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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
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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.  
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Honey Harvest July 2024

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Honey Harvest 2024  
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Super Installation 2024

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New Packages for 2024

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We have Installed a couple new packages for 2024.  
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Honey Harvest 2023

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 Honey Harvest 2023  
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First Month With New Packages

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Below are the normal time frames that new packages go through in the first month. Day 1-3: Installing the Package The first few days after installing the package are crucial. You'll need to make sure that the bees have access to food and water, as they won't have any stored up yet. It's also important to check that the queen has been released from her cage and has begun laying eggs. During this time, the bees will be focused on building comb and establishing the colony. Yes my queens are out, can you spot her. Day 4-14: Building Comb and Establishing the Colony During this time, the bees will be busy building comb and expanding the size of the colony. You may notice that the bees are bringing in more pollen and nectar as they start to establish their food sources. The queen will also be laying more eggs, and the colony will be growing at a rapid pace. Yes mine are building brood, pollen and honey stores.   Day 15-30: Checking the Brood and Health of the Colony By the
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