Empire Perennials, Apiary and Icelandic chickens

Search This Blog

Bitter cold

December 28, 2017

Get link
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Starting on December 24th, the temps started dropping. Looks like the bitter cold will hold for another week.

I went out on the 24th and added tarps to the hives.

Get link
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Other Apps

Comments

Nosema observations

This past year, the Bedford Indiana beekeepers club bought a good microscope with the hopes of being able to help area beekeepers diagnose hives with Nosema infection. A fellow beekeeper and I presented a demonstration at our annual Bee Intensive on how to prepare a sample to look for Nosema. Since the bees used came from a hive with very little to no infection, we were unable to find any spores. On Aug. 24th, I noticed that one of my hives had they typical "spotting" on the hive for Nosema infection. I was delighted, but also dismayed, but now I had a hive that was infected. Due to the weather, etc., I was not able to inspect the hive until Sept. 4th. By then, the spotting was worse. I took a sample of bees and brought them into the lab that I work in. I pulled 4 gut samples and pulverized them in sterile water. I then made several slides. I was able to maybe find a few spores, but will so much other debris, they were hard to find. I then

Switched out candy boards

Since the weather was fairly warm, 60.1 °F, breezy, I decided to add new candy boards. Only replaced the ones in hives #1 and #2. #3 had not used as much as the others. Made new candy boards a few days ago. What was left of the candy board out of hive #1. This was a left over candy board from last year that had a lot left on it from last year. Candy board from hive #2. Another board that was left over from last year. They had eaten a lot of it. Saw a lot of honey still left on the comb next to the candy

Plant labels

Lost many plant labels during a hard rain. Many other types of labels do not hold up to the weather, so I bought a Brother's P-touch labeler. The labels are a laminated tape process protects that protects from harmful UV rays, scrapes, abrasions and even spills from water, and oil.

Powered by Blogger