| |
|
Critter Blog
|
Bee Blog 2009 - Thursday, August 27 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Thursday, 27 August 2009 |
|
Here it is Thursday alrready and I was
into the hives Sunday. Just been very busy with work and life and
such, but I'm finally getting around to blogging the details...
The good news is that a queen has finally been made or moved in to
the ailing hive and now I have three queen-right hives again! She
seems to be laying well and I only hope that a good fall flow will
have them putting away enough for winter. I'll probably keep a
super of honey for them, though, just in case!
Speaking of honey, the good hive (middle hive) is doing well. They
have nearly filled up the third super and I'll have to remove it
and the second super full of honey in a week or two. The Saly Swarm
hive is doing ok, though I had hoped they would fill out the second
deep chamber. They did have a lot of work to clean up and fill out
the first, though, as it was comb from a swarm cut-out. They should
be ok through the winter in one deep, but I may also save a super
of honey for them, as well.
This year I intend to treat for mites, and that time is
approaching. I'm reminded of it today, where temps have dipped
back into the 50's overnight. Supposed to be even colder
tonight/tomorrow. Oh well!
Overall I'm pleased with how things are going. Well, gotta run to
work! Post this blog now...
|
|
|
Bee Blog 2009 - Wednesday, August 5 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Thursday, 06 August 2009 |
|
Tonight I pulled the first super full of capped honey off the good (middle) hive. I've left them a partially-filled super, and a completely empty one I put on Sunday (?) when I put the triangle escape board under this super.
Of course, being stupid, I attempted to remove the super without my garb on, and I got four stings for my insolance! I ran and put my normal sweatshirt and helmet/veil on, gloves, and lit the smoker to calm the girls down. There were far too many in the honey super and under the escape board - I think I left it on too long (3 days) and they were finding their way back in! I may need to build my own version of the escape board according to some plans I found at the Beesource web site.
Anyway, to catch up, this year's second hive still isn't doing well. I've given them three - no, four chances to raise a queen - twice with frames from the good hive, then I bought a queen that disappeared, and then this last time I added another frame of open brood - but they just won't raise a queen! I'm thinking now it may be due to the hive body that I got from Uncle Lewis, so I'm going to replace that when I get a chance. If that doesn't do it I'll just let them die off since I don't want to risk them having undesirable effects on the good or Sally Swarm hve, as I call it.
Speaking of, they are doing well. I reversed the hive bodies Sunday (or was it Monday?) as well so that hopefully the queen will work her way up a little better. She is doing great, though. The girls have done well gluing in and filling out the comb that I cut out from the old swarm. I'm pretty sure if we get a good fall flow that they'll be fine for the winter.
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 05 August 2009 )
|
|
|
Bee Blog 2009 - Sunday, May 3 |
|
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Sunday, 03 May 2009 |
Nice weekend this weekend. Sunny and warm yesterday, a bit overcast today but warm and a good day to work outside. So that's what we did.
It's been going on three weeks since I go the two new packages this year, and it's time to check to see how my girls are doing. I opened the hives up today, noticing the returning foragers carrying a lot of pollen on their legs.
One hive seems to have a bit more activity than the other. Joyce thinks the less active one is not doing as well, but I told her when I open them up we'll find out! Well, we sure did!
My top hive this year, which is the one with the most outside activity, is not doing so hot, as it turns out. The queen is laying very spotty and not many brood are capped off and close to emerging, as they should be at this point. I saw at least 4 supercedure cells in the making, so the girls are definitely going to fix that problem. I'm going to keep an eye on them because I might be able to do a split and get another queen and hive going - might as well since they aren't getting a lot of brood laid yet.
The second hive is doing well, even though we don't see as much external activity. They have been busy - or rather, the queen has been - she has a nice even and full set of brood capped across several frames and pretty close to emerging - they will overtake the top hive shortly when the new brood emerge. Should be any day now!
We're still getting down into the 30's and 40's overnights, so I'm leaving the entrance reducers on for now, but we are also seeing a lot of flowering in places. Mostly fruit and other early trees, and dandelions are out, too. On warmer, sunny days there are lots of foragers flying.
I thnk we're off to a good start this year - we should see some good flows this season. I'm hoping I can get the ailing queen replaced shortly and the slow hive will build up fast. And I've taken a new approach to going through winter by adding a screened tray with the standard bottom board and slatted rack, so with the added ventilation hopefully they'll make it all the way this year and I'll not have to buy new packages next spring.
Now I've got to check to see when those queen cells will be ready - I want to try to catch them before they hatch to make a split!
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 03 May 2009 )
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Sunday, 08 April 2007 |
|
So far this "spring" we've seen some of the birds we saw last year have come back. A few new ones, too. We hung out some suet this winter and that brought many birds to the deck area. Mostly chickadees and bluejays, but we are seeing a red-breasted nuthatch, and a dark-eyed junco as well.
Today we saw a brown-headed cowbird, too. At one point there were six bluejays sitting in the trees taking turns at the suet blocks. Since hanging out the seed feeder with black sunflower and some other seeds, we've also seen the goldfinches again. I didn't think they were here yet, but they are. Oh, and I saw the purple finch again, too.
Quite a few robins are around, too. Most of our snow was gone, and then we got a good 14" from this storm, and now predictions say we're to have another snow storm this week. I hope it melts fast. We also saw some spring flowers coming up but now they are buried...
Had a couple geese sightings - both canadians - flying north as well as some on the water or an ice float in the pond.
Next weekend we get the package of honey bees for our first hive. I'm hoping they work out ok here and we can keep them healthy. In May we will be getting six day-old chickens, and I've got to build a chicken coop for them so we'll have eggs once they start laying.
|
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 08 April 2007 )
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Friday, 16 March 2007 |
|
Well, we've been very busy this winter - some of the highlights: boiler died and replaced, ice dams causing water to come into the house, etc. Lots of snow for a change, and bitter cold at times. We even had to have the driveway plowed a couple times! Not too many critter sightings through the winter, but some worth mentioning.
Even though we didn't actually SEE these critters, we know they are there. The red squirrels (or chipmunks) were getting into the ceiling (roof). We could hear them scratching and making nests in the insulation. They were getting in at the ends of the soffits where they weren't closed off. The whole roof and soffit areas on this house need to be overhauled - the former owners/builders didn't do things exactly right.
On our way to and from work we often see wild turkeys. Saw some again today. They are all over this area. As it warms up a bit I'm sure we'll see more.
We put some suet out this winter and attracted some winter birds. Mostly chickadees, but we have been seeing some red-breasted nuthatches, and the requisite bluejays. I'm sure we'll see more diversity once spring hits.
We've decided to get some chickens to have fresh eggs, so sometime in May we'll have some chicks and keep you on top of their activities. Now I'm going to have to build a chicken coop!
Oh, and we're going to try our hands (or rather, I'm going to try MY hand) at beekeeping. We pick up a hive and supplies this weekend and bees come in in mid-April. I'm looking forward to this! Pics to follow!
|
|
Last Updated ( Friday, 16 March 2007 )
|
|
|
Written by Gordon Cunningham
|
|
Sunday, 22 October 2006 |
|
Boy, I've been very remiss in updating my sightings here. I have, in fact, seen quite a few more critters here and there. Most were on my way to or from work.
For example, in a field off to the right one morning a flock of Canadian geese had landed and were foraging for food. They were beautiful. There must have been 50 or 60 of them.
Then further up that road on another day I saw a couple deer crossing in front of me. Oh, and I saw the local fox running through the property one weekend morning.
The birds have been coming and going as I've had seeds out or not. I did set out a birdbath and I've seen many smaller birds using it. A few mourning doves have been pretty stubborn and really made the seeds in one of the feeders practically evaporate overnight, so I've been a little reluctant to refill that feeder time and time again.
Of course, we're fully into fall and near or freezing overnights, so many birds have flown south now. I'll keep my eyes open, though. |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 October 2006 )
|
|
| | << Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>
| | Results 1 - 10 of 17 |
|
|
|
|
|
Critter Blog 
