Author Topic: hive #'s and condition (Read 8594 times)

pdmattox · « **on:** November 20, 2007, 08:57:21 pm »

What kind of shape are your hives in and have you lost any this winter yet?

Understudy · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2007, 08:58:38 pm »

My hives are doing well. Winter doesn't phase them, they just steal more margarita mix. :-D

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Moonshae · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2007, 09:53:32 pm »

I have two full size and two nucs. So far so good.

JP · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2007, 11:37:55 pm »

I have seventeen right now, all strong. I don't know if we'll have a winter. Will probably be toasting Margaritas with Brendhan in January. :mrgreen:

Cindi · « **Reply #4 on:** November 20, 2007, 11:51:45 pm »

Dallas, I have 9 colonies, all appear to be strong and doing well.

I overwintered one colony from last year
Bought 4 nucs in beginning of May
Bought 4 package colonies in beginning of May

Had to combine 2 nucs in summertime because I killed a queen because of severe chalkbrood

Caught the swarm that my overwintered colony cast in the beginning of September (it is doing great too).

Have a wonderful and great day, beautiful life. Cindi

MBrowne · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2007, 12:22:55 am »

Thirteen and looks good. But, winter has barely set in.

qa33010 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2007, 04:50:29 am »

I'm down to six right now, lost two over the fall. One was an 'inherited hive' that had absconded. When I pulled frames there was some wax moth damage on some frames (I've seen frames totally trashed out) but the most remarkable thing was the chemical smell. Reminded me of the poisons I used to smell when I was a kid in the 60's and early 70's.

The other hive was the strongest of three new hives, CCD survivor nucs, at first. They became light and population dwindled. fed and fed and they seemed to be getting back on track. Went to check again a couple weeks later and they were only about a dozen left and dead bees that had starved while emerging from their cells. Nectar looks fermented with bubbles. Immediately sealed hive so nothing can get to it, just in case. Other hives are eating and heavy and strong.

Edit: Sorry, didn't mean to ramble.

reinbeau · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2007, 08:26:12 am »

We've got only one here at home, but two at my mother's and three up in Maine. We'll see. Hopefully at least one will make it through the winter! :shock:

Cindi · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2007, 09:20:36 am »

qa33010. Nothin' wrong with ramblin', I am the worst offender of that, hee, hee, :roll: ;) :) It is good to speak your mind, hope all works out well. Have a wonderful and greatest of days, Cindi

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2007, 09:48:38 pm »

Quote from: pdmattox on November 20, 2007, 08:57:21 pm

What kind of shape are your hives in and have you lost any this winter yet?

The 2 8 frame hives are slightly flat and elongated from being cubic while the 2 nucs are much more the idea rectangle. They all survived the most recent storm which was the worse since last October when I had all my hives blow over. No losses yet.

Kirk-o · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2007, 12:12:41 pm »

MY old hive I have had for four years my Nuc from Arizona My cut out I re-queened and the two nucs I made in September are doing great I just need some rain this winter and spring I'll be set kirko

Fannbee · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2007, 12:48:17 pm »

Five hives comprising of two full brood boxes and one medium super. I might have to much honey for them. I guess I rather have to much then not enough.

Also, one nuc (late swarm) that is filled out two frames. I am feeding it, seeing if it will make it thru Miss's light winter.

Happy Thanksgiving

BeeHopper · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2007, 01:58:01 pm »

Just checked out mine today :-D
Sunny, breezy & low 60s in South Jersey. I placed some bee candy in all 9 hives, all look good.

Mici · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2007, 06:53:32 pm »

down to 3 (from six) but this are actually fall losses, massive robbing, and i'll be darned if " robbing is always caused by the beek" stands for every robbing.

i guess exception confirms the rule...
ah well, too bad

annette · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2007, 10:18:04 pm »

2 hives now, up from 1 last year (split it). With all the problems I had this summer (swarming, losing queen, deformed wing virus, supercedure) they are doing great right now and I have high hopes for them this spring.

I could not have done it without your help. This means all of you.

Thanks
Annette from Placerville - currently visiting brother in New Jersey.

sean · « **Reply #15 on:** November 23, 2007, 09:08:14 am »

bright and sunny mornings and afternoons with late afternoon showers. the girls take turns goingto the beach in the days for a little sunbathing and fish & festival. haqve switched from margueritas to rum cream :-D

Cindi · « **Reply #16 on:** November 23, 2007, 10:42:23 am »

Sean, I meant to tell you. Your description of what your girls are up to conjures up a beautiful picture in my mind. I love the heat, the warm and beautiful days of summertime. Winter time is something that can go by the wayside in my eyes. If I had summer all year around here, I would be a happier woman. The only thing is: when we have those long winter days, I am ever so grateful for the summer days that I know will come. I love the middle of January here, the days get so much longer, each and every day, a few minutes each day, it is like a rebirth of spring, every year. So, ya, there is an upside to wintertime. Oh brother, here I go again, off topic, I really am sorry, I just can't help it. Have a beautiful and greatest of days. Cindi

sean · « **Reply #17 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:03:51 am »

Simple solution cindi, move down south, no feeding, no winter, honey all year round, oh did i mention hives are filling up with honey, never too far from the beach. but thats the good part

DennisB · « **Reply #18 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:10:02 am »

Have six,(they are all wishing to go to the beach as well). All appear to be doing well as they are bedded down for the cold. Tried the sugar on the newspaper on the frame tops for some winter snacks. Now all we need is a little moisture (rain or snow). By the way Happy Thanksgiving everyone, hope you had a good time with family.

DennisB

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #19 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:27:48 am »

This morning the frost is so thick on the grass and bee hives that it looks like snow. Even with very few clouds in the sky the temperature is supposed to remain below freezing so the frost will prlbably be with us all day.

The bees are tucked into bed and snuggled close together.

mlewis48 · « **Reply #20 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:47:06 am »

What started out as 3 has snowballed into 9. They are all doiing great. I'm worried about 1 of them but I have been feeding and adding candy when the weather permits it. Winter has started today, so with all of the info that I have from this site and the few beeks that are around my area, I should be alright. The only problem that I am having is there are alot of older beeks, in my area, that are giving up beekeeping and I seem to be getting all of their hives. I don"t know if that should be considered a problem BUT all of the experiance going away hurts a rookie like me! In NEED of a Mentor.
Marcus :-D :-D

sean · « **Reply #21 on:** November 23, 2007, 11:52:09 am »

they may be getting out of the business but surely they'll be available for consultation just get a couple of them together for drink or two.. or three

mlewis48 · « **Reply #22 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:56:41 am »

Sean,
I hope that it is that easy! I can get all that they can drink, after they help with my yard first. :)

IndianaBrown · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2007, 12:54:00 pm »

4 total: 2 hives (both overwintered last year and doing fine so far this year), a styrofoam nuc from a trap out (some mite issues but holding out hope on this one), and an observation hive populated from a very late swarm call (no mites, no worries on this one.)

tillie · « **Reply #24 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:09:25 pm »

So far two hives are still alive - one lived (barely) through last winter - still original queen from 2006. The other started from a nuc this year and is still doing OK....we'll see. I'm not letting either starve this year - if they die, it's not going to be from beekeeper neglect like last year.

Linda T in Atlanta

Hopeful · « **Reply #25 on:** November 25, 2007, 01:25:19 pm »

Started with 13 hives and a nuc with a swarm in it. Checked the nuc a couple of weeks ago and it was full of drones and a few workers, no sign of a queen. Laying workers, I guess by the symptoms.Checked last week and the nuc was empty, so i burshed a small swarm wityh a queen into it. I think it was raided by honey robbers and likely wiped out the small swarm. Feeding has been a nightmare. Some of my old lids fit right ( I ordered all new ones last week) and allowed robbers to get into the tops of the feeders, drowning them by the hundreds (thousands?). Every time I fed it looked like a shark "feeding frenzy" with thousands of bees and hundreds of yellow jackets and wasps. I am hopeful that the robber honey bees were not from my hives but were either feral or from the six "commercial" hives about a half mile away that do not appear to have been taken care of. The commercial hives (I know this by the name stenciled on them) still have about five supers on them... which makes me wonder if anyone ever came and harvested.

Anyway, I would not know a strong hive from a weak one. I am hopeful for blessings and a little luck to make up for my ignorance until I get things figured out better...and a little experience under my belt.

randydrivesabus · « **Reply #26 on:** November 25, 2007, 02:19:54 pm »

i've got 4 looking pretty good. i see cleansing flights on the warmer days. I'm going to check hive weights by lifting at the next warm day and feed if necessary. Unscientific but better than just hoping for the best.

asprince · « **Reply #27 on:** November 25, 2007, 04:14:39 pm »

Three hives down from five. The last time I opened them was a month ago. At that time they had plenty of stores and lots of capped brood. The temperatures are cooler now with lows in the 30 to 50 F. On warmer days, I see some flight activity. More from my stronger hive. They are still fighting a few ants.

Steve

sean · « **Reply #28 on:** November 25, 2007, 06:13:36 pm »

Quote from: mlewis48 on November 25, 2007, 01:56:41 am

Sean,
I hope that it is that easy! I can get all that they can drink, after they help with my yard first. :)

the help comes after, get them together first, they'll start talking about bees all on their own, casually mention anything you want to know i guarantee you'll get more than enough info and some-ne will volunter their services. "trus mi"

DennisB · « **Reply #29 on:** November 25, 2007, 07:53:55 pm »

Six at the moment. 5 with 2 deeps each and one single deep. So far the weather people are calling for a colder with more moisture for Dec. I used the sugar on paper on the tops of frames after pulling the syrup feeders last week. Its up to the bees now (until Feb or so).

annette · « **Reply #30 on:** November 25, 2007, 08:08:57 pm »

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on November 23, 2007, 11:27:48 am

The bees are tucked into bed and snuggled close together.

I just love that quote from an older man. Very cute!!!!

Annette

DayValleyDahlias · « **Reply #31 on:** November 27, 2007, 10:03:29 pm »

Oh , my one hive seems to bedoing well, checked the top deep today...lots of capped honey and capped brood too...hope that is ok...didn't check the BB...lot's of activity and pollen... :-*

Angi_H · « **Reply #32 on:** November 28, 2007, 02:01:41 am »

Hi my name is Angi Harrover and I live in HAnford Ca which is about 30 min south of Fresno. I have one BB with bottom board tc and telescoping cover. I am going to be getting 1 to 2 established hives pritty soon. One of my husbands best friends and also was one of his best men at our wedding in 99 raises bees in Clovis. He also goes out and catches swarms. He has offered to get me started after I have had to push my hubby to ask him. I raise and breed rare and heartiage breed poultry. And grow orgainc heirloom veggies and tomatoes. I had toubles the last few years with having to hand pollinate my veggies and squashes. The only thing I have seen was one or two bees and one or 2 Bumble Bees. We live out in the country with alfalfa fields, fruit and nut trees, cotton, grapes and everything in between. So way more then the bees can handle with in 2 miles of here. I was a certified producer for farmers markets for my produce and eggs. I raise and sale hatching eggs/eating eggs and chick and poults for Coturnix Quail, Cuckoo Maran (feather legged Cratty line) the chocolate egger, Standard Dark cornish, Royal Palm Turkeys, Black Mottled Turkeys and Indian Runner Ducks in 3 colors, Fawn and white, Fawn with blue fawn drake and Fairy Fawn. I have also started showing at the poultry shows. I am looking forward to getting my bees. I have a hat but no vail. I also need gloves and a suit and smoker. The other things I need to get is a hive tool and a bee brush. As far as harvesting the honey well that will have to come when I can figure what I am going to do out. I need to let them have enough to overwinter but yet have enough for us to eat and sale a little. I also want to collect a little pollen for taking. Like I said I have one hive body with foundations from Dadent I put it togather my self. Thanks for allowing me to join and I am looking forward to getting to know all of you. Oh and I am a Hatch-a-Holic meaing I love to hatch eggs of all sorts. Last year I even hatched Emus.

Angi

Cindi · « **Reply #33 on:** November 28, 2007, 09:54:28 am »

Angi, I think that you are going to have a blast on this forum. It is a great place to spend time, learn and learn, some great mentors on here, I have been beekeeping now since April 2005. Have taken courses upon courses, have spent myriads of time here and love to learn. Sounds like you are a learner too. To raise that many chickens and other stuff (like the emus) is cool, and it takes lots of work and knowledge to perform these activities. Good for you.

Spend as much time as you can here, and on the internet too. It will do nothing but good for you, soon you will feel confident that you can handle those little beauties that you will be raising to bring you honey and the beautiful products from the hive. You are going to love beekeeping, you obviously love Mother Nature's products.

Enjoy your time spent here, ask any question that you need and never ever feel that any question that you may ask is not worthy of an answer. We all were beginning with our lives with the bees, and we all need to know everything that we can, to keep them safe, and to take good care of them. Have a beautiful and wonderful day, again, welcome. Cindi