BlueRidgeBee

 

We have Installed a couple new packages for 2024.  

 Honey Harvest 2023  

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 ...

  Installing honey bee packages is an essential step in beekeeping for those who want to start their own hive or expand an existing one. Honey bee packages are usually sold by bee suppliers, and they contain a queen bee, a certain number of worker bees, and some food to sustain the bees during transportation. In this blog, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to install honey bee packages, including some tips to ensure a successful installation. Step 1: Prepare the hive Before you install the honey bee package, you need to make sure that your hive is ready. The hive should be clean, free of debris and pests, and have frames with foundation or drawn comb. You can also add a feeder filled with sugar syrup to provide extra food for the bees. Step 2: Choose the installation location Choose a location for the hive that is sheltered from the wind and receives sunlight for at least six hours a day. The hive should also be placed in an area with good drainage, so the bee...

Bee keeping is a hobby that has many benefits for you, your community and the planet. Whether you are interested in producing your own honey, helping the environment, or learning more about these amazing insects, bee keeping can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Here are some of the virtues of bee keeping that you might not know about. ## Honey One of the most obvious benefits of bee keeping is that you get to harvest your own honey. Honey is a natural sweetener that has many health benefits, such as boosting your immune system, soothing sore throats and coughs, and healing wounds. Honey also tastes delicious and can be used in many recipes, from baking to salad dressing. Unlike commercial honey, which is often pasteurized and filtered, raw honey from your own hive retains all its nutrients and enzymes. You can also enjoy different flavors of honey depending on what flowers your bees visit. ## Environment Another virtue of bee keeping is that you help the environment by supporti...

 The US has been experiencing high hive loss of over %50 the last couple years. There are many causes for this, such as, disease, verroa mite, pest control and just failure. Sad to say I am down to no hives now as one hive swarmed in early spring and the other recently just absconded(left for unknown reason). I believe the last that absconded was getting robbed and just decided to join the raiders. I have never had that happen before. I could be very upset but I had those two hives for several years and made my money back plus in honey. So I will get two new packages this spring. I am on the list for two in late March from a local bee store. I have had great luck with the bees I get from them always being healthy and productive, so I will use them again. But it is very sad to look in my bee yard and see this. Well I will continue to document my bee journey's here.