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MikeWaters · 04-27-2010, 03:35 AM

Update. I now have three beehives. The original one that is at a friend's home. And two new ones that were originally my father's. One of the two is very strong, the other is weak. Both of these are at my home.

Today I went and checked on the hive at my friend's home. I hadn't cracked this open since last fall. It was full to the brim of honey. I was surprised. So I put on another super. I'm going to need to harvest this honey sometime soon.

I think it's going to be a very good year down here for honey. The bees are working like mad. It's a beautiful sight to see, the bees darting through the shafts of light through the trees. Coming and going.

This one at my friend's house is more aggressive than my other two. They got me good tonight. Stung me three times through my clothes. Once in the right pec, once in the right inner thigh, and one on the right buttock. They made their presence known. I had messed with them twice today. First time no problem, second time, they were upset.

I may eventually need to requeen this hive. Though I doubt I will ever be able to find the queen.

MikeWaters · 04-27-2010, 08:45 PM

One of the beehives at my home. This was my father's. I picked it up recently. It is a strong hive. I need to open it up and see what's going on inside.

Zulu451 · 04-28-2010, 07:30 PM

I enjoy reading about your beekeeping hobby. You will have to send me some honey to north carolina!

MikeWaters · 04-28-2010, 08:09 PM

No, you will have to come visit and pick some up in person.

MikeWaters · 05-11-2010, 03:27 AM

Record haul of honey for me this year. About 100lb so far. And I have the stings to prove it. This evening I got one on the knee, a few on the biceps, and one on the back. And under my four layers of clothing, I almost died of heat exhaustion. My "main" shirt, when I took it off, was literally wring-able.

Cougarguard 2.0 - honey production.

MikeWaters · 05-11-2010, 03:28 AM

I've also found out that there are some real pricks among beekeepers. So I fit right in.

If my experience in getting in a recent flamewar on a beekeeping board is any indication...

MikeWaters · 05-11-2011, 01:03 AM

Beekeeper in Arkansas got flooded out. This was always my fear with my beehive I kept in back next to the creek. It was probably 6 or 7 feet above the normal level of the creek. In the past year or so I never saw the creek get too close to the hive, but it was causing me ulcers. So I finally moved the hive higher. And now I don't worry about that. I worry about other things.

Tough to imagine seeing all my hives spilled on the side of a road. Esp. if it was my living. Raising bees is a tough way to pay the bills.

MikeWaters · 06-17-2011, 03:00 PM

I've produced about 160lb of honey so far this year. Best honey crop ever for me. This year, the hobby has taken up fare more time than any other year. Buying and putting together woodware, splitting, requeening, extracting.

I think this is about as big as I want to be. Maybe too big actually. May need to downsize.

MikeWaters · 06-17-2011, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeWaters

One of the beehives at my home. This was my father's. I picked it up recently. It is a strong hive. I need to open it up and see what's going on inside.

This hive was really struggling this year after I committed a major mistake. Leaving the queen excluder on over the winter (doesn't allow the cluster to move up into the honey). But it has since been requeened and is thriving.

ute4ever · 08-03-2011, 09:18 PM

Just curious to hear what 30 straight days of 100+ degree weather does to bee colonies?

04-28-2010, 07:30 PM	#3
Zulu451 house-elf 3rd class Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 386	I enjoy reading about your beekeeping hobby. You will have to send me some honey to north carolina! __________________ <---- Mikewaters drives the lane...

04-27-2010, 03:35 AM	#1
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	Update. I now have three beehives. The original one that is at a friend's home. And two new ones that were originally my father's. One of the two is very strong, the other is weak. Both of these are at my home. Today I went and checked on the hive at my friend's home. I hadn't cracked this open since last fall. It was full to the brim of honey. I was surprised. So I put on another super. I'm going to need to harvest this honey sometime soon. I think it's going to be a very good year down here for honey. The bees are working like mad. It's a beautiful sight to see, the bees darting through the shafts of light through the trees. Coming and going. This one at my friend's house is more aggressive than my other two. They got me good tonight. Stung me three times through my clothes. Once in the right pec, once in the right inner thigh, and one on the right buttock. They made their presence known. I had messed with them twice today. First time no problem, second time, they were upset. I may eventually need to requeen this hive. Though I doubt I will ever be able to find the queen.

04-27-2010, 08:45 PM	#2
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	One of the beehives at my home. This was my father's. I picked it up recently. It is a strong hive. I need to open it up and see what's going on inside.

04-28-2010, 08:09 PM	#4
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	No, you will have to come visit and pick some up in person.

05-11-2010, 03:27 AM	#5
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	Record haul of honey for me this year. About 100lb so far. And I have the stings to prove it. This evening I got one on the knee, a few on the biceps, and one on the back. And under my four layers of clothing, I almost died of heat exhaustion. My "main" shirt, when I took it off, was literally wring-able. Cougarguard 2.0 - honey production.

05-11-2010, 03:28 AM	#6
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	I've also found out that there are some real pricks among beekeepers. So I fit right in. If my experience in getting in a recent flamewar on a beekeeping board is any indication...

05-11-2011, 01:03 AM	#7
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	Beekeeper in Arkansas got flooded out. This was always my fear with my beehive I kept in back next to the creek. It was probably 6 or 7 feet above the normal level of the creek. In the past year or so I never saw the creek get too close to the hive, but it was causing me ulcers. So I finally moved the hive higher. And now I don't worry about that. I worry about other things. Tough to imagine seeing all my hives spilled on the side of a road. Esp. if it was my living. Raising bees is a tough way to pay the bills.

06-17-2011, 03:00 PM	#8
MikeWaters Demiurge Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 36,367	I've produced about 160lb of honey so far this year. Best honey crop ever for me. This year, the hobby has taken up fare more time than any other year. Buying and putting together woodware, splitting, requeening, extracting. I think this is about as big as I want to be. Maybe too big actually. May need to downsize.

08-03-2011, 09:18 PM	#10
ute4ever I must not tell lies Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 5,103	Just curious to hear what 30 straight days of 100+ degree weather does to bee colonies?