Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS => Topic started by: annette on August 21, 2008, 03:41:56 pm

Title: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on August 21, 2008, 03:41:56 pm
Well it appears that all this regression stuff seems to have worked. My bees have been drawing out their own combs and the bees have definitely gotten smaller. Even friends have noticed this.

Well the main thing here is everytime I do a mite count on the tray, well there is really nothing to count. Perhaps a handful of mites in each hive. Last year I was a slave to doing powdered sugar treatments all the time. This year only a few times in the Spring.

I will continue to monitor the mites to see what happens. This is an experiment right now.

Just wanted to share this bit of information.
Annette
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Bill W. on August 22, 2008, 01:09:30 am
Congratulations!  The little bees seem more industrious, don't they?
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on August 22, 2008, 02:03:23 am
I don't know about that. Do they work harder than larger bees??   The main thing for me is the mites. I truly hope and pray this works out.

Annette
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Bill W. on August 22, 2008, 02:15:58 am
I don't think they actually are - they just look busier to me because there are more on the combs.  ;)
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on August 22, 2008, 02:17:33 am
They certainly are cuter than the larger bees.
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on August 22, 2008, 11:06:26 am
Annette, you need to clarify what you are saying about the numbers of mites.  YOu said that you are only finding a "handful" now, when I think of a handful of something it is quite a lot.  Please more clearly define what handful means?  That is important, and I need to know, nosey ol' me.... :-D :) :) :)  Have the most wonderful and awesome day, Cindi
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: JP on August 22, 2008, 10:03:13 pm
Please don't keep the rock lady waiting too long Annette.


...JP :-D
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Brian D. Bray on August 23, 2008, 02:31:59 am
They certainly are cuter than the larger bees.

Are you implying that petite is more attractive?
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on August 23, 2008, 09:31:59 am
Cindi,

After the three days of having the sticky tray in the hive I counted only 5 mites in one hive. And 3 in the other. This was the total count without dividing it into 3. Now one important thing. I noticed that I have hives full up capped brood and very little open brood right now. I probably have much more developing mites in with the capped brood. I plan on doing another powdered sugar treatment in about 1 week and then 10 days after that to capture all the mites. I am sure I will find many more mites next week. I will post the results and let you all know.

Love
Annette





Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on August 23, 2008, 03:36:33 pm
JP, you're still a brat!!!
Annette, that is good to hear now, I was picturing about 20,000 mites, I think a handful would be at least that many, hee, hee.  Keep us posted on your mite counting, I think mite counting is a good thing and is not a waster of time.  Beautiful and most wonderful day, love life.  Cindi
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: josbees on November 18, 2008, 11:06:23 am
Annette -- how long did it take you to regress to the smaller bees?  Did you just load up your deep with smaller foundation and let them figure it out?
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on November 18, 2008, 09:27:29 pm
I am not saying for sure that the bees are totally regressed, just that I have noticed that they look smaller to me. I have not done any measuring of the combs.

On one hive, I have been placing frames with starter strips only between frames of brood. I have done this about once every few weeks for a few months during the swarming period. I still have plastic frames in this hive in between all natural frames. The hive is sort of a hodge podge of different frames. But the brood super has a nice amount of just natural frames which I introduced over the course of 2 summers.

On my other hive which was started from a package,this summer,  I just began from the very beginning when I installed the package and used all starter strip frames and let them build their own wax combs.

My last mite count in October was unbelievable. I counted about 3 in one hive and nothing in the other after a three day fall after a powder sugar dustings.

I feel really good about this. Only time will tell how well it will work or if this is even the reason why the count is so low.
It could be other factors why I am showing so little mite count, but I am hoping it is related.

Annette



Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: josbees on November 18, 2008, 11:01:06 pm
Okay.  Duh.  What's a starter strip?
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Melilem on November 18, 2008, 11:59:18 pm
I really like your scientific approach :) Please keep us updated on your progress, Annette. Oh, what type of bees do you have?
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: JP on November 19, 2008, 12:13:45 am
I really like your scientific approach :) Please keep us updated on your progress, Annette. Oh, what type of bees do you have?

Annette keeps honeybees.


...JP
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: josbees on November 19, 2008, 08:44:49 am
Ha ha hahahahahah!
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on November 19, 2008, 02:09:54 pm
The queens are italian.

Starter strips are strips of wax that I melt into the grooves in the frames to give the bees a reference point on where to start to draw out the wax combs.  If you would like more info I can direct you to a very good website from one of our members here who has a video showing how to do this.

 Some beeks here use other things other than wax, like popsicle sticks. The main thing is the bees have a strip of something right down the center of the frame and they then draw out the wax combs really straight. (we hope!!)

Have a great day
annette

Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: josbees on November 19, 2008, 02:39:35 pm
I'd love to take a look at the video.  Thanks Annette!
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Melilem on November 19, 2008, 02:57:37 pm
I really like your scientific approach :) Please keep us updated on your progress, Annette. Oh, what type of bees do you have?

Annette keeps honeybees.


...J

You are a funny, funny man, JP
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: JP on November 19, 2008, 10:09:41 pm
 ;)


...JP :-D
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on November 20, 2008, 09:01:38 pm
Annette, holy smokin' cadoodalhoppers!!!  I have been enlightened.  I have always thought that the popsicle sticks that the people here talked about were held horizontally somehow along the bottom of the top bar.  Now I am getting a picture that the popsicle stick is standing up vertically from the bottom of the frame to the top of the frame, in the centre of that frame, eeks!!!  You see, that is my issue with understanding certain concepts.  Thank goodness I have never tried to use popsicle sticks on my foundationless frames!!!  Have a most wonderful and awesome day and life, great health wishes to us all.  Cindi
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: doak on November 20, 2008, 10:39:36 pm
I still say the wedge top frames are the most versatile.
They will accept what ever one feels like using.
my take. doak
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on November 20, 2008, 11:57:24 pm
I'd love to take a look at the video.  Thanks Annette!

Here it is. Our wonderful member Tillie from Atlanta melts the starter strips into the top groove of the frames.

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2007/04/how-to-use-wax-tube-fastener_26.html

And this explains more about the starter strips

http://beekeeperlinda.blogspot.com/2007/03/small-cell-foundation-starter-strips.html
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: annette on November 21, 2008, 12:00:41 am
Annette, holy smokin' cadoodalhoppers!!!  I have been enlightened.  I have always thought that the popsicle sticks that the people here talked about were held horizontally somehow along the bottom of the top bar.  Now I am getting a picture that the popsicle stick is standing up vertically from the bottom of the frame to the top of the frame, in the centre of that frame, eeks!!!  You see, that is my issue with understanding certain concepts.  Thank goodness I have never tried to use popsicle sticks on my foundationless frames!!!  Have a most wonderful and awesome day and life, great health wishes to us all.  Cindi

Cindi

No the popsicle sticks are glued into the frames on top just like you originally thought. Nothing is placed vertical into the frames. Now you have been unenlightened!!!! Hee!! Hee!!

Love ya
annette
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on November 21, 2008, 10:10:34 am
Annette, oh man, my entire life is full of enlightenment.  I am constantly learning and being enlightened about things, hee, hee, such is life.  I looked at our Linda's blog again, I watched her video on the fastening of the starter strip.  She has put together the most wonderful blog, so proud of her!!!  Gotta take my hat off to that gal!!!

Remember when I posted pictures of my starter strip frames.  Mine were the plastic ones that my Husband cut down, they look almost the same as the starter strip ones that Linda showed us how to make in her video.  The bees liked to use them once they were cut down, reluctant otherwise to use plastic, but they are eventually drawing them out.  I won't buy any more plastic, but am using up the ones that I do have.  Beautiful and most wonderful day, great health wishes for us all.  Cindi

(http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/3417/starterstrip640x480fs0.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

(http://img149.imageshack.us/img149/5406/starterstrip2640x480ad4.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: hongsi on February 06, 2009, 01:07:05 pm
Two years ago I shook down five colonies on to 4.9 foundation. Three of the colonies are surviving after being shook down a second time last year. One hive went down possibly due to mites and the other failed as a result of the mother of all Nosema infections.  The steaking on the hive below the top entrance was beyond heavy and the tops of the frames inside the top entrance were black with fecal matter for a radius of five inches.  I took pictures.  I have fourteen of the eighteen I wintered and I feel the SC hives do better. My mite treatment last fall was mineral oil with Thymol fogged in.  I did this four times and I think it is an effective treatment.  Sure is quick and inexspensive so that I really am hoping that it is an effective solution until I achieve my goal of twenty SC hives making comb honey on clean forage without any non organics in the hive. I berlieve that the two day shorter hatching cycle will result in a tougher bee with a stronger immune system and with the help of Michael Bush's site, my first reference, and invaluable in my efforts, I know I will prove this out. The Jay Smith section on Queen rearing has to be the best.  No you cannot get a good grafted queen and you will know why after reading Jay Smith on Michael's site.  Cheers to all and good luck to all beeks heading in the natural organic direction. Any step in that direction IMHO has to be for the betterment of Apiculture all round.
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on February 07, 2009, 12:33:52 pm
Two years ago I shook down five colonies on to 4.9 foundation. Three of the colonies are surviving after being shook down a second time last year. One hive went down possibly due to mites and the other failed as a result of the mother of all Nosema infections.  The streaking on the hive below the top entrance was beyond heavy and the tops of the frames inside the top entrance were black with fecal matter for a radius of five inches.  I took pictures. 

Hongsi, there is a thread about "what things should look like".  I think that if you have a moment your colony that was heavily struck down with nosema would be an excellent topic to put in that thread, and pictures, if you could get them into the forum would be worth its weight in gold. 

I know that many diseases of the honeybees are more clearly identified if a beekeeper can see a picture.  You know Rod Stewart's song, "every picture tells a story."  Bring it on, when you have a moment.  This is the link to that thread. Have a wonderful, most awesome day, health,  Cindi

http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php?board=95.0

This thread is in one of the pictures forum, it was rather hard to find, I may address this with a moderator.
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: hongsi on February 08, 2009, 06:37:36 pm
Hi Cindi, there you are, I will try and get a photo up, good idea.  By the way did you feel our cold snap had any meaningful detrimental effect on your bees?  The last few days have seen the bees out but no pollen coming in yet tho' there are bleep willows about to give and the catkins on the hazel nut trees are ripening fast.  Here we go again. To the max.  Cheers.
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on February 09, 2009, 12:27:20 pm
Chris, I have been swamped lately, so I haven't been much of a presence on the forum.

Being on the other side of the river to you, I am about 2 weeks behind with all the flows here.  Sounds weird, but yes I am.  I remember John Gibeau (Honeybee Centre) speaking of the flows at his place, probably not too far from you.  At least 2 weeks ahead of me.

I have not had good enough weather to even peek open inside a little bit, I don't think I have seen the bees even flying yet.  Far too cold, even with the past few milder days we have had, not willing to open even for a moment to stuff on a pollen patty.  I am making the patties today to have on hand.  As you know, our weather can warm up so quickly, seriously.  I still have tons of snow on the ground everywhere, but it is beginning to melt. 

No clue if there has been any colony loss.  I will know in a couple of days.  I went into winter with 8 super strong colonies, two deep brood boxes, tons of honey and one less strong colony in a single deep.  We'll see, time will certainly tell that tale.  The catkins on the hazelnut trees are beginning to look like they are maturing, I don't have any p u s s y willow trees here in my IMMEDIATE vicinity that I know of (notice the spaces, otherwise you get bleepwillows, smiling), so I can't see if that.  I am hoping today I will be able to see some activity in the colonies, even a little would be very encouraging.  Time tells that tale.  Have a beautiful, most wonderful day, love and live life.  Cindi
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: hongsi on February 14, 2009, 09:09:30 am
Hi Cindi Yes I guess you are a couple of weeks later on the mysterious north side of the river. And you have bears.  I have looked in my fourteen of seventeen survivors and found them with capped brood.  I have only fogged with mineral oil and Thymol and I am beginning to think that fogging is effective treatment for mites.  I shall continue using this treatment as it is very inexspesive, Quick and is more in line with a kinder more organic approach.  I fed pollen and honey patties in the fall and again last week.  They were set tight together with migratory tops and wrapped.  I wrap the hives to mainly stop the wind blowing on the rain wet boxes, I leave top entrance open of course.  This climate is not bee friendly as compared with the dry interior, hmmmm.  I still like the Fraser canyon where I lived as a child. Sure is dry enough and side walk eggs every day of the summer.  I will get some pix up soon but my still project has had me tied up for a bit.  Is it just me or are there more women than men interested in "natural/org/small"?  It would seem so to me.  Onwards and upwards to victory.  Have an all around good day,  Chris
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on February 14, 2009, 12:56:58 pm
Chris, what part of the Fraser Canyon did you live in as a child.  I am very excited about the thoughts of moving to the interior, no mossy, green, slimey, black slimey stuff, and NO SLUGS!!!  Yay, I seriously can't wait for the dry climate, really tired of the rainforest of our area.  Beautiful day in this great life, health.  Cindi
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: hongsi on February 14, 2009, 03:39:08 pm
Hi Cindi,  I was ten years old and landed in Lytton with my family in 1948 from UK.  I thought Lytton was another spelling for paradise.  My life to that time had been dominated by years of various lung related problems.  These problems ceased to exist within days of living in that friendly dry climate and I had my first ever perfect school attendance.  Community life was, for a one street half Indian railroad town was to say the least robust and pulsing with inter community athletic programs year round, a John Wayne movie once a week, gravel trucks loaded with kids taken for free the twenty miles to Big Horn where the motel had a real concrete swimming pool ever so Hollywood, and more. The town took a real interest in the kids and laid on programs for adults of all kinds. Gotta Go.  Cheers C
Title: Re: I have smaller bees now!!!
Post by: Cindi on February 15, 2009, 12:45:38 pm
Hongsi, oh what a beautiful story you have painted for my mind's eye.  Lytton, never been through there, but I will be googling it.  I think it may be near Cache Creek.....hold on.....

http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=3361

50th parallel

http://www.hellobc.com/NR/rdonlyres/196F50E4-DC25-4CEF-9E49-89B6EC18011C/0/BC01.pdf

Lytton is west of the area that we are wanting to move to, we are heading towards the Vernon/Armstrong/Enderby area.  Basically, somewhere in the Okanagan Valley, which is enormous!!!  I was looking at the sites for Lytton, and it surely sounds like a beautiful place, dry, that would be very desirable.  Have a great, most wonderful day, health.  Cindi