Sunday, 8 March 2015

Beehive Update

Every time I go out to my hive (and Ive been there a lot lately), I get a bit depressed. Dont get me wrong... Im extremely grateful my queen is alive and that each time I go out there it seems there are a few more bees. But I have come to realize I made such a huge mistake that it nearly cost me my entire hive. And Im still very concerned that they wont be strong enough to make it through next winter.


So, let me tell you what NOT to do in beekeeping. 




Going foundationless was actually a good thing. It only took them a week to build out 75 percent of an eight frame shallow super (I dont have a deep super on this hive, but perhaps I should!). Feeding the bees sugar water to get them started was also a good thing. Adding another super - fine. According to the apiculturist at UC Davis, it was a non-issue. I had a nice chat with him on the phone and learned a few things.


Stopping the sugar water was fatal. 


Yes, I made the wrong assumption that a heavy pollen load meant plenty of nectar. And being inexperienced, I didnt realize that the bees needed lots of honey stores or some sugar water with a cool spell and rain that hit and lasted for about 5 days. 


You see, the little bees fan to keep the warm air moving through the hive and to keep the brood and queen alive. They will actually cluster around the queen to try and save her by keeping her warm. Theyll also feed her while they are starving. And starve they did.


They needed more carbs to keep up with the work of keeping the queen and brood warm. And they didnt have it. Its been a week and I still nearly cry each time I open the hive box and look inside to see how theyre doing. I took a picture of a frame so you could see what it looks like so youll recognize it if this happens to you (but Im sure youll be smarter than me!). Ive knocked off the dead bees that were clinging to it, but you can see the other bees that were digging in the comb looking for food and then died. Pitiful. {teary...}




I hope I havent made another colossal mistake, but I decided to remove this frame and replace it with a fresh one. Normally bees will clean out dead brood, but theres just so much - and dead worker bees, too! Im only removing one, but I want to see if theyll start fresh and draw new comb on a frame. They werent really paying attention to this frame and the queen was a few frames over, so I decided to risk it, because there wasnt much to salvage here except some comb; and only if it was cleaned out. 


Needless to say, Im feeding them ample sugar water at this point. According to the apiculturist I talked to, I can stop feeding them if there is mucho honey in them there combs! Say a whole super full. 


Ive learned my lesson and it wont happen again. I just wished Id realized sooner. Im having to teach myself everything because the closest beekeeping class is 2.5 hours away in LA. And thats on a good day without traffic! However, Ive found a few good sites:


Sunset One Block Diet: Team Bee
Beekeeping Naturally @ Bush Farms
Mistress Beek
Backwards Beekeepers

I really appreciate all the kind comments Ive received. So many have struggled with beekeeping, too. Theyre certainly a bit more fragile than say... chickens. But Im already hooked. If this group doesnt make it, Ill be saving pennies to buy more next season, for sure!

P.S. Pip the Cottontail didnt make it. :-( 
Thank you for all your kind words, emails with great advice, and prayers.


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