Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

MEMBER BULLETIN BOARD => GREETINGS/TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF => Topic started by: WTGardiner on March 12, 2009, 06:22:24 pm

Title: One year old dead hive in SE PA
Post by: WTGardiner on March 12, 2009, 06:22:24 pm

I got bees last spring.  They're dead now.  Perhaps I didn't start feeding soon enough this winter/spring.  I'm wondering about someone advising if I have a problem.  The Chester Cty Beekeepers Assoc meets on Saturday nights and I just can't do that (I have a family first, then bees).  I spoke to Bjorn who said it was a dry fall and a cold winter = bad longevity.  He also says I'm late to order northern bees.   Any comments to share?  I'm in Radnor township 13 mi west of Philadelphia.

Bill

Title: Re: One year old dead hive in SE PA
Post by: 1reb on March 12, 2009, 09:14:36 pm

Hello and Welcome  Bill
There is alot of great information on the forum !!
The members here are willing help and answer your questions, all you need to do is to ask
Johnny

Title: Re: One year old dead hive in SE PA
Post by: Scadsobees on March 13, 2009, 12:03:43 am

Hi!
I'd recommend trying to find a place that will ship you a package.  Often the local beek club will order packages, you may want to ask, even if you can't join.

Troll around here for other beeks in the area, most people are more than willing to help and share if needs bee.

Get your name on some swarm lists, there is a good one on this site.  Search the web for "PA honeybee swarm" and see what comes up and if you can get on their lists.  The local agriculture extension office likely gets queries about people to get swarms, talk to them about a swarm list, as well as the local police and fire depts.  Call around to some local exterminators, and ask if they are interested in saving bees and offer to pick them up for them.

If you do one or more of those, you will likely have more bees than you ever imagined by the mid summer.  I did, and with the whole "family first, bees ..." rule there wasn't a way to take care of most of the calls.

You can put your first swarm in the bottom box, the second in the top box, and then you have to figure out what to do with the rest :)

Rick

Title: Re: One year old dead hive in SE PA
Post by: Cindi on March 14, 2009, 02:34:59 pm

Bill, welcome to our forum, this is wonderful that you have found us.  We will help you, we will listen to your questions, you will get answers, just wait, this will be a place also where you can tell your stories, tales and experiences, we love new members, and the biggest welcome aboard to you.  Have a most wonderful day, health life, love our life, it is worthy.  Cindi