Checked on the 4 hives and I had been a bit worried when it was warm and saw no activity. What surprised me was that the Italian package didn't make it and while it was strong toward the end of summer it was the slowest to ramp up. The two Russian hives are with bees at the top and the survivor hive.
Will have to get some food for them just to be sure. The challenge will be the weather next week with an artic cold front coming Monday night.
See an update later.
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Oui Bits Apiary Start of the 2014 year
First let me introduce myself and why I am using a blog. I started the apiary several years ago in my backyard. I lived in Florida and on some weekends would drive to New Smyrna Beach and on the way always see several bee colonies in boxes. I was interested then what was going on and living near orange groves I was always seeing bees. I mowed yards for a living and frequently saw bees. The time I am describing is 1960s-1970s and I helped a few apiaries on and off and it was fun. I never pursued it on my own but always thought about bees and having a colony. Fast forward the mid-1990s I picked up my first 'bee book' by Robert Morse and that really hooked me but I wasn't able to find a place to keep bees. Then in 2010 I discovered the book by Roger Morse in my library and re-read it. I started out on my quest as I had heard about CCD and mites along with all the other challenges and I decided to start a few hives.
In July 2010 I got my first colony, actually two, and that was my first learning, always have two colonies. In this case though I should add the line 'Of the same type of bee'. I got them in July and had a colony for Italians and Carniolans. Two very different bees but the first year was easy just get them to build out comb. I did that they had two deep boxes fully built out comb, 20 frames in each hive. I was a success my first year and no chemicals. My hives made it through winter and in 2011 produced a bit of honey. I relaxed this was easy and didn't pay attention, several lessons were learned here. Be more involved, have spare equipment, watch the bees behavior and spare equipment is always best.
The hives swarmed I missed the swarms in late summer and both barely made it through the winter. Then in early spring I realized not much left of either hive and I replaced them with two packages of 4 pounds of bees. One package was Russian bees (cold weather) and one package of Italian bees each with an extra queen. I split the two packages in half and ended up with four hives in total. Two Russian hives and two Italian hives. Plus last year I picked up an hive that was dying off at a colleagues house as he wasn't interested in having bees any more that hive I believe is Italian and has a very strong resistance to everything. So great I have 5 hives doing ok. last summer I one of the packages faded and I combined that to make a total of four hives in Oui Bits Apiary.
I am thrilled with it and I will share everything I do this year and certainly pictures. I will say I am going to be using three deep configurations and nucs to make sure the bees are strong. You'll nucs as smaller boxes (5 frames).
I want to say if at anytime you have questions or comments or want to say hi, please do and let me know where you are and if you keep bees. I have a blog of sorts on Facebook also Oui Bits Apiary and love to hear from you there too.
Email is several:
Oui_Bits_Apiary@comcast.net
john.p.eick@gmail.com
Facebook Ouibits Apiary
Stop on by.... take a look.
In July 2010 I got my first colony, actually two, and that was my first learning, always have two colonies. In this case though I should add the line 'Of the same type of bee'. I got them in July and had a colony for Italians and Carniolans. Two very different bees but the first year was easy just get them to build out comb. I did that they had two deep boxes fully built out comb, 20 frames in each hive. I was a success my first year and no chemicals. My hives made it through winter and in 2011 produced a bit of honey. I relaxed this was easy and didn't pay attention, several lessons were learned here. Be more involved, have spare equipment, watch the bees behavior and spare equipment is always best.
The hives swarmed I missed the swarms in late summer and both barely made it through the winter. Then in early spring I realized not much left of either hive and I replaced them with two packages of 4 pounds of bees. One package was Russian bees (cold weather) and one package of Italian bees each with an extra queen. I split the two packages in half and ended up with four hives in total. Two Russian hives and two Italian hives. Plus last year I picked up an hive that was dying off at a colleagues house as he wasn't interested in having bees any more that hive I believe is Italian and has a very strong resistance to everything. So great I have 5 hives doing ok. last summer I one of the packages faded and I combined that to make a total of four hives in Oui Bits Apiary.
I am thrilled with it and I will share everything I do this year and certainly pictures. I will say I am going to be using three deep configurations and nucs to make sure the bees are strong. You'll nucs as smaller boxes (5 frames).
I want to say if at anytime you have questions or comments or want to say hi, please do and let me know where you are and if you keep bees. I have a blog of sorts on Facebook also Oui Bits Apiary and love to hear from you there too.
Email is several:
Oui_Bits_Apiary@comcast.net
john.p.eick@gmail.com
Facebook Ouibits Apiary
Stop on by.... take a look.
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