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Barnyard Buddies:  Girls in their new home but I'm still shaking  |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 7:01:14 PM
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I am so excited, I installed my first bee hive this afternoon. WOW!!! I was so nervous I couldn't stop sweating. I was drenched by the time it was over. I watched the video for installing bees about 20 times, typed out a check list, and read many many books so I would be prepared for today. I finally got the bees in the hive but I promise you it did not look anything like the video. No stings! But, I didn't think I was ever going to get those little buggers out of the travel box. I shook and poured just like the video and books said but they clung to the sides and the mesh. Finally I pried the whole side off the box and brushed them out. I over filled the feeder so I had sugar water flowing out all over the place. I'm telling you if someone had of been recording it they probably could have won 'America's funniest videos'. But I did it. After I got them in I walked up the hill and sat on the bank of the pond and basked in my glory. LOL. I was so proud of myself.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 7:28:33 PM
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Good Job! You are way braver than I. I have watched it done several times. I have a friend who owns a honey farm. I would be a total wreck just trying to plan it out. You should be very proud of yourself!
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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gramadinah
True Blue Farmgirl
3557 Posts
Diana
Orofino
ID
USA
3557 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 8:07:24 PM
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You rock I am so glad to hear of other Farmgirls that just DO IT.
Diana
Farmgirl Sister #273 |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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Chives
True Blue Farmgirl
232 Posts
Victoria
Shelton
Washington
USA
232 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2010 : 8:42:22 PM
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| Victoria, you need to get on the bee thread. How exciting. Vicki |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 03:37:18 AM
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That's SO cool!
I'm jealous. We lost our colony over the winter.
You'll have to let us know how the homey tastes when the hive gets established
Good job! |
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farmmilkmama
True Blue Farmgirl
2027 Posts
Amy
Central MN
USA
2027 Posts |
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textilelover
True Blue Farmgirl
557 Posts
Dianne
Middletown
NY
USA
557 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 05:00:26 AM
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Victoria, Congrats! Make sure you check your queen cage in 2-3 days to make sure they've freed her. If not, let her into the hive. Then in a week or so check that she's laying eggs. Best way to do this is to hold a center frame up with the sun behind you. If you wear glasses, put them on under your veil! The eggs are tiny white transluscent grains, but once you see them you'll know them. And continue to feed a new colony. It's also helpful sometimes to put an entrance reducer on(one made of quarter-inch mesh or one with a larger opening than a winter one)to protect a new colony, but if you don't it's fine. You did an awesome job! Everyone has a funny/frightening story to tell about installing packaged bees! Dianne
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
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Karrieann
True Blue Farmgirl
1900 Posts
Karrieann
Northeast
Georgia
USA
1900 Posts |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 06:48:03 AM
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Thank you ladies. I walked out to the hive this morning. I didn't bother them but I just wanted to take a look. It is raining here this morning but there were a few around the entrance and a few buzzing around the hive. Thanks for the advise Dianne. I did put an entrance reducer in. But I have a question about the queen. I was told not to check onhere for 5 days or the workers would killer. I don't want them to kill her. That would kind of ruin my day. But do you think I should check her sooner? I do wear glasses and by the time I finished getting them in the house yesterday I had dripped so much sweat on them I could see. LOL.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
13797 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
13797 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 07:08:45 AM
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YAY VICTORIA!!! Good for you!!!
My dad was a beekeeper for a time and my hubby helped him. But we sold all the equipment in our farm auction after my dad died.
Kinda sad, but there was just too much to take care of and that was one part of the farm we had to let go of.
YAY!!
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665
From my Heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
From my Hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
From my Hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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Farmtopia
True Blue Farmgirl
1465 Posts
Zan
New York
New York
USA
1465 Posts |
Posted - Apr 18 2010 : 2:31:31 PM
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Hey Victoria. I've released queens as early as 3 days. I would probably wait no more than 4 days to let the majority of workers start caring for her and for her go and start laying eggs.
GOOD for you for doing the hiving :)
~*~Dream all you dreamers~*~
View My Work:
art/dolls: www.vagabondcreations.blogspot.com
The Horse Drawn Project and Farming!
www.beyondvagabond.blogspot.com
View the blog and radio show!
Renegade Farming!: www.therenegadefarmer.com
NEXT RADIO SHOW: April 11th ~ Interview with Katherine Dunn, artist and farmer of Apifera Farm! |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4483 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4483 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 05:38:34 AM
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Congrats Victoria~I felt the same was as you. I put my bees in last tuesday, and I thought I would never get the hive back together. They were all over. I took out the queen cage on Sat. I had a much easier time getting the inner cover back on and the rest. I think they are so fun to watch. I go out to mine several times a day just to see what they are doing! Good luck with your bees.
Michele |
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beadbabe
True Blue Farmgirl
148 Posts
Therese
Valencia
California
USA
148 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 06:39:51 AM
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Way to go!!!
Therese
Farmgirl Sister #1217
If you ask me what I came into this world to do, I will tell you: I came to live out loud. ~Emile Zola |
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arabianhorselover
True Blue Farmgirl
422 Posts
Jennifer
Bedias
TX
USA
422 Posts |
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textilelover
True Blue Farmgirl
557 Posts
Dianne
Middletown
NY
USA
557 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 3:50:04 PM
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Victoria, I have never heard that about the workers killing the queen if she's released too soon. I have left the queen in her cage for more than 4 days only to find her and her attendants dead! Not sure why. If you have a mentor and she says to wait, then wait. Everyone has different opinions. Please let us know how you make out. Dianne
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
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Kerbear
True Blue Farmgirl
261 Posts
Kerry
Middle
Tennessee
USA
261 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 7:22:11 PM
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Congratulations Victoria! Thank you for sharing your story! I can only imagine what it would be like to raise bees. Thats so exciting!
~Kerry Anne
Farmgirl Sister #975 |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 7:52:35 PM
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I think I will check on my queen tomorrow if the weather is nice. No, Dianne I don't have a mentor. The Bee association here is going through quite a bit of instability right now (for lack of a better term). There has been so much back biting and bickering going on I just stepped back. I purchased the Beekeeping 101, 201 & 301 course from Brushy Mountain Bee farm and I got the garden hive video. I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. And Jennifer, right now I can tell you how not to release your bees LOL.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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Bonnie Ellis
True Blue Farmgirl
2474 Posts
Bonnie
Minneapolis
Minnesota
USA
2474 Posts |
Posted - Apr 19 2010 : 9:32:36 PM
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Victoria: Great job girl! Farmgirls can do anything they set their mind to. Please write at the end of the summer how you're doin'. Keep in touch. Bonnie
grandmother and orphan farmgirl |
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AliciaNak
True Blue Farmgirl
405 Posts
Alicia
Elko
Nevada
USA
405 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 10:07:02 AM
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Way to go!
I don't think I could do it!! 1000lb horse, no problem; big rangy cow, no problem; little ole bee? No thankx!! :)
Congrats and good luck with your new venture!
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
www.blondenak.blogspot.com
www.artfire.com/users/BlondeNakCreations |
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mellaisbella
True Blue Farmgirl
1862 Posts
melanie
living on Anne of Green
Gables land
Canada
1862 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 10:10:47 AM
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WOW!! great for you
"we must be the change we wish to see in the world"
farmgal #150 |
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EastTXFarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
731 Posts
Victoria
Farmgirl #549
TX
USA
731 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 11:47:51 AM
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I did it!!! I did my first hive check. The queen was out of her cage. I didn't find her but the bees are busy making comb. I will wait about a week to check again. Maybe by then I will see some eggs. I have got to get over this sweating thing. I get so nervous I just start pouring sweat.
Begin each morning with a song in your heart. |
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textilelover
True Blue Farmgirl
557 Posts
Dianne
Middletown
NY
USA
557 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 1:48:18 PM
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Good for you, Victoria! It's always a good sign when the workers release the queen. If your bees are building comb you should be on your way to a healthy hive. And I know what you mean about clubs and people and backbiting. Our bee club is going through some rough times but that's the nature of people. I'm trying to stick it out because I like many of the people and value their wisdom and knowledge. Dianne
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." --Leondardo da Vinci |
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amomfly
True Blue Farmgirl
658 Posts
Angie
LaGrange
IN
USA
658 Posts |
Posted - Apr 20 2010 : 3:22:13 PM
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How awesome!!! Way to go!
I would love a hive, no more room here for anything!!!!
God Bless
Angie-amomfly
#1038 |
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windypines
True Blue Farmgirl
4483 Posts
Michele
Bruce
Wisconsin
USA
4483 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2010 : 04:53:22 AM
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Did you go foundationless? I did. I did my first hive check yesterday. It was so neat. My girls had six of the frames almost totally filled with comb. Working on the other two. I could see pollen, and nector or sugar syrup in some of the cells. I am not sure if I saw eggs or not. I can't wait to look again in a week. Isn't it so exciting!
Michele |
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edlund33
True Blue Farmgirl
1515 Posts
Marilyn
Renton
WA
USA
1515 Posts |
Posted - Apr 24 2010 : 8:28:09 PM
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Good for you, Victoria and Michele! Aren't bees fun and fascinating? I think you'll get over the anxiety when you have a little bit more experience. You hear stories from other bee keepers and read them in books about how one day they forgot to put a veil on, or gloves...and suddenly they are working their hives without protective gear. My mentor doesn't use gear very often.
I just had my first experience with assembling a hive and adding package bees and queen today. I wasn't sweating when I was done.....but I did get soaked because it rained this afternoon! It was only about 48 degrees, so the bees were a little bit lethargic. Even so, I was amazed at how quickly they started fanning at the opening! I can't wait to move my hive to my place in a few weeks. For now they are safe at my mentor's bee yard until I get my 10-frame hive built and ready for bees.
I hope you enjoy your new hobby!
Cheers! ~ Marilyn
Farm Girl No. 1100
Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. - Ralph Waldo Emerson |
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Barnyard Buddies: Girls in their new home but I'm still shaking |
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Girls in their new home but I'm still shaking
