It got cold again over night and the ground froze back up with temps not expected to rise above freezing the entire day today. So I seized the opportunity and decided to at least get the first two hives moved to the back of the hay field.
Winter is a good time to move hives on days when it is in the 20's if possible. The bees are in their ball and generally won't come out being all pissed right now. By Late January and February they used up a good portion of their Winter stores so the hives are lighter and most of the foragers have died off and not been replaced so when new ones come out they will have to orient themselves to the new location anyway.
The two hives we moved today ( I said we because I made my son help me) were light enough we were able to just pick them up and set them on the tractor carryall I made last Spring. The next three will more than likely require the homemade bee hive carrier I built last Winter.
I was actually impressed with how well that mover system worked last Winter so I made sure it all stayed packed together for these next moves.
I wasn't sure if the ground was frozen enough for the truck so we used the 8N with the carryall as I mentioned. I designed that carryall specifically for carrying bee hives and bee equipment and it passed it's first real test beautifully. It's one thing to run empty bee supplies around but quite another to move a hive full of bees and honey. No weight issues though and on the way back my son rode on the carryall as well.
One hive did get jostled around a bit and broke the propolis seal between the brood chamber and the bottom board almost causing a BIG problem. Luckily it was averted but at least I know that hive was still very much alive and kicking :)
So my post this morning never has updated to blogger. Guess we will see how long this one takes.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!!!!!
as of 7 26 PM central, Yr blog hadn't updated on my blog...
ReplyDeleteB - Ya it won't update at all anymore it seems. They have broken something worse than it was broken before. I guess at this point I will just have to live with it but it sucks a bunch. Thank you for keeping an eye out though.
DeleteI just went in and messed with setup again and this time it forced a post update. Only took 2 and a half hours. Like I said weirdness.
DeleteAte bees difficult? We used to have a shortage of bees and then 3 years ago the wife planted poppies around the fence line. Now we have tones of bees again and no one else seems too. So i figured if i'm helping bees i should look at honey bees as well.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
Exile - I don't find them difficult really but harvesting honey is a lot of work. Most of the time it's just keeping up with the woodenware as it rots and such and needs replacing. I have a lot of wood work that will need being done come March this year.
DeleteMoving them is a real pain though. Even when they are light they are so bulky and hard to get a hold of.
Speaking bees - do you ever have issues with moisture? Just wondering how you handle it or if you ever have any problems with it.
DeleteHobo - The best way to deal with moisture in the hive is to always have a top and bottom entrance. The top entrance does not have to be very big either. Also placing dry sugar on the top of the inner cover soaks up a lot of moisture as well. Something I will be doing this week when it warms up.
DeleteDo you need to move them? Or is that because of which fields are getting planted?
ReplyDeleteExile1981
Exile - I try and move the new hives I get each year. I keep them after I either make a split of capture a swarm near the house the first Summer to feed em and keep an eye on them then I move em out to make room for the new ones I will get this Spring. Once I get the maximum number of hives I desire it won't be as much of an issue as I plan on selling any hives I go over.
DeleteIf I ever get there that is :)
People don't realize how long it takes to really get in tune with a local environment. Making the bee hauling setup came after a while as have a lot of the stuff you have done. Keep thinking!
ReplyDeleteI do enjoy your 'bee' posts because they keep reminding me to have another go at keeping bees despite having failed several times.
ReplyDeleteLooks like quite a project!
ReplyDeleteThose blogger glitches are so random and annoying.
PP - i will keep an eye out for your posts...but it seems to me that i get a post from you when you've posted it??? i usually check my blog roll every day - and unless you've stated in a previous post that you'll be out of town for a day or two - it seems to me i get a post from you every day. i will keep my eye out now, tho, and let you know.
ReplyDeletesending love! your friend,
kymber