We’ve had bees about 6 years now and probably about 3 years ago we realized that if they’re not eating this time of year something’s not right! We also get quite a few tiny swarms this time of year and believe it’s those queens that are failing and leaving with the few that are still loyal to her! Just our thoughts though! Thanks for sharing Harris!!
Hi there! You've mostly described one of my colonies and after endless effort to turn them around, I've just decided I'm leaving them bee and allow the cold weather to finish them off. Thanks for the video.
Great thoughts. In the spring if a colony isn’t amping up, making bees for nucs and honey, that’s when I requeen. Nuc and honey production is a priority for me, so I have no place for a queen that’s just doing okay through summer. This keeps my queens young, and my production high.
We run around 100 producing colonies throughout summer. Probably 25% of them kind of fall apart right about now usually. We combat this by producing small splits in the spring that allowed to grow into a 4 / 4 configuration. These colonies present issues far less frequently and overwinter in clusters quite well. Without doing this we would be buying packages all the time.
Just had another hive robbed out. There are so many things that destroy a colony. UGH. Dumped the bees and put the honey frames on another colony. This was too late to figure what actually happened. But, it was fine a couple weeks ago.
You have a mess Harris.😁There's Winter Harris🧔he gets shaggy. I am beginning to think most beekeepers do not have the pollen flow I do, I have good pollen almost all season long. I have 1 or 2 that I believe are smaller I'm keeping an eye on, they are some of my later starts. I'll decide over the next week if they go to the long hive or if they get stacked. Blessed Days Harris...
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I think your spot on!!!! Thanks Harris!
thank you Rodney
Makes sense. The hard part is identifying the poor queens. At least you have a tool you can try.
yes. we need ways to compare queen strength and I think this is a good way. the bees will tell us everything if we ask correctly
We’ve had bees about 6 years now and probably about 3 years ago we realized that if they’re not eating this time of year something’s not right!
We also get quite a few tiny swarms this time of year and believe it’s those queens that are failing and leaving with the few that are still loyal to her! Just our thoughts though! Thanks for sharing Harris!!
using this to help grade the colonies to be sent into winter really helps with winter loss
Hi there! You've mostly described one of my colonies and after endless effort to turn them around, I've just decided I'm leaving them bee and allow the cold weather to finish them off. Thanks for the video.
one of the things I learned this year is to spend less time on the weak ones, and more on the strong
Great thoughts. In the spring if a colony isn’t amping up, making bees for nucs and honey, that’s when I requeen. Nuc and honey production is a priority for me, so I have no place for a queen that’s just doing okay through summer. This keeps my queens young, and my production high.
some of my best colonies requeen in aug. and usually do great
I believe you've got it, dear Watson!😊
just one more tool in our tool box
We run around 100 producing colonies throughout summer. Probably 25% of them kind of fall apart right about now usually. We combat this by producing small splits in the spring that allowed to grow into a 4 / 4 configuration. These colonies present issues far less frequently and overwinter in clusters quite well. Without doing this we would be buying packages all the time.
I have splits I made earlier to help fix the dwindlers, I just started 5/5 on pallets and I will continue that next year, they really grow well
Just had another hive robbed out. There are so many things that destroy a colony. UGH. Dumped the bees and put the honey frames on another colony. This was too late to figure what actually happened. But, it was fine a couple weeks ago.
when the robbing starts they can strip a colony in a day. it can be hard to stay ahead of them
Busy time!
it has been crazy busy. next year I will have a better plan, LOL
You have a mess Harris.😁There's Winter Harris🧔he gets shaggy.
I am beginning to think most beekeepers do not have the pollen flow I do, I have good pollen almost all season long.
I have 1 or 2 that I believe are smaller I'm keeping an eye on, they are some of my later starts. I'll decide over the next week if they go to the long hive or if they get stacked. Blessed Days Harris...
it all starts with a plan