives, and one had glued it's candy brick in place with wax. Definitely building up.

My bees in the desert are even more active, though the pollen is not as strong. I gave them pollen patties last week and have been feeding them 1:1.

I use burlap blankets over the top bars of my hives and one had full combs drawn hanging down to the top of the frames. All of them are totally ignoring the candy and pollen patties I put in back in the deep of Winter. That usually means something else is coming in probably the early Willows on my side of the highway.

Comment by Diana Calkins on March 2, 2013 at 9:54pm

Got up to 68 here in the mountains today.  Right now it is a balmy 39 F. at 11:00 p.m.  Supposed to be warm again tomorrow but the wind forecast isn't good.  Was hoping to get into the hive tomorrow.  There is lots of coming and going with that creamy white pollen being brought in.
Paul: last Saturday ours were not drawing new wax yet.  Should have checked today but got busy and then got too exhausted.

Comment by James H DAWDY on March 2, 2013 at 9:05pm

Paul- here in Deming we've been having quite cold nights for the last month- mid to low 20s with drops into the high teens.  I am thinking your area has been a little warmer?  There's hardly anything blooming here, and only just beginning to bud.  My hive hasn't really built up, but I expect that to change very very soon.

Comment by Paul McCarty on March 2, 2013 at 7:06pm

I will be reversing my hives soon. I spaced the frames in the horizontal hives before I put them to bed for the Winter.

FYI - my bees are already drawing wax and my trees have buds all over them. That is a full month early according to my records.

Comment by Paul McCarty on March 2, 2013 at 7:04pm

I guarantee your bees are already thinking about swarming. I checkerboard the langs and space the brood in the horizontal hives. Just watch for drones and a honey cap. Try to do a cut-down split.

As warm as it has been, it's gonna' be a bad swarm season again.

Comment by Diana Calkins on March 2, 2013 at 3:12pm

I agree with the spring build up and swarming.  I also want to know more about opening up a brood nest.

Comment by James H DAWDY on March 1, 2013 at 3:41pm

Spring build up and swarming would be a timely topic!

Comment by Rob Shepler on March 1, 2013 at 12:20pm

I am still looking for a venue for the seminar, I need your thoughts! Suggestions?

 

It looks like Jessie Brown will be coming down from Albuquerque to help with our seminar. She has the weekend of MARCH 23^rd open and it looks like it fits most of our schedules.

 

What do YOU want to see covered?

 

Here are some thoughts,

Life cycle

Types of hives

Hive management

Bears and bees

Harvest!

Wintering bees

Spring wake up and swarming

How to catch a swarm, how to trap out, how to cut out.

Disease and parasites

CCD

 

Paul has offered to teach a section on cutouts and it would be fun to hear about what he does with his foundationless langstroth hives.

 

Do you want hands on hive management? If so DAY 2 could be up here in Mayhill at our place and we could have 20 hives to go through and play with.

 

What would you like to do? What do you want to see covered?

Please let me know soon as we are only 3 weeks away.

Rob

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