It warmed up again so I went into the hives yesterday to mixed reviews. Hive #2 again was doing very well, three boxes full of brood, larva and eggs! This one is looking good.
Hives #1 and #4 did not look as good. Hive #1 seems to have decreased in size. All of the bees were in the bottom box on only about four frames. I did see the queen and there was brood and larva, but I don't understand the size. I did not see any swarm cells and it really seems to have been too cool to swarm anyway, but I am not sure what is going on with it.
Hive #4 was still only in one box (and a medium at that) , I don't understand why this one does not build up. I probably should have replaced the queen (I did see her) - but not sure what the trip point is.
We'll check again next weekend ...
For now - a place to capture my adventures in Virginia beekeeping.
Sweet Accounting
20012 Honey
4/21...16 pints (9 frames)
2011 Honey
8/13... (5 frames, 2 shallow)
7/17..39 pints (11 frames some shallow)
7/4 .. 10 pints (6 frames, (4 shallow))
6/12 .. 18 pints (7 frames)
5/28 .. 20 pints (8 frames)
5/14 .. 25 pints (9 frames)
2010 Honey
afraid my records were poor this year, but based on sales/gifts about 20 gallons.
'09 - honey - 24 gallons!
10/23 . 16 pints (9 frames)
9/18 ... 38 pints
7/11 ... 42 pints (14 frames)
6/21 ... 47 pints (18 frames)
6/13 ... 26 pints (11 frames)
5/26 ... 24 pints
'08 - (# of frames of honey harvested)
Hive #1 (deep frames)
5/21 ... 4
5/29 ... 2
Hive #2 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 3
6/8 ..... 5
6/15 ... 1
Hive #3 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 2
6/8 ..... 3
6/15 ... 4
6/25 ... 1
4/21...16 pints (9 frames)
2011 Honey
8/13... (5 frames, 2 shallow)
7/17..39 pints (11 frames some shallow)
7/4 .. 10 pints (6 frames, (4 shallow))
6/12 .. 18 pints (7 frames)
5/28 .. 20 pints (8 frames)
5/14 .. 25 pints (9 frames)
2010 Honey
afraid my records were poor this year, but based on sales/gifts about 20 gallons.
'09 - honey - 24 gallons!
10/23 . 16 pints (9 frames)
9/18 ... 38 pints
7/11 ... 42 pints (14 frames)
6/21 ... 47 pints (18 frames)
6/13 ... 26 pints (11 frames)
5/26 ... 24 pints
'08 - (# of frames of honey harvested)
Hive #1 (deep frames)
5/21 ... 4
5/29 ... 2
Hive #2 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 3
6/8 ..... 5
6/15 ... 1
Hive #3 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 2
6/8 ..... 3
6/15 ... 4
6/25 ... 1
Dictionary
- Brood Box - where the brood (the eggs, larva and young bees) are raised. Normally the bottom most box.
- Checkerboarding - Interspersing empty brood comb (or even foundation) into the brood area. This is done to give the queen more room to raise brood and hopefully not swarm.
- Entrance Reducer - Just a wooden stick made to fit in the entrance and make the entrance smaller. This will help keep in heat and allow the bees to guard the entrance better against bees that do not belong to the hive (robber bees).
- Orientation Flight - The first trip out of the hive by young bees. They try to understand their location so they can make it back home. Also occurs when the hive is moved.
- Super - meaning "above", is actually any box above the brood box (or boxes). Normally the location of honey!
- Syrup Feeder - Essentialy an upside down canning jar with pin holes punched in the lid. This is placed in the hive to feed the bees as needed.
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