I started raising bees because I decided not to raise chickens.
I wanted chickens and you can have them in my county as long as your chicken house is more than 20 feet from your neighbor's house. I measured and my location for the chickens would be exactly 25 feet from her house. But raising chickens would mean getting chicken-sitters when I went out of town and that didn't seem fun and there's always the chance that you'll get a rooster and he will disturb the neighborhood. So I put the idea on hold.
When I heard about the Metro Atlanta Beekeepers' Short Course, I thought I'd take it and learn to raise bees for the honey and give up the chicken plan.
This little free swarm has emphasized what I have learned about keeping bees. Raising bees is about raising bees. I so want this little swarm to make it and feel horrible that all my moving around of the hive box resulted in their killing the queen. I have no investment in their honey production - I just want them to become a little bee family that makes it.
Today I am going to remove two frames of young brood from Mellona and add them to this new hive to strengthen it. Hopefully if they don't have a queen, they can raise a queen from the frames I give them.
I'm also going to take out the old, old comb in the new hive. This comb was the center of a nuc I got last year and is thick blackened old comb. The new bees wisely avoided those frames and moved into the new frames on the sides.
Wish me luck as I "mother" a new beehive on this Mother's Day.
Good luck with your new family of bees Linda, I am sure they will prosper with your loving care !
ReplyDeleteThe swarm I hived last year, Matai, is doing really well and after extracting 2 supers of both Miro and Matai I was rewarded with over 50 litres of lovely honey - thank you my bees ! I do enjoy reading your blog each day. The names I have chosen for my hives are both beautiful trees here, tall and strong.
Linda, Just found your awesome blog. I just installed my first package on April 28th.
ReplyDeleteMy Hive looks good, and my 1st inspection for brood is coming up this weekend. If that inspection looks good, I think I'll just have to come up with a cool name for it myself.
I really just want to thank you for the info, your 1st hand accounts, and the pictures. Very informational to a newbie like me. You are the closest person I have found to Florida that has shared information this good.
Trying to read all your stuff from last year till now.
Thank you and good luck
HR in Florida