A beekeeping topic.

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Dutch said:

That is an acquired taste.  There is a winery just north of Walnut Grove that specializes in Meade. We stop by there occasionally and pick some up.  I still prefer fruit over honey.  

  It's been many years since I tried it. I'm going a small batch first. First batch will use yeast to get going. If I like it might do Bee bread for starter next time.

[Dutch]

21 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

  It's been many years since I tried it. I'm going a small batch first. First batch will use yeast to get going. If I like it might do Bee bread for starter next time.

I hope you have good luck.  I tried wine making several years ago.  I bought everything from a hobby wine maker in Nixa.  The first gallon was some of the best I have ever had.  The second gallon would give you so much heart burn that no one could do more than half a glass.  There hasn't been a third gallon.

[jdmidwest]

I was going to make some Meade, but realized it was only wine.  Never really cared much for wine.

I have a brewmeister at work that is going to make a honey beer for me.  If production gets back up, I have someone that will make a honey whisky.  But it requires a 5 gallon donation to run a batch.

[jdmidwest]

Weather has warmed and the bees are out.

One hive dead, getting robbed out.  I have not opened to do a post mortem.

3 hives seem strong and bringing in pollen for new bees.  Probably maples.  1 hive weak but flying.  It was a cripple last year.  I will see what it does.  It has struggled for 2 years now, but made it thru 2 winters.

March is a tricky month.  Swings in temps get them going but also ends up killing them if it goes cold for a while again.

[MoCarp]

My father in law kept bees, helped him many many times, cranky bees can be particular to certain hives. Moving to fast or blocking them can be an issue, lefty was bald so that’s not it, but he always wore a hat…..this time of year some animals will try to raid the hive and they will be pissy for a while after…make sure they have room to expand….raising an established hive isn’t easy….bee moths (spray) or bee martins eating the workers….you need a smoker, net helmet….jar feeders….old cabin shop in Carthage catered to bee keepers, before him and his wife were murdered..Bob used to work at atlas…my father in law knew him from there…..I miss the helping extract it from the comb…royal jelly was always returned….. fresh honey was something I took for granted…….

[BilletHead]

10 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

Weather has warmed and the bees are out.

One hive dead, getting robbed out.  I have not opened to do a post mortem.

3 hives seem strong and bringing in pollen for new bees.  Probably maples.  1 hive weak but flying.  It was a cripple last year.  I will see what it does.  It has struggled for 2 years now, but made it thru 2 winters.

March is a tricky month.  Swings in temps get them going but also ends up killing them if it goes cold for a while again.

           Yes the warm temps have the bees going crazy here too JD. I have been now in all my hives. Nees to do a report and get this thread going. Two hives in particular are doing fantastic with large capped brood patterns. One was a Suprise when transferring from a standard single deep Lang that overwintered well. 

[BilletHead]

     Going to start with the three new hive builds done this winter. One long lang and two Layens. These hives the bees build horizontal instead of vertical like the standard Lang hives that commercial and hobby beekeepers use. The reason I am doing this is easier to maintain and work. No bending over and heavy lifting of boxes. The downside is once these are placed that is where they will stay. Can be moved but not as portable as standard Langs.  We are hobbyists here so what I have at the moment is right here in our "bee yard". Both types of hives are made with dimensional two by lumber making them thicker sides that help in overwintering colonies with more insulation. 

   Let's start with the two Layens. Very Popular in Europe. Starting to get a following here in the states. We paint our hives to make each one unique and to help the bees recognize their homes.

[BilletHead]

                Frames for the Layens,

    Layens frames are what is called double deep. Here are a couple pictures. First one to compare to a standard deep Lang frame,

  All but a few we have the bees start on a starter strip across the top of frame. We have a few where when setting out swarm traps last season I cut sections out of old comb standard Lang frames to bait the traps. When these are full of capped honey it is an amazing sight. We had several we harvested last fall full of honey.

    These frames not being standard around here are orderable but expensive. I chose to build my own. Plans are out there for the frames and all the hives, and it is all free. Youi have the top bar, bottom bar and end bars,

   Assembly with a jig is quick. A few dabs of glue and air staples and you are done,

   I add a bamboo skewer about midway down to reinforce the free-floating comb as the bees draw it down.

   

          The size hive I build is fourteen frames, but you can add length to the hive build for more frames if you choose. There is also a follower board and more of that deal later,

 

[BilletHead]

Meade in the making. Next step a swirl in approximately 15 days.

[fshndoug]

Some cool beehives Marty. When do have time to build those things. I know you go to bed early.