Comments for Mud Songs http://mudsongs.org Cold climate beekeeping. We'll figure it out eventually. Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:02:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= CommentsForMudSongshttp://feedburner.google.com Comment on Beekeeping Plans for 2012 by Jeff http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/GZ9qWU_XFAE/ Jeff Sat, 25 Feb 2012 21:02:05 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8369#comment-21922 Funny to see this post Phil. I am working on top hive feeders today. I'm planning for 5 feeders to get the bees off to a roaring start. Now I have 130 deep ready for this year, 5 colonies and a few nucs. Funny to see this post Phil. I am working on top hive feeders today. I’m planning for 5 feeders to get the bees off to a roaring start.

Now I have 130 deep ready for this year, 5 colonies and a few nucs.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/beekeeping-plans-for-2012/#comment-21922 Comment on Jeff’s Splinter Colony by Jeff http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/K4XXPbQfKM0/ Jeff Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:42:39 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8361#comment-21727 Next year I intend to place out a few swarm traps to tryto make life easier. Next year I intend to place out a few swarm traps to tryto make life easier.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/jeffs-splinter-colony/#comment-21727 Comment on Jeff’s Splinter Colony by John Jolliff http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/x1bxpUb1Ca4/ John Jolliff Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:19:30 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8361#comment-21724 Very Nice video As a wannabee with Bees on order I appreciate all the great advice.. And yall are my mentors to cold weather beekeeping.. Very Nice video As a wannabee with Bees on order I appreciate all the great advice.. And yall are my mentors to cold weather beekeeping..

]]> http://mudsongs.org/jeffs-splinter-colony/#comment-21724 Comment on Jeff’s Splinter Colony by Gretchen http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/74FafJ1udZs/ Gretchen Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:05:22 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8361#comment-21723 Whoa, that's a tall ladder. That's my fear if my bees swarm -- our trees are so tall around them, I don't know how we'd get them. Great video, and thanks for "the rest of the story", Jeff. Whoa, that’s a tall ladder. That’s my fear if my bees swarm — our trees are so tall around them, I don’t know how we’d get them. Great video, and thanks for “the rest of the story”, Jeff.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/jeffs-splinter-colony/#comment-21723 Comment on Jeff’s Splinter Colony by Ed Skinner http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/laeCVT0MNFY/ Ed Skinner Mon, 20 Feb 2012 14:53:52 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8361#comment-21715 Down here in the Arizona desert, and with most bees now having some "killer bee" ancestry in their family tree, non-bee folk tend to freak out at the sight of a single bee much less a swarm. At our Phoenix home, a swarm stopped for a rest stop at our patio umbrella for a couple of hours not too long ago. We kept the dogs in as they were a bit excited but, other than that, we enjoyed an excellent view from the kitchen sliding door before the scouts found a new home and the splinter hive - good term, thank you - put down new roots, Some "bee removal" services here try to take advantage of the fear factor - their advertising clearly plays to it. But most services have to provide many other services, not bee related, to stay in business because most full-time residents are used to the bees and pay little attention. At the pistol range yesterday there were several flying about, no doubt inspecting the fine hardware on the bench, but they bothered no one and no one bothered them. (The range is adjacent to the largest natural city park in the US.) Down here in the Arizona desert, and with most bees now having some “killer bee” ancestry in their family tree, non-bee folk tend to freak out at the sight of a single bee much less a swarm. At our Phoenix home, a swarm stopped for a rest stop at our patio umbrella for a couple of hours not too long ago. We kept the dogs in as they were a bit excited but, other than that, we enjoyed an excellent view from the kitchen sliding door before the scouts found a new home and the splinter hive – good term, thank you – put down new roots,

Some “bee removal” services here try to take advantage of the fear factor – their advertising clearly plays to it. But most services have to provide many other services, not bee related, to stay in business because most full-time residents are used to the bees and pay little attention. At the pistol range yesterday there were several flying about, no doubt inspecting the fine hardware on the bench, but they bothered no one and no one bothered them. (The range is adjacent to the largest natural city park in the US.)

]]> http://mudsongs.org/jeffs-splinter-colony/#comment-21715 Comment on Jeff’s Splinter Colony by Jeff http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/4YmPDKSRDOQ/ Jeff Sun, 19 Feb 2012 01:47:11 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8361#comment-21682 Thanks Phil, That was awsome you do some amazing editing. Just a quick summary for everyone. On July 8th I observed queen cells and proceeded to remove them from the colony. All I did was prolong the enevable. So all I could do was let nature take its. When I went back in and dsicovered more queen cells I selected only the best 4 to remain. On July 18th I decided to leave work early to split the colony and try a modified Demaree method to prevent the swarm as I was afraid I was going to loose the bees when they did swarm. While I was lighting my smoker this happened (above). As you can see I did manage to catch the girls and I was amazed to see they did not form one big clusted are you see on most Youtube videos. I managed to shake a good many bees into the deep brood box with just wax coated plastic foundation. I shold have used a frame of open brood but thats for next time. The queen landed on the top of the box and I managed to drop her in and the rest was history. Once I had all the bees knocked off the maple I carried the branch as far as I could away to reduce the pheromone scent. I proceeded to move this swarm about 6 miles away to a friends place, I feed this swarm for 10 days until they were in the second deep brood box and after two weeks 18 of the 20 deep frames were pulled out. I waited until the middle of August and added a medium honey super with just foundation. They started pulling that out during the flow. By Sept 15th they had one medium filled with honey and mostly capped and a second box had most of the frames drawn out and partially filled with honey. I proceeded to take 11 frames to have extracted for ~26 lb of honey and they rest was placed back on the colony for reserves for over the winter. Looking back on it I would have preformed the Demaree much sooner but as a newbie there is always the fear factor trying this. Or the second option was to allow the original queen cells to be capped. That would have added 10 days to our season and may have allowed for additional honey. But overall it worked out well. Thanks Phil for added this to your site. I really appreciate it and you did a wonderful job. Cheers Jeff Thanks Phil,

That was awsome you do some amazing editing.

Just a quick summary for everyone. On July 8th I observed queen cells and proceeded to remove them from the colony. All I did was prolong the enevable. So all I could do was let nature take its. When I went back in and dsicovered more queen cells I selected only the best 4 to remain. On July 18th I decided to leave work early to split the colony and try a modified Demaree method to prevent the swarm as I was afraid I was going to loose the bees when they did swarm. While I was lighting my smoker this happened (above).

As you can see I did manage to catch the girls and I was amazed to see they did not form one big clusted are you see on most Youtube videos. I managed to shake a good many bees into the deep brood box with just wax coated plastic foundation. I shold have used a frame of open brood but thats for next time. The queen landed on the top of the box and I managed to drop her in and the rest was history. Once I had all the bees knocked off the maple I carried the branch as far as I could away to reduce the pheromone scent.

I proceeded to move this swarm about 6 miles away to a friends place, I feed this swarm for 10 days until they were in the second deep brood box and after two weeks 18 of the 20 deep frames were pulled out. I waited until the middle of August and added a medium honey super with just foundation. They started pulling that out during the flow. By Sept 15th they had one medium filled with honey and mostly capped and a second box had most of the frames drawn out and partially filled with honey.

I proceeded to take 11 frames to have extracted for ~26 lb of honey and they rest was placed back on the colony for reserves for over the winter.

Looking back on it I would have preformed the Demaree much sooner but as a newbie there is always the fear factor trying this. Or the second option was to allow the original queen cells to be capped. That would have added 10 days to our season and may have allowed for additional honey. But overall it worked out well.

Thanks Phil for added this to your site. I really appreciate it and you did a wonderful job.

Cheers Jeff

]]> http://mudsongs.org/jeffs-splinter-colony/#comment-21682 Comment on Dry Sugar Check Up and Pollen Patties by Phillip http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/pyNQuA1yDRc/ Phillip Thu, 16 Feb 2012 19:30:57 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8359#comment-21613 I've decided that when I give the bees dry sugar next winter (it's definitely my preferred method), I won't cover the entire frames. Instead, I'll lay down paper over the back half or two-thirds of the top bars so they bees can access the sugar more easily --- and mainly so I can add pollen patties with less hassle later in February. Here's a video I found that demonstrates what I'm talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=C0NOAslznCo#t=117s I’ve decided that when I give the bees dry sugar next winter (it’s definitely my preferred method), I won’t cover the entire frames. Instead, I’ll lay down paper over the back half or two-thirds of the top bars so they bees can access the sugar more easily — and mainly so I can add pollen patties with less hassle later in February. Here’s a video I found that demonstrates what I’m talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f.....nCo#t=117s

]]> http://mudsongs.org/dry-sugar-check-up-and-pollen-patties/#comment-21613 Comment on Bee Notes by Phillip http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/FbGNm7G6n44/ Phillip Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:15:00 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/#comment-21607 Big news everybody: I've changed up some of the categories on Mud Songs. The "How-To" category is gone. Just about everything I post could qualify as "how-to." The <a href="/how-to/" rel="nofollow">How To</a> page will hold the most useful HOW-TOs for now on. The "Foundationless Frames" category is gone because it was too broad. It's been replaced by <a href="/category/foundationless/" rel="nofollow">Foundationless Hives</a> to specify foundationless brood chambers. I also added <a href="/category/foundationless-supers/" rel="nofollow">Foundationless Supers</a> to specify HONEY SUPERS with foundationless frames, or honey that comes from foundationless frames. I try to minimize the number of categories and keep them simple because it's too easy for them to get out of control, but there's not much I could do about these ones. As you were. Big news everybody: I’ve changed up some of the categories on Mud Songs.

The “How-To” category is gone. Just about everything I post could qualify as “how-to.” The How To page will hold the most useful HOW-TOs for now on.

The “Foundationless Frames” category is gone because it was too broad. It’s been replaced by Foundationless Hives to specify foundationless brood chambers. I also added Foundationless Supers to specify HONEY SUPERS with foundationless frames, or honey that comes from foundationless frames.

I try to minimize the number of categories and keep them simple because it’s too easy for them to get out of control, but there’s not much I could do about these ones.

As you were.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/beekeeping/#comment-21607 Comment on And So It Goes by Phillip http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/Jsh-7DJfKWg/ Phillip Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:14:03 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8356#comment-21583 The design for my <a href="/making-insulated-inner-hive-covers/" rel="nofollow">insulated inner covers</a> are based on a design I borrowed from a local beekeeper who's been using them for years. He told me he's tried bee quilts with wood chips, etc., but the covers are least hassle for him and work just as well as anything else. I'm glad their working for you. I plan to add pollen patties to my four hives as soon as I can. If we ever get a warm day around here again. The design for my insulated inner covers are based on a design I borrowed from a local beekeeper who’s been using them for years. He told me he’s tried bee quilts with wood chips, etc., but the covers are least hassle for him and work just as well as anything else. I’m glad their working for you.

I plan to add pollen patties to my four hives as soon as I can. If we ever get a warm day around here again.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/and-so-it-goes/#comment-21583 Comment on And So It Goes by Phillip http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CommentsForMudSongs/~3/lDQ-ZH3Ll6o/ Phillip Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:08:04 +0000 http://mudsongs.org/?p=8356#comment-21582 I couldn't clear away the bodies because they were frozen solid. We've had an unusually cold winter so far. It's a rare day when the temperatures go above freezing. I couldn’t clear away the bodies because they were frozen solid. We’ve had an unusually cold winter so far. It’s a rare day when the temperatures go above freezing.

]]> http://mudsongs.org/and-so-it-goes/#comment-21582