Antcliff Farms: Where have all the queens gone?

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Where have all the queens gone?

It appears now that I have three queenless hives :(

I went ahead and put a frame of eggs, larva and brood from Hive #2 into Hives #1 and #3 to see if they would go ahead and make a new queen. Hopefully, I did not move the queen from hive #2! Hive #2 is still going strong.

However, as I looked into hive #4 I could not find evidence of a queen there either! Yikes, I 'll check on this one again soon.

2 comments:

gerry said...: Rich, as a new beekeeper I find your blog updates very useful. I have established a couple of colonies that, with Ronnie Henk's help, seem to be doing well. At some time in the future I would hope to be doing what you are now doung with splits. Keep up the good work and good luck finding queens.; May 4, 2009 at 8:04 AM
Steve @ Serenity Farm said...: Rich,

Yeah, I find what you post useful too. Please keep up the good information.

I went into the hive yesterday (Sunday)mainly to clean the top feeder (a BetterBee special) which was developing mildew. Probably shouldn't have. Forgot to twist the feeder before I lifted it - brought up a frame with it - burr combed together. Bees weren't too impressed with my lack of skill and followed my most of the way back to the shop (several hundred yards) before they were convinced I was gone. I'll put the feeder back on today if the weather holds and the bees cool off some.

Worked with Ronnie Henk for a number of years in Facilities Engineering. One of my favorite memories is climbing up inside the then-new Langley water tower under Ronnie. Like climbing in a light rain. It was a hot day.

Here's a link - http://www.wildwoodforesthoney.com/bee_blog/?p=469

The guy who writes this blog has talked about re-queening in a couple of entries.

-s-; May 4, 2009 at 9:02 AM

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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

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.

Antcliff Farms

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Where have all the queens gone?

2 comments:

Sweet Accounting

Dictionary

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