Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: annette on September 09, 2007, 05:46:48 pm

Title: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: annette on September 09, 2007, 05:46:48 pm
Getting the hives ready for winter.

My 2 hives are looking very good going into winter. Both have much pollen, brood, honey. I may even be able to take some more honey for me in a couple of weeks. I will freeze many frames of honey in case I have to feed back to them. We are having another flow right now and the bees are filling up another super each with beautiful honey.

Just keeping up on the powdered sugar dusting now especially since the brood will get less, and less. Good time to knock off those mites.

I am feeling very good right now about it all. It was a hard year but things are going well right now.

Even the hornets have stopped coming around lately. I am counting my blessings.

Sincerely,
Annette

Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: Moonshae on September 10, 2007, 07:41:48 pm
I wish I felt like you! I lifted the back of my hives, and was dismayed by their lightness. I will be feeding constantly for the next 6 weeks or so.
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: annette on September 10, 2007, 07:53:28 pm
I probably should not even speak until we actually go into winter (another 2 months) since anything can happen, but right now I am feeling pretty good.

I wish everyone well with the bees

Sincerely,
Annette
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: Cindi on September 12, 2007, 01:44:10 am
Annette, yeah, go, girl go!!!!!!  Sounds like things are going so well, and for this I am grateful.  Have a fantastic day.  Cindi
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: ElDoBill on September 12, 2007, 02:45:39 pm
Annette, where did you buy the powered sugar for the mite treatment?
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: Finsky on September 12, 2007, 03:55:59 pm
I will be feeding constantly for the next 6 weeks or so.

I use to feed my hives during one week for winter. It is just going.

And Anette. Why you freeze frames?
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: Kathyp on September 12, 2007, 06:12:53 pm
finsky, i froze my extra honey frames last year also.  i had room in the freezer and it was a good place to keep them and keep ants, moths, and whatever, out of them.  when i fed them back, i just took them out the night before and put them in the hive the next day.  this was very helpful when we warmed up late winter, but there was no food for the bees.  their own supplies were low by then and this gave them extra to see them through what turned out to be a wet and cold spring.
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: annette on September 12, 2007, 07:57:25 pm
Annette, where did you buy the powered sugar for the mite treatment?

I just purchase the sugar at the supermarket. It all has corn starch, but it doesn't harm the bees.

If you need help in doing the treatment, let me know and I can help you.

Annette
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: annette on September 12, 2007, 07:58:55 pm
Yes Finsky,

Kathy answered the question for me. This is what I intent to do if need be.

Annette
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: ElDoBill on September 12, 2007, 08:13:04 pm
Thanks Annette, I thought that confectioners sugar was bad for bees.  Boy I am so ignorant about these creatures.  I received a flyer from Mann Lake advertising their powdered sugar product claiming that using supermarket sugar was a no no.  Sales talk?? check your messages.
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: rdy-b on September 12, 2007, 08:27:16 pm
They are probably referring to mixing it with meds and feeding it to the bees cornstarch is not good if they eat it            RDY-B
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: ElDoBill on September 13, 2007, 12:30:55 pm
Thanks RDY-B, I'm off to Safeway.
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: annette on September 13, 2007, 01:03:39 pm
Thanks Annette, I thought that confectioners sugar was bad for bees.  Boy I am so ignorant about these creatures.  I received a flyer from Mann Lake advertising their powdered sugar product claiming that using supermarket sugar was a no no.  Sales talk?? check your messages.

I believe there is some controversy on this matter, but I have been using the store bought powdered sugar with no problems.

Annette
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: Michael Bush on September 13, 2007, 08:40:12 pm
>I thought that confectioners sugar was bad for bees.

Feeding it would be bad.  Using it for dusting works fine.
Title: Re: I am feeling ready now for winter
Post by: rdy-b on September 14, 2007, 12:54:51 am
Glad to have helped ELDOBILL  now that it is confirmed all is well  ;) RDY-B