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Plans for Year 2…
The bee season is ongoing, but planning for next year is in progress. The goal is to expand to 6 hives and 8 swarm boxes, requiring new frames, tops, bottoms, side pieces, and stands. Progress has begun with some frame parts already cut. Additionally, a new backstop for a metal sign has been created from…
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Swarm trap checking…
6/15/23 On Monday, June 12, our friends in Howard County sent us a text and a video stating that they have seen bee activity at the trap. Linda and I tried not to get too excited thinking that we had been here before without much luck. Well, today we were in Columbia due a PT…
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Transferring the bees from Langstroth frames to Layens…
The post describes setting up a new beehive, converting frames, and observing bee behavior near the apiary. After bringing the nuc to the apiary and setting it next to the hive, frames were prepared using a table saw. The process involved moving frames, cutting and attaching pieces, and adding a frame feeder to help the…
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Time to build stands…
The author realizes it’s mid-February and hadn’t considered stands for hives. After finding simple plans at https://horizontalhive.com, they used cedar from Lowe’s to build them and found the process easy. This choice was made due to cedar’s durability and resistance to decay. The stands were quick to construct, making the project a success.
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Time to build swarm traps…
The content delves into the life cycle of a bee colony, including the purpose of swarming and the significance of a swarm trap. Bees collect pollen and nectar for winter survival, and the swarm trap provides temporary accommodation for bee colonies. The traps, constructed from wood, are designed to accommodate the colony’s needs.
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What about the top?
Types of tops There are two types of tops that we could use for the hives; one is a flat top and the other is peaked. Both of them are functional. The flat top is easier and costs less to make. My concern was that I would not be able to lift it off by…
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Back To Work…
Hive Construction If you are keeping up with dates, we are now up to the last two weeks of August, 2022. It was a very busy month. After enough frames were completed to at least get us started, it was time to start hive construction. I followed this plan as much as practical https://horizontalhive.com/how-to-build/best-beehive-stand.shtml. The…