CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
4 hours start to finish is a record.
Beekeeping
- Thread starter LittleBittyBigJohn
- Start date
- Views: 96485
ponytug
Super Member
Congratulations!
I'm curious about the two hives and the buckets with different holes. Is there a story?
All the best,
Peter
I'm curious about the two hives and the buckets with different holes. Is there a story?
All the best,
Peter
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
The buckets are set up for vacuuming bees. The hive is a temporary 14 frame Layens hive that we place the bees in, with their brood, and a couple fully drawn, empty frames. At the end of the job, as the foragers work out where their queen is, we leave the box for them to re-orient and settle in. The buckets were used to lift it off the ground in the interim.
We will bring them home in about 36 hours and give them some frames that are fully drawn, but full of honey and pollen, to help them recover from the cutout faster.
The bees were VERY docile during the entire ordeal.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Bees we removed are busy hauling pollen into the new home!
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Did a hive inspection on a colony that swarmed a month ago, to be sure they requeened. Cut off a large piece of burr comb that contained 2 pounds of honey! It is really dry too, at 15.5% water.
ponytug
Super Member
That is great looking honey!
All the best,
Peter
All the best,
Peter
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Bees had a lot of full frames containing 8+ pounds... Pulled a couple and gave them some empties to keep filling
OP
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
It is.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
The buckwheat is making a ton of seed. Probably two more weeks of bloom before we till it in and re grow. The clover in the back field is blooming really well, so also providing a very local source of nectar over the summer months. Buckwheat second bloom should happen around mid July, just in time for dearth.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Side note, we have never collected spring honey from our bees, only in October. After testing both, side by side, I can say I absolutely prefer the fall honey. Our customers say they have never had such great honey, and now I wonder if it is because ours contains nectar from plants that most do not.
OP
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
I'm sure that's why. Around here our fall honey is mostly Goldenrod. It smells like wet dog wearing dirty socks... I'm sure it tastes ok, but I'm leaving it for them.
I also had some from around a bunch of chicken farms. It smelled and tasted like how a big chicken farm smells. It was BAD.
I also had some from around a bunch of chicken farms. It smelled and tasted like how a big chicken farm smells. It was BAD.
NorTracNY
Platinum Member
My customers vary on whether they like the early or late season honey. If they aren't sure, I suggest they buy which ever matches when they have seasonal allergies. Local honey is great for getting rid of them.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
We have a lot of Goldenrod and Aster etc... but it's blended with the spring honey that is still in the hive, so nobody is eating straight Goldenrod honey here for sure.
ponytug
Super Member
I've only had it once, but I do recall the taste was definitely along the lines of the smell, and a wet dog with dirty socks certainly is a vivid description. Never again.
All the best,
Peter
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Bees from a cutout last month swarmed and went queenless, so we bought a new queen. VSH genetics, artificially inseminated, and from non treated bee stock
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Well, the queenless hive, must have had a virgin queen. Inspected today and saw eggs, then saw a beautiful fat queen roaming the frames. So, we decided to do an impromptu split to give the new queen a home.
Also got a call about a possible swarm in a swarm box I placed in April.
Also got a call about a possible swarm in a swarm box I placed in April.
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CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Just got a call for a confirmed swarm with pollen coming in, in another swarm trap. But I took time off this week and left the bees alone. Took a friends 1963 Cadillac to lunch, his grandfather bought it new.
CloverKnollFarms
Super Member
Apiary is filling up this year. Next year I'll be able to expand to other properties. Especially because it looks like I'm retiring from flying in September 
. It's time build more hives!
. It's time build more hives!
OP
LittleBittyBigJohn
Veteran Member
I just got a call from my church. There is a hive that has made its home in a hollow tree in the playground area. I've got to go check it out. The goal is to save the bees and the tree.
