This page is dictated to questions and the answers that follow them.
Since becoming a beekeeper and then subsequently telling those who were before ignorant to my being an apiarist, I have been beset with so many questions regarding the cute little creatures. Everything from “What do bees do in the winter?” to “Do bees poop?”, so I naturally thought a Q & A page would be helpful.
My hive rests under a Dogwood tree, in late September
So feel absolutely free to post any question related to beekeeping, or anything really, that you might have.
I’ll answer them to best of my ability. If I can’t quickly get back to your question or concern head over to Beekeeper Linda’s blog. She has much more experience that I, and her wonderfully full blog shows just that!
Oh and by the way, the answer to one of the above example questions.
Yes. Bees do poop, it’s true.
I keep bees in Delaware Township which is in central western Jersey. This past August I started a new hive with three brood frames and a purchased queen. Despite feeding this new hive for the past 10 weeks they have not made very much honey stores for the winter. In fact there is not one full frame of honey. How and what can I use to feed them over the winter?
Thanks
Well, if you have been feeding them for the past 10 weeks and they still aren’t making honey stores, I would wonder if they are queen-right. How many frames of brood do they have right now and what is the queen currently doing, i.e. laying or has she stopped.
If they aren’t prepared now for one of our windy, bitter New Jersey winters, then I’m afraid that the hive may not make it through. I believe that the only hope you may have for that hive is to combine it with a stronger hive in your bee yard. I personally had 3 hives in August and because of how strong they were and whether the queen was doing her job or not, I had to go into winter with one really strong hive. Combining is not such a bad Idea.
Also, have you treated for mites?
Thanks for the reply.
She stopped laying and they are now making some stores but it just will not last the winter.
Yes I have treated them for mites.
I would rather not combine with my stronger hive….
Regards
Why wouldn’t you want to combine the hives? You could come out of winter with a super strong colony and then split right away in early spring to prevent swarming.