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The post titled “Bad-ant ant advice and the ascension of bees” coaxed readers out of the woodwork. Some agreed with me that the ants were not the problem, some thought they were definitely the problem, and others thought there wasn’t enough information. I have to say that I learned a lot from the discussion. [...] Sometimes little gems of wisdom get hidden within the comments section. In this tip, Jim of Withers Mountain Honey Farm in Flint, Michigan, describes how he bolsters new bee packages with brood from strong hives that might swarm. It is a way to equalize the strength of his hives while boosting packages and reducing [...] Every time I install a new package of bees, I get post-package anxiety. It comes from thinking too much about the egregious price I just paid for a bunch of bees that, save for the queen, has a lifespan of four or five weeks. Not only is the package doomed to fade away, but [...] The answer to this question depends on whether you are starting the colony on new equipment or previously drawn comb. If you are starting a package on bare equipment with no comb, almost no amount of sugar syrup is too much the first year. The first thing the bees have to do is build [...] When your three-pound package of bees arrives, aren’t you just dying to know how many bees are in there? You know your cost per pound, but what is your cost per bee? According to The ABC & XYZ of Bee Culture, European honey bee workers on an empty stomach number about 4000 to the [...] This is just a reminder. If you are planning on ordering queens or packaged bees for spring, now is the time to do it. The old rule of thumb was “order by the winter solstice.” But now, with bees in short supply due to a variety of ailments, it’s a good idea to order [...] One of the common concerns when installing a package is how long to keep the queen caged. Experienced beekeepers have very different philosophies on this subject, ranging from “just release her with the package” to “keep her confined 7 to 10 days.” Several readers have asked why I recommend 2-3 days. You can’t make [...] |
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