Bees At Work

June 6, 2011

This is my bee keeper at work. We have roof tiles on top of our hive box just to prevent the wind (Tehachapi is known for it's wind) from blowing the tops off the hives. We always try to work with the bees at dusk. They return to the hive for the night and settle in - they also seem to be calmer. The last time Mr. Bee Keeper worked with them, he was stung twice. He decided to "suit up" and also had his smoker at the ready.

Upon opening the hive box, there were some dead bees on the top of the frames (not sure why?). Bees are very clean and will actually haul the dead bodies out and through the opening, dropping them to the ground.

Pulling out the frame, we were quite excited at all the comb the bees have "drawn" on this frame. This first box, known as the brooder box is almost completely built up. In the next couple of days we will add the next level box known as the "super". The super box is where the bees will continue to make honey, which will be their supply for the winter. Depending on their activity and success - if this second box is completed, we will add a third "super" box which will be where they will make honey which is above their needs for winter and which we will (hopefully) be able to harvest.

To Feed or Not To Feed

27 May 2011

Bees At Work

After two weeks, we took a peek inside our hive boxes to see how our bees were doing. Both hives have started "drawing" comb. That is a good sign. It means that they have established some food sources and are making cells to manufacture and store honey. It is essential that the bees have sufficient honey stores before winter comes - that is what they will rely on to sustain them through the cold winter months. However,we were disappointed that they hadn't drawn the quantity of comb that we were expecting. I contacted our bee expert - Bill the Bee Guy and he advised installing an internal feeder to supplement them with a sugar water formula.

Cover and "ladder" for internal feeder

Feeder

The "ladder" inside the feeder is used by the bees to walk into the feeder without drowning. We installed the feeder and in a couple of weeks "we" will go back inside and see how they are doing.

My Beekeeper At Work

(notice he isn't wearing his bee suit or gloves???)

Getting Ready For Our Bees

08 May 2011

Preparing for the arrival of our bees required getting their new hive box ready. The large bottom box is called the "brooder" - this is where the queen lays her eggs. There are ten "frames" in this box for this purpose. Before eggs can be layed or honey produced, comb must be "drawn"on these frames. Many beekeepers use commercially manufactured comb cells to help the bees get started. We chose to let the bees begin their comb from scratch as they do in nature.

individual frame with rectangular cardboard inserted in frame

Melted bees wax is painted on rectangular pieces of cardboard that has been inserted in the frames.

melted bees wax

These frames are then put back in to the brood box. The queen bee will then lay her eggs in the newly formed cells. At the same time cells are being formed for the storage of honey which is food for the bees. When the bees have a surplus of honey then the beekeeper is able to harvest this excess - always making sure to leave sufficient supply for the bees.

close up of frame with "painted" beeswax

brooder box with frames in place

19 March 2011

"Of Sacred Bees, the Muses' Birds" Charles Butler

-Bees, beehives, honey bees, queen bees, wax, honey - if you care to follow this adventure with me. You read that right, just picked up the beginnings of two bee hives. If you've paid attention to the "bee" news in the last few years - you might have read about the threat to honey bee colonies that are dying due to a mysterious bacteria. Sometimes called, "colony collapse" - it has decimated bees across this country. Many people have taken up the challenge to start hives - thus genetically strengthening the bee population. On the plus side, your hive will produce honey for you as well as bee pollen, propolis, and beeswax (candles). All we need is to provide them a warm, safe place to live with access to water.

Picked up our bee hive boxes today along with a bee suit, hat, veil, gloves, smoker etc. As we get further along we will go through all of these one by one.

We have ordered our first two "starter" colonies, due for pick up in late April, early May. Stay tuned!