July 22nd, 2014

July in the bee yard

   It took two attempts to make 14 queens, but was well worth it. Ten nuc's with new queens established and four hives that were not building up well re queened.  So at this point it looks as if things are going well..  With nucs I have thirty two hives in the home yard...   As soon as the supers are pulled and the honey extracted there will be a general shuffling of hives to move several hives to outyards. There they will prepare for winter. I am hoping the goldenrod flow this fall is a good one!
   I will be overwintering the ten nucs, provided I don't lose any queens between now and when winter sets in...
   My Mite count is still low. so I am quite pleased with the Oxalic acid Vapor treatments..   I will be treating again in August to prepare the bees for fall/winter. Fumadil B is on hand for fall feeding, everything is in order, a place for everything, and everything in its place.
   I expected to be a little stressed running 40 + hives, but to be perfectly honest, I am quite content. My back tends to argue with me just a bit after a day of going through hives, but with mid July passing us by, my inspection schedule is now on two week intervals instead of every week.  Once extracting is done, it will be time to load up the poles and hook up the boat..   It's TIME to hit the river!
   Keep your bees Happy!
   Scott