If the queen was injured during the swarming or when you gathered the swarm and was a virgin, she may have never been able to make her mating flight....
That is nature, boom and bust with a few lull years in between. Yes it is common to bee a boost in population after a decline. I also have gone from...
Caught our third swarm from the tree next door. Again I do not think it came from our hives. This brings our total hives to 12 with one swarm having...
You stand a pretty good chance of getting the queen during her mating flights. but I woudl not be waiting to set up the trap. Also I woudl not assume...
Feeding the bees will encourage them to draw comb. getting them to draw it exactly where you want it can be another issue at times. Dependign on what...
I very seldom confirm a queen by seeing her. I wait a week or even two and then inspect for eggs. I consider the presence of eggs. given they are not...
I start my smoker with some fast burning materials such as sawdust, stems and stalks from tobacco plants. small chips of wood. I get a flame started...
I have a bit of a different way to describe the standard I have for a nuc. A nuc is a mini fully functioning colony. This means it has a mated laying...
I am often shocked at just who the people are that can't wait to come watch and those that do not. the big burly tough guy claiming allergies to bees...
Comb drawing to me so far is a great mystery. I have swarms that will fill frames in a matter of days. while I have seen others that have not drawn 7...
My only experience with virgin queens has been from queen cells that various hives have produced. I have been able this year to witness the emergence...
Here is my math. From the moment the queen is removed it is 21 days (3 weeks) Until the last of her brood even emerges. IT is during that time a new...
It has been nearly a month since I posted on this thread. But for me it is sort of a history of my season and is handy to come back to. The reason I...
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