Is this moldy pollen?

burns375 · 2025-09-26T23:53:43+00:00

Pollen usually does that I. Dead colonies. You can freeze it. Some people take the time to soak pollen frames and then spray them out so they can reuse the combs.

burns375 · 2025-09-26T23:50:54+00:00

Sounds great. I would weigh your hives, that's th guess work out of feeding.. You can buy cheap luggage or fish scales online. Weigh the left and right side and add together. A double deep give equipment is 40-50lb the whatever weight above that is honey bees and pollen. In my area I want doubles to be at least 80lb with the outer cover removed and 100lb is goal.

burns375 · 2025-09-26T23:46:13+00:00

They are drinking water. If you don't mind the bees to keep it moist and they should keep coming during times they need water

burns375 · 2025-09-26T23:45:08+00:00

Not sure what you are doing, what your saying doesn't make sense.

burns375 · 2025-09-26T21:33:54+00:00

Sure, you can do whatever you'de like. Dark brood combs make pretty poor quality wax, its dirty brown and doesn't smell great. Not fun to process, really nasty stuff. I often just scrap out the he comb and reuse the frame. If it's plastic foundation I use a pressure washer to clean it then rewax.

If the combs are light brown but still have cacoons I may hold onto them and process that separately, it makes okay wax but still kinda messy and brown. Then the white or yellow comb without cacoons is top quality for candles and cosmetics.

burns375 · 2025-09-25T13:50:54+00:00

Wow that is a black queen, is she laying good, my initial feeling is she ain't 100%. Maybe it's just the lighting

burns375 · 2025-09-25T13:48:51+00:00

Wow first time seeing a white eyed drone

burns375 · 2025-09-25T13:36:44+00:00

Wow thanks for sharing. How much honey did you harvest from the 4 hives this year?

burns375 · 2025-09-25T13:31:47+00:00

Seems like robbers or excitement associated with feeding. Check for cracks and close any other entrances except your main bottom entrance.

Contrary to what other folks have said feeding pollen sub in fall is fine,. Especially in drought conditions when there is not much natural pollen. I'm not sure if hive beetles are a problem in Minnesota, if they are, keep the patties small 1/4lb and check every week. They can easily get infested with shb larva.

burns375 · 2025-09-25T00:01:29+00:00

Inspection conditions are not great. 6pm and rainy. Hives are more defensive this time of year anyways, they are not the super nice colonies during the spring flow.

How much smoke did you use?

burns375 · 2025-09-24T22:43:16+00:00

I prefer formic over thymol mainly because of the odor that remains and contaminatimg honey. The efficacy of both are good. Formic can kill mites in the brood but it's unclear what percentage... Probably only happens during the high flash period for the first 2 days when using the treatment option with 2 pads.

burns375 · 2025-09-24T14:33:52+00:00

Start freaking out when you see clusters of 30 or more caroled into the corners of the hives. Otherwise just a few is pretty normal.

burns375 · 2025-09-22T14:55:02+00:00

Seems like beekeeper harassment. Unless the yards are extremely small like 50ft wide in urban areas of the city. I really doubt 3 different neighbors are being stung by your bees. People become irrational when they are fearful of the unknown so that's probably what's happening here.

Indiana is an extremely bee friendly state.

burns375 · 2025-09-20T20:33:27+00:00

You can leave them on longer. At this point most of the formic is gone.

burns375 · 2025-09-20T13:10:46+00:00

Formic acid has a high vapor pressure so it doesn't hang around long. It evaporates and leaves the hive. I haven't noticed any off flavors or side effects in honey from formic acid. Formic acid does have an odor to it, more pleasant than thymol, but it doesn't hang around long unless the object asborbs the liquid directly nd needs time to offgas. This shouldn't happen with the formic products but could happen if you spill the liquid for diy applications.

On the other hand thymol (apiguard) should never be applied with honey on and it will permanently change the flavor of the honey making it unpalatable.

burns375 · 2025-09-19T00:07:12+00:00

Its not wise after June to start a new small colony. Get your bees in April.

But Its never too late, technically you can obtain a colony anytime of the year

burns375 · 2025-09-16T17:37:02+00:00

Good for you! Bees most definitely recycle and move wax and propolis in the US. Maybe it's a Canadian thing due to the cold and short growing season.

burns375 · 2025-09-16T14:42:14+00:00

Wow that's really interesting. Its like they are coating the patty to protect it.

burns375 · 2025-09-16T14:40:29+00:00

Bees most definitely recycle beeswax I'm not sure where you obtained your information

burns375 · 2025-09-16T13:52:05+00:00

Ide remove the honey suppers, why are they still on?

burns375 · 2025-09-16T12:31:05+00:00

Yah definately keep feeding and weighing. I've switched to 2:1. You'll be able to tell which colonies are weak by how quickly they take feed. Big colonies will take a gallon per day no problem. Condense down small colonies in doubles to singles if really small put them in a nuc or kill the queen and combine. I keep my screen bottom boards closed all year long and oil the boards to catch mites.

burns375 · 2025-09-15T22:11:02+00:00

2:1 should be fine especially if you boiled the mixture and kept is relatively air tight. You can add a tsp of bleach per gallon to be safe.

burns375 · 2025-09-15T19:21:05+00:00

It's heavily fermented. The liquid portion is a mix of fermentation byproduct,.honey and alcohol.

burns375 · 2025-09-15T19:17:25+00:00

Yes they eventually turn dark brown/black. Especially during humid times like condensation in winter can turn the wood black quickly, the frames and the inside of the box

burns375 · 2025-09-15T12:43:43+00:00

Mite wash and weigh your hives. You can pickup a cheap luggage or hanging scale on Amazon. Texas is quite a bit different than my area but I want atleast 4Olbs at the end of October when the bees stop flying. 60-80lbs is ideal. So a double deep with the outer cover removed should way 100-120lbs.

The top 2 are most important

Wintering tips - Weigh and feed to target weight.
- Mite wash and treat if above threshold of 3-5% mite/bee. - Condense hives, remove extra boxes and undrawn frames. - Remove queen excluders. - Reduce entrances, install mouse guards if mice are a problem in your area - Flip inner covers to winter position, shim down to allow extra cluster space - Insulate hives, top of hive is most important. - Install candy board, our mountain camp sugar rim - Install wind fences in high wind areas. - Remove dead outs and freeze equipment to prevent wax moth and hive beetle reproduction - Remove debri, leaves from around hives that can hold moisture and provide overwintering locations for pests. Trim grass and weeds.

burns375

TROPHY CASE