Beekeeping

[CloverKnollFarms]

On the splits, how do you get worker bees moved to the new hive? What keeps them from returning to the original hive?

Amazing bees!

Worker bees consist of different types really. Nurse bees don't leave the hive, they will stay with the brood on those frames. You will lose foragers, but if you provide resources, they don't need foragers for a while.

We did a split last year that consisted of a new queen, about two handfuls of nurse bees and two frames of brood... This spring they are growing and thriving

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Sold three more hives this week, and three more traps. I may have to pick up the pace with builds.

Luckily I do have a couple 14 frame un-insulated hives that I can keep small colonies in, until some builds are complete.

 

[BackRoad]

Interesting!

I imagine you just have to squint to read the "Nurse Bee" or "Forager Bee" name tags on each bee...

Actually I do find it amazing. Bees, and ants (and their termite cousins) are about the only insects that somehow manage to work together in a commonly shared objective with defined roles and unique learned skills. They protect the unborn, care for the young, work for the good of the hive, and store food for the future...

And they're "just" insects...we should learn a thing or two from them!

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Interesting!

I imagine you just have to squint to read the "Nurse Bee" or "Forager Bee" name tags on each bee...

Actually I do find it amazing. Bees, and ants (and their termite cousins) are about the only insects that somehow manage to work together in a commonly shared objective with defined roles and unique learned skills. They protect the unborn, care for the young, work for the good of the hive, and store food for the future...

And they're "just" insects...we should learn a thing or two from them!

Yep, and some would say they are an accident of nature.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Checked on the remainder of the hives today. Wow, lots of brood and queen cells... Even pulled out some honey from last season. Looks like I'll be making a split or two in the coming week with all these resources! Super stoked to be retired and have time to manage this.

 

[drumminj]

Queen cells presumably because they're rearing to swarm?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Queen cells presumably because they're rearing to swarm?

Yessir.

 

[etpm]

I'm not a bee keeper but I have a question about hives. As I drive up the highway on Whidbey I pass a place that has a bunch of hives stacked up. The typical almost square hives. Anyway, the hives are painted in various bright colors, almost as if someone was just trying to have some colorful hives. My questions: Do the colors matter? Are these hives maybe being painted in these various colors to somehow benefit the bees? I have been enjoying reading about bee keeping and have considered it, my wife too, but until I make that giant step I'll keep reading this thread.
Eric

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'm not a bee keeper but I have a question about hives. As I drive up the highway on Whidbey I pass a place that has a bunch of hives stacked up. The typical almost square hives. Anyway, the hives are painted in various bright colors, almost as if someone was just trying to have some colorful hives. My questions: Do the colors matter? Are these hives maybe being painted in these various colors to somehow benefit the bees? I have been enjoying reading about bee keeping and have considered it, my wife too, but until I make that giant step I'll keep reading this thread.
Eric

Most bee keepers use the cheapest paint they can find. Often discounted at retailers because the colors were mixed incorrectly. That probably best explains it.
I use the same paint religiously, because I care more about quality

 

[LittleBittyBigJohn]

I'm not sure paint color denotes quality in any way, but it does look more uniform, if you like that type of thing.

Although the oops paint is one possibility, there are many other reasons. There are some beekeepers who believe it's easier for the bees to locate their hive in a busy apiary if there are different colors of hives. I'm skeptical of that personally. Some people do like to have colorful hives and even paint little flowers and things on them. You may see Langstroth hives that are different colors in the same "stack". Langstroth's are modular and you typically add and remove components throughout the year. It could be that the beekeeper wanted mixed colors or it could be that they had started with different color full hives but necessity required that they use what was available and it was a different color than the other parts on that hive.

Beekeepers can be an eclectic bunch. Around our parts you get the uniformity of CloverKnoll, to tie die hippies with their bold colors with randomly distributed hives, and everywhere in between. There are as many ways and methods to keep bees as there are beekeepers. A lot of them will tell you the way they do it, or the equipment they use, is the best. They are right, and they are wrong. They have determined it's the best way for them, but it may not be the best way for you. Also, hive management styles typically change over time, as you try new things or as you notice how the bees react to your methods.

I like that so many people are getting education and enjoyment. More bees is more better.