I thought I would repost a couple of videos from last year. These were a lot of fun. It is fun to have the whole family involved. My Dad and I do most of the beekeeping duties, but my wife and girls enjoy watching us start new hives and harvest time. We aren't the best at making videos, but hopefully you can see how much fun this hobby is. The fist one is of us installing a package of bees.
This next video is of us installing a nucleus hive. The weather was really cool this year, so we had to get the nuc and package right into the hive as quickly as we could.
The final video was of us capturing a swarm. I didn't do a very good job of catching all the bees, but somehow I got lucky and got the queen. I left the box there over night and probably 95% of the bees found their way into the hive. This was a lot of fun. Bees are typically very gentle in a swarm because they don't have a lot to protect. They don't have brood or food storage to protect so they are really focused on finding a new home. This was a blast! Cannot wait for swarm season (as long as it isn't my hives).
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Friday, February 24, 2012
I Spoke Too Soon!
Yesterday I thought I had sold out of hives. Well I had someone want to change his order and decrease it by one hive. That means it isn't too late to start beekeeping. The one that canceled was actually a nucleus hive. I wasn't going to sell these until next year, but this individual wanted three of them instead of the packages of bees. I can swap either one out of my hives so you can choose. A hive with the package of bees will be $300 (all the wooden ware and a 3# package of Italian bees) or the nucleus hive will be $350 (all the wooden ware, 5 frame nuc of bees, wooden nuc box, and a division feeder). Both types will have a Cordovan Italian Queen.
The difference between a package and a nucleus:
Let's start with the package. This is probably the most common way people get started. It is less expensive, you can get the bees a littler earlier, and if people plan to have them shipped this is the way to do it. I don't ship so the last point really isn't valid for people around here. Some disadvantages are sometimes they don't take to the new queen. A package is 3 pounds of bees shaken from different hives and placed with a foreign queen. Generally they do accept the queen as their own after a few days, but there is a risk. Some times the queens are not as prolific as you would like and get superseded in the same year. This will slow down the progress of the hive. A package of bees mimics a swarm, and the bees are generally in a hyper growth mode and will build out new foundations rather quickly. The downside is the bees only live about 6 weeks this time of year and the population will start to decrease until the first brood emerge around day 24 after the queen has been laying. At this point the population should start to really build. Here is a video of one way to install a package of bees. This is done by Chad Ragland from Apis hive and he does a really good job demonstrating it. Package Install
Nucleus hives, are in my opinion the safest way to start a hive. I will start with the negatives first because there aren't many. Nucleus hives cost a little more because you usually have more work invested in them from a suppliers standpoint. Their is a slightly higher chance of passing disease if the supplier isn't careful. Typically if the supplier uses newer foundation, pulls from a healthy hive, and breaks the brood cycle, you wont have to worry about most diseases and mites. The advantages of a nucleus are great. When you get a nucleus hive typically it is 4 to 5 frames and should be full of bees. You often have the opportunity to to inspect the nuc before taking it and make sure you approve of the brood pattern. When you get the bees they will be increasing rapidly because they will have all stages of brood. This tends to result in more honey that can be harvested in the first year. It is a little less intimidating for a new beekeeper because you don't have to pound and shake the bees out of the package, all you do is transfer the frames into your new hive. I do highly recommend nucs, but they do cost a little more. The success rate of a nuc is a lot higher because the supplier takes on the risk of making sure it is good and ready for sale. Here is a quick video of a common way to make nucs. Nuc video
A quick note on the Cordovan Italian queen. These queens are beautiful. All queens are pretty amazing, but the Cordovan queens do stand out when you see them. They are a very light golden color and often don't have any black strips. Their offspring often do have a little dark on them so the queen really stands out among her offspring. These queens are generally very prolific, gentle, good hygienic, and a good honey producers. This breed does very well in our climate.
Hope that helps. We are down to about 6 or 7 weeks until bees start coming.
The difference between a package and a nucleus:
Let's start with the package. This is probably the most common way people get started. It is less expensive, you can get the bees a littler earlier, and if people plan to have them shipped this is the way to do it. I don't ship so the last point really isn't valid for people around here. Some disadvantages are sometimes they don't take to the new queen. A package is 3 pounds of bees shaken from different hives and placed with a foreign queen. Generally they do accept the queen as their own after a few days, but there is a risk. Some times the queens are not as prolific as you would like and get superseded in the same year. This will slow down the progress of the hive. A package of bees mimics a swarm, and the bees are generally in a hyper growth mode and will build out new foundations rather quickly. The downside is the bees only live about 6 weeks this time of year and the population will start to decrease until the first brood emerge around day 24 after the queen has been laying. At this point the population should start to really build. Here is a video of one way to install a package of bees. This is done by Chad Ragland from Apis hive and he does a really good job demonstrating it. Package Install
Nucleus hives, are in my opinion the safest way to start a hive. I will start with the negatives first because there aren't many. Nucleus hives cost a little more because you usually have more work invested in them from a suppliers standpoint. Their is a slightly higher chance of passing disease if the supplier isn't careful. Typically if the supplier uses newer foundation, pulls from a healthy hive, and breaks the brood cycle, you wont have to worry about most diseases and mites. The advantages of a nucleus are great. When you get a nucleus hive typically it is 4 to 5 frames and should be full of bees. You often have the opportunity to to inspect the nuc before taking it and make sure you approve of the brood pattern. When you get the bees they will be increasing rapidly because they will have all stages of brood. This tends to result in more honey that can be harvested in the first year. It is a little less intimidating for a new beekeeper because you don't have to pound and shake the bees out of the package, all you do is transfer the frames into your new hive. I do highly recommend nucs, but they do cost a little more. The success rate of a nuc is a lot higher because the supplier takes on the risk of making sure it is good and ready for sale. Here is a quick video of a common way to make nucs. Nuc video
A quick note on the Cordovan Italian queen. These queens are beautiful. All queens are pretty amazing, but the Cordovan queens do stand out when you see them. They are a very light golden color and often don't have any black strips. Their offspring often do have a little dark on them so the queen really stands out among her offspring. These queens are generally very prolific, gentle, good hygienic, and a good honey producers. This breed does very well in our climate.
Hope that helps. We are down to about 6 or 7 weeks until bees start coming.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I am sold out!
This should be an exciting spring. I have started making all the boxes. I will be making about 105 boxes. I am going to really need to speed up the process I can tell already. I enjoy working with the wood though. We have 1,050 frames and foundation coming to us any day, so I am going to see if my Dad can help me assemble all of those. I have sold 10 hives and hopefully can increase my yards by 10 hives. That means we purchased 15 packages of bees. 12 will go straight into hives and 3 of them I will make nucleus hives out of. I will give them a couple of frames of built out foundation and maybe even a frame of bees to help boost their population. This should get them really going. It will be a busy Saturday, but should be a lot of fun. I am also scheduled to receive my queens on the 19 of April and so I will need to have made up my splits probably the Monday after I get all the packages. I cannot wait for April. We will need some good weather around the middle of April for me to be able to get it all done.
I checked the bees again this last Saturday. All the hives are still alive, but I am a little nervous for a couple of them. They just have pretty small clusters and hope they can make it through. I am hoping to make at least 6 splits and possibly 8 if I have strong enough hives. I will start feed them pollen sub patties probably in the next week or so. I already put one on my weakest hive and they have not even touched it. My guess is it is too cold for them and they don't want anything to do with it. I will keep you posted, but should be a busy, but fun next two months.
I checked the bees again this last Saturday. All the hives are still alive, but I am a little nervous for a couple of them. They just have pretty small clusters and hope they can make it through. I am hoping to make at least 6 splits and possibly 8 if I have strong enough hives. I will start feed them pollen sub patties probably in the next week or so. I already put one on my weakest hive and they have not even touched it. My guess is it is too cold for them and they don't want anything to do with it. I will keep you posted, but should be a busy, but fun next two months.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Difference in Bee Breeds
I am by no means an expert on the different bee breeds, but I will share with you some information I have found and what I have found in my experience. I have found a pretty basic web page that does a pretty good job of explaining the bee breeds.
In my experience the two most common types are either Italian or Carniolan. You can also find a few other species of honey bee, but they are not as common in Utah. Then you have the Minnesota Hygenic or a VSH which I understand to be hybrids and not actual species of bees.
I will do my best to break down the difference between the Italian and Carniolan races. Italians are the lighter golden color and the Carniolan are typically darker and sometimes even black.
Some pros and cons for the Italian race:
Pros - They are very gentle, builds up good in the spring, good honey producers and overwinters well .
Cons - They usually have large colonies even when there is low honey flow requiring more honey during the winter. I have found they tend to have more mites than the Carniolans. They tend to drift and rob.
Pros and Cons for the Carniolan:
Pros - They are very gentle, rapid spring build up, queen will slow down the laying in times of nectar dearths, overwinters in smaller populations, seems to be more resistant to diseases and mites, tends to forage in cooler weather, and good honey producer.
Cons - Because they build up so quickly in the spring they have a tendency to swarm, my experience is they tend to have more propolis.
I tend to favor the Carniolans, but I enjoy having the Italians as well. Hopefully this helps in trying to determine what queen to select.
In my experience the two most common types are either Italian or Carniolan. You can also find a few other species of honey bee, but they are not as common in Utah. Then you have the Minnesota Hygenic or a VSH which I understand to be hybrids and not actual species of bees.
I will do my best to break down the difference between the Italian and Carniolan races. Italians are the lighter golden color and the Carniolan are typically darker and sometimes even black.
Some pros and cons for the Italian race:
Pros - They are very gentle, builds up good in the spring, good honey producers and overwinters well .
Cons - They usually have large colonies even when there is low honey flow requiring more honey during the winter. I have found they tend to have more mites than the Carniolans. They tend to drift and rob.
Pros and Cons for the Carniolan:
Pros - They are very gentle, rapid spring build up, queen will slow down the laying in times of nectar dearths, overwinters in smaller populations, seems to be more resistant to diseases and mites, tends to forage in cooler weather, and good honey producer.
Cons - Because they build up so quickly in the spring they have a tendency to swarm, my experience is they tend to have more propolis.
I tend to favor the Carniolans, but I enjoy having the Italians as well. Hopefully this helps in trying to determine what queen to select.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Basic Starter Kit, Complete Hive Kits, and Hive Componants for Sale
I am going to be selling some equipment. I have decided to make most of the wooden ware. It will be standard 10 frame wooden ware, but I plan to make some improvements to the top box joint that tends to be the weakest part of the box since it is also rabbit jointed. All lumber will be commercial grade lumber and will be assembled with weather resistant glue and galvanized nails. The bottom boards will be made with 3/4 inch solid exterior plywood that can be reversible for winter and summer entrances. The inner covers will be made with 3/8 inch exterior plywood that will be very durable and shouldn't warp or twist from the moisture in the hive. Many inner covers are made of 1/4 inch Masonite that will warp as it is exposed to moisture from the hive. The telescopic covers are very attractive and actually provide better ventilation than the California tops or migratory tops. They will last a long time as the top is covered with galvanized steal. These will be some of the best built hives you can buy. I am not painting the hives, so that the buyer can decide on color and whether to paint or stain. I prefer to stain.
I am also selling kits that will include a package of bees. I have done a lot of research and have found a couple of package providers that consistently have good reviews. I have used CF Koehnen packages and queens and have had good success with both. I have decided to stick with them. You can choose between Italian and Carniolan queens. There are pros and cons to both breeds, but it would probably take too long to explain them in this blog entry.
Pricing:
$300 - Complete hive with a 3# package of bees. For the hives you can choose from either 2 deep boxes and 2 medium supers or 5 medium super kits. All boxes will include wooden frames and molded plastic foundation dipped in 100% beeswax. Kits will also include a reversible bottom board, entrance reducer, inner cover, and deluxe telescopic cover all as explained above.
$220 - Basic starter kit with 3# package of bees. If you just want to get started this kit is for you. You can choose from 2 deep boxes or 3 medium supers. Again boxes will include wooden frames and molded plastic foundation dipped in 100% beeswax. Kits will also include a reversible bottom board, entrance reducer, inner cover, and deluxe telescopic cover all as explained above.
If you just want to buy components the pricing is as follows:
If you have any questions give me a call 801-830-1168. I am currently not shipping, but will be happy to arrange a time for pick up or I can deliver to Utah County.
I am also selling kits that will include a package of bees. I have done a lot of research and have found a couple of package providers that consistently have good reviews. I have used CF Koehnen packages and queens and have had good success with both. I have decided to stick with them. You can choose between Italian and Carniolan queens. There are pros and cons to both breeds, but it would probably take too long to explain them in this blog entry.
Pricing:
$300 - Complete hive with a 3# package of bees. For the hives you can choose from either 2 deep boxes and 2 medium supers or 5 medium super kits. All boxes will include wooden frames and molded plastic foundation dipped in 100% beeswax. Kits will also include a reversible bottom board, entrance reducer, inner cover, and deluxe telescopic cover all as explained above.
$220 - Basic starter kit with 3# package of bees. If you just want to get started this kit is for you. You can choose from 2 deep boxes or 3 medium supers. Again boxes will include wooden frames and molded plastic foundation dipped in 100% beeswax. Kits will also include a reversible bottom board, entrance reducer, inner cover, and deluxe telescopic cover all as explained above.
If you just want to buy components the pricing is as follows:
· Reversible bottom board - $10
· Deluxe Telescopic Cover w/ Inner cover - $30
· Deep box w/ frames and foundation - $55
· Medium box w/ frames and foundation - $45
If you have any questions give me a call 801-830-1168. I am currently not shipping, but will be happy to arrange a time for pick up or I can deliver to Utah County.
Hives are Alive!
I checked the hives on Saturday and was relieved to see all the hives were alive. Two of the hives have pretty small clusters. One of them is pretty light on food storage, so I put a pollen sub patty in and will start to feed liquid feed in a few weeks as temps get a little warmer. The other small cluster has always been one of our weaker hives. They have plenty of food, so hopefully the Queen will start laying again and build up the population. The other hives were very active and were still very heavy with food. I sense the bees feel the same way I do and are excited for spring. I love spring and spring beekeeping because the world comes to life with flowers and bees start getting active again. Spring is one of the most important times in beekeeping as it can dictate your honey crop as well as how prepared your bees are to go into the next winter.
Some things you can do to get your bees going strong. I prefer to not feed the bees unless they really need it. If they have made it this far through the winter, I don't want to loose them and will feed them if they need it. If you have an existing hive, it is a good idea to put on a pollen sub patty or two to help get the queen laying again. The goal is to get your hive near its peak in strength and numbers right about the time the main flows are going on. In my experience we get a couple of flows in Utah, May and June are typically pretty good and then we get another one in August.
If you are just starting out with a package of bees or a nucleus hive, it is best to feed them sugar water and pollen subs to help them really get going. With new hives you are not necessarily building up for the honey flows for your own harvest, but the hive needs a little help so it can put enough away for winter. If your lucky you may get a little of that liquid gold that is the best honey you have ever tasted.
Springs coming! Lets get ready!
Some things you can do to get your bees going strong. I prefer to not feed the bees unless they really need it. If they have made it this far through the winter, I don't want to loose them and will feed them if they need it. If you have an existing hive, it is a good idea to put on a pollen sub patty or two to help get the queen laying again. The goal is to get your hive near its peak in strength and numbers right about the time the main flows are going on. In my experience we get a couple of flows in Utah, May and June are typically pretty good and then we get another one in August.
If you are just starting out with a package of bees or a nucleus hive, it is best to feed them sugar water and pollen subs to help them really get going. With new hives you are not necessarily building up for the honey flows for your own harvest, but the hive needs a little help so it can put enough away for winter. If your lucky you may get a little of that liquid gold that is the best honey you have ever tasted.
Springs coming! Lets get ready!
Thursday, February 2, 2012
New Beehives for Sale
I have decided to sell a few start up hives this year. I have had a lot of people interested in getting into it, so I figured since I am buying hives anyway I can buy some extra and help people get started. I am selling two types of hives a medium set up and a standard set up. The medium set up is made up of 5 medium boxes with frames and foundation, a reversible bottom board, entrance reducer, inner cover, and a telescopic cover. The standard is everything the same, but you have 2 deep boxes and 2 medium. If I were starting all over again I would go all medium boxes. There is some great advantages to having everything the same. I am selling these for $300 and they include a package of bees. I will even help install them if you need help. This set up will give you a great start. In most years this set up will be more than sufficient, but if it is a great honey year you may need an additional box or two. Give me a call if your interested. 801-830-1168
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