Colorado Swarm Boom

Evidently it's not just me, there are bees swarming all over Colorado!  It's a great time to be beekeeping!  Here's a report from 9News in Denver.

If you see a swarm please call the Northern Colorado Beekeeper's Association Swarm Hotline at 970-213-3099

20 Million Bee Swarm

Bees swarm after being released from a tractor-trailer that overturned carrying them near Newark, N.J., Tuesday, May 20, 2014, on the ramp from Route 896 to Interstate 95. (AP Photo/The Wilmington News-Journal, Suchat Pederson)

As if honeybees aren't facing enough already, a semi overturned with 460 hives in Delaware.  The ensuing swarm was estimated to be between 16 & 20 million bees.

http://www.weather.com/news/millions-bees-close-newark-delaware-highway-20140520

If you see a swarm please call the Northern Colorado Beekeeper's Association Swarm Hotline at 970-213-3099

Plan to Curb Bee Deaths - NBC News Article

Here's an article from NBC News about Varroa Mites and Neonicotinoids as contributing factors for Colony Collapse Disorder.  It was also interesting to read that 15% losses are considered acceptable in commercial beekeeping.

http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/hope-honeybees-experts-pitch-plan-curb-deaths-n105651

 

2014 saw bee losses at 23%, which is much better than 31% in 2013.

Feed the Bees

I’ve been feeding the bees once a day for the last few days.  It’s really easy, just a 1:1 mix of sugar and water.  I usually use hot water from the electric kettle so I don’t have to heat it over the stove.  You stir it until it’s clear, and then let it cool and serve it to the bees.

Bees feeding in a top feeder

I’ve got a top feeder that I purchased last year.  It works really well, however, I wish it  wasn’t level in the bottom of the feeding tray.  If it had a slight downslope, all the sugar water would run back to the bees, but they manage to lick up nearly all of it.

The swarm bees, or any new hive, needs a ton of fuel to build out all the comb they need.  It’s very taxing on their little bodies to produce so much wax, especially if they have to search and collect their own nectar.  So we supplement them with sugar water for a while to help them out.  You need to inspect the hive every couple days to keep an eye on their progress.  Once they are established, then it’s important to stop feeding them so they don’t get lazy.

The lilac's are out!

Frankenhive's Purple Body

Frankenhive as of this Morning

 All the frames came yesterday, so this morning I was able to swap a finished and painted purple bottom body onto Frankenhive.  The bees ended up getting pretty mad because they are all hanging on the inner cover and the fake outer one I had installed.

I tried to move quickly and most of them were okay, but the ones that were on the cover weren't real pleased.  I had a few scary moments having one then two more inside my veil.  I had also tucked in my t-shirt, but not my long sleeve shirt.  I got a glancing sting on my elbow where one had crawled all the way up my shirt and was all the way out in my shirt sleeve.  I must have had about ten more trapped between my two shirts.  I was pretty lucky not to have gotten a serious sting.  My next purchase better be a real bee suit.

I'm a bit concerned that all the new frames I've installed ended up in the bottom hive body.  I need to find out if this will cause a problem with the empty body on the top.

I was also able to install one of my new hive outer covers.  I'm going to paint the other two inside to hopefully reduce condensation and fight mold.  We'll see how it goes.

No wonder it feels like I've got sawdust in my eyes.

 Aaaaaaaaaaand it's about time to clean up the garage.

Bummer

Hand Holds and Outer Covers

Tonight I was able to get some more done on Frankenhive.

First, I must say beekeepers are tremendously giving people.  I've found a ton of great resources that beekeepers are sharing for free on the internet.  So thank you all, for your generosity.  It's benefiting the bees in my backyard.

I found this video by Cleo Hogan about making a jig to cut the handholds with a circular saw.

Beesource also has a link to the plans for the Handhold Jig.  It was easy to make, and works quite well.

I found a roll of Aluminum flashing 20”x25’ at home depot which is PERFECT for the hive outer covers.  I worked off the same Langstroth Plans that I'd downloaded for the hive bodies.  I modified them a bit to fit the materials I had.  I cut them to the dimensions specified, even though they seemed long, knowing I could easily cut them down.  I dadoed the smaller pieces by 3/4x3/8.  This made the cover fit much better around the hive body.  Maybe still a little long, but it should provide plenty of ventilation.  I then cut a 1/4 dado on the upper inside of the frame pieces.  This was to drop int he 1/4 luan I planned to use for the top of the cover.  I assembled the frame with glue and brads, then glued and stapled the top in place.  Then I rolled out the aluminum flashing and cut it to length.  It's thin enough you can score it with a razor knive a few times and then it will fold and snap cleanly.  The flashing is easy to work with and forms nicely around the cover.  I pinched and folded the end corners and was able to staple the flashing into place.  They came out great.

Handholds, Jigs, and Outer Covers . . . Oh my!!

Now it's pretty much down to cutting all the hand holds and painting.

Inner Covers

Langstroth Hive Inner Cover with Vent

After work tonight I was able to get some inner covers made.  Thanks again to Beesource, I found some great plans for the Langstroth Inner Covers.

I'm starting to make 3 Sets of everything.  I figure this will give me a few extra of the more detailed parts, so I'll have them on hand to be ready for the next swarm.

It takes more time just to get the saws set up than it does to actually cut and assemble it all.  I'm sure if I do enough of these, I'll know how many board feet to rip, and I can do all my 3/8 and 1/4 dadoes in a single pass, so I don't have to keep taking it out and resetting it.

But it's been a joy just to see the parts come together and also to have the tools, and even some scrap 1/4 luan (plywood) in the garage that I can use.

Swarm Bees Bearding on Frankenhive

The Bees seem pretty happy out in Frankenhive for the time being.