Posts

Really Cold Weather on the Way

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 Here in South Carolina we get a little cold weather in January or February, but nothing too bad. That is normally. We have had affects from the polar vortex this week dropping temps into the teens with wind chills to 0. In order to prepare I wanted to make sure my bees had the best chance of survival. As you know they like to keep it 90 degrees around the queen at all times. In order to do this they flap their wings vigorously. This causes them to use energy that has to be replenished with food. Since I robbed them in the Summer I have to make sure they have plenty. I fed them sugar water in late fall so they could store it for winter but I don't want to use that with these freezing temperatures, so I feed them a solid over winter food. There are many different ones out there and many have nutrients and other things to help as well. They don't need much if any pollen as they are not making lots of brood. They mostly need carbs. We are just trying to get them to survive. You ca...

Preparing for Winter

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Preparing for Winter Video Honey bees prepare for winter in several ways to ensure the survival of the colony: 1. Honey Storage: Bees work hard in the warmer months to collect nectar and pollen, which they convert into honey. This stored honey serves as their primary food source during winter when foraging is impossible. 2. Reducing Activity: As the temperature drops, honey bees become less active. The queen reduces her egg-laying, and the colony's population decreases, as fewer worker bees are needed to maintain the hive. 3. Forming a Cluster: To stay warm, bees form a tight cluster around the queen in the hive. The outer bees shiver their flight muscles to generate heat, while the bees in the center of the cluster stay warm. The cluster moves around the hive as needed to access stored honey. 4. Sealing the Hive: Bees use propolis (a resinous substance) to seal any cracks in the hive, insulating it against cold drafts. This helps maintain the temperature inside the hiv...

A Time to Beard

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 In late August in South Carolina, as in other places, we sometimes see bees bearding in front of the the hive box. This can happen for several reasons and should not be mistaken for preparing to swarm. The times I have seen a hive getting ready to swarm there was a large number of bees in front and flying around the hive.  Bearding happens because it is hot in the hive in late afternoon and they are helping to keep the hive cooler by hanging outside. Also, when the nectar dearth happens, there is not much nectar to be found, they don't have as much work to do. Also, there may not be any empty cells for nectar. Always do a hive check and make sure everything looks good and there is room for growth. See a bearding hive at 5:16 PM vs 2:35 PM. 5:16 PM 2:35 PM  Here is a pre-swarm hive. You can see a big difference. This was happening in April. I put them back in the hive but swarming was on there mind and eventually they did swarm.  

Honey Harvest July 2024

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Honey Harvest 2024  

Super Installation 2024

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New Packages for 2024

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We have Installed a couple new packages for 2024.  

Honey Harvest 2023

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 Honey Harvest 2023