buzzzzzzzzzz new adventure

[addy1]

Today's project...........making a flat spot on our sloping yard for the bee hives and stand. Nice 65 today, but it was raining when I was out there digging, then of course the rain stopped.

 

[j.w]

You're gettin it done addy and soon the place will be buzzin

 

[addy1]

A lot more work than I knew when we started this project.
They highly recommend you do no buy used equipment unless it is certified disease free. American foul brood is a nasty thing that hits the bees, then you have to burn the hive. We have a bee inspector here, you register your hive, then he comes and checks on the bees, free. They also have a dog that is trained to sniff out the afb disease. If found burn the hives. We were trained on how to recognize it. With our program here we have only a 1.3 % incident of it. Almost wiped out in maryland.

So we are putting together new hives, nailing painting etc.

 

[j.w]

Good for you on doing everything so perfect so the bees have a good hope of survival. That would be hard to care for them and then find out they were diseased and have to kill them all. I would be so sad

 

[HARO]

I don't imagine the bees would be all that happy either!
John

 

[addy1]

I don't imagine the bees would be all that happy either!
John

They are all dead by the time that afb takes over. nasty stuff, so they have no clue. Nothing you can do except get rid of the infected hives etc.

 

[addy1]

Our first nuc arrived today, out grooming lilies and we got the call the bees are ready, so wiped off pond muck and took off to get them.

Their new home to be

my hand is resting on the nuc, waiting for me to pull the yellow plug and release the girls.

the girls escaping.............

Transferring the frames from the nuc to the brood box

doing a quick inspection

settling in

 

[michey1st]

This is soooo cool! Not gonna lie, I'd be totally freaked out if I came across all those bees in a dark alley, lol!

 

[addy1]

They were a little testy having been boxed up for a few days. So therefore gloves, full suit for the first setup trip, But still gentle, they have no desire to harm you

 

[j.w]

Very nice addy! Looks like they like their new home sweet home
When you get the other hives will they sit right next to each other on the white boards? They don't bother each others hives eh?

 

[addy1]

Very nice addy! Looks like they like their new home sweet home
When you get the other hives will they sit right next to each other on the white boards? They don't bother each others hives eh?

They can be right next to each other, they sometimes go to the wrong hive, but most of the time they don't. All by the scent of the queen.

 

[j.w]

This is gonna be so cool seeing you work w/ the bees step by step. Hope you get some good honey

 

[sissy]

I can see the fresh honey now

 

[addy1]

I can see the fresh honey now

There is some, the first frames are filled with brood, eggs, larvae, pupae. After they fill two boxes with brood, 10 frames, if it is a good nectar year, they will then fill frames with honey. Towards the end of the summer they quit doing as much brood and start collecting a lot of honey for the winter.

 

[Mmathis]

What's a "nuc," and why is it called that?