Times and trials

So, for the past month I've been dealing with the two Orchard hive losing their queens. At a loss as to why they disappeared however replaced the twice and finally one took and the other hive finally got tired and made their own. They did this with the help of myself by me giving them brand new brood from which they made queen cells from.

So today harvested a couple more frames of honey and saw that one hive gas eggs and is doing well and the other has a new queen. Yet to make her virgin flight, so hoping for the best.

So far I have harvested about 50lbs if honey. Will start bottling soon.

Also caught some wild bees at the Kelly residence with the help of Clarence. He was moving them in to a new box this week.

Update on a hot week

 Some honeybees are hanging out outside of box with the high 80 degree temps.

 Even though it rained half the day the bees were active this evening but mostly trying to stay cooler.

 Microtel bees are doing well but decided to try out my sugar feeders. Installed two gallon feeder this evening.

Filling with sugar water so they can build comb quicker.

 Strong numbers. The transfer killed very few of the wild bees.

 In four days, the honeybees built out 2.5 frames.

1/2 the honeycomb are filled with new eggs? The queen must be happy with her new digs.

PHOTOS FROM THE 15TH.

Wild Bee Install Day

Ready for install of Microtel bees

The only bees left outside of brood box in evening of wild bee install.

Peeking out the top board.

Received my new brood box from Clarence @ CS Honey today. Had bees in temporary cardboard box  since Friday. In the mean time the queen had started laying eggs in the comb that the workers had already started building. Hoping that she wasn't damaged while I poured them in. Will be going back after this evening to shut brood box and take way cardboard. Crossing my fingers.

I also checked all other hives and they all are doing well with strongest at the Vinyard.

Visit 6-17-13

All Photos by Alexander Ruhaak

No wind, temperature was in high 70's but earlier was in 80's.

 Inspecting Prairie Hawk Vineyard hive.

 This is what happens when you leave one frame out. Pretty cool. They made their own. I hoping to keep it as it's full of eggs. It's attached to the top board. They made this comb in about 8 days.

 Catching me in a serious mode I guess.

 Here I'm checking on a beekeeper friend's bees.

 Not sure why they group like this, pretty cool.

Sunset caught by Alex.

 I have removed all the reducers on all the brood boxes.

 I believe this is a Daring Jumping Spider. It doesn't look like it dares. 

Looks as if it plays for keeps.

 Guess I should get a few more frames. Looks like I'm making my own

custom honeycomb for my honey.

Filling the frames quite nicely in vinyard hive.

Week of May 20th

Meeting of the minds. It's amazing how they communicate.

Playing while I tend the bees

The exchange

Perfect comb.

I had never noticed this demonstration before. While pulling frames apart

to check the brood, the bees made a chain to try to keep them together. Not sure exactly what they are doing, but it doesn't seem to hurt them.