Late March hive happenings

Smoked this colony right before the pollen patty went on. The bees were peeking from between the frames looking for a scrumptious pollen patty to eat.

The hives are currently on spring build up. The queen is laying and new brood has been hatching out. Colonies have been eating pollen patties, being that it has been too cool for bees to get out and forage for pollen.
 The cool weather has slowed pollen bearing trees from budding out. As our temperatures warm up, more pollen will be coming available. Pollen patties need to be on the hive for colonies to have a steady supply of pollen substitute. Without pollen the bees may not even have any brood going in the hive. Pollen patties are cheap insurance that a colony will continue to build up.
 Feeding syrup is on an as needed basis. If the bees need honey, feed syrup. Don't over feed. It would be a shame if a hive starved from lack of attention from the beekeepers. As the temperatures warm stronger colonies will be occupying more and more of a multi story colony. Usually around April first beekeepers usually do a reversal. The purpose of the reversal is to give the queen more room to lay. By spreading the brood throughout the colony will bring a larger population to a properly managed colony. Keep the pollen patties on and hope for warmer weather.

4 Frame Nuc's Available

My friend Brian has some 4 frame nuc's available.
The nuc's come from Texas. The are delivered in early May.
The nuc's will come in a cardboard nuc box, four frames of bees and a mated MN-Hygienic Queen.
Limited number available call NOW if you want some.
$150.00 each
Brian 763-421-6644

MN Links Insecticide to Damaged Hives

http://www.startribune.com/in-win-for-beekeepers-state-links-insecticide-to-damaged-hives/372728941/

Why did my bees die?

This is a link to the bee informed blog.
This article by Meghan Milbrath from Michigan State University extension. Is an in depth look at symptoms of hives that have died over the winter in northern climates. Once again Varroa is the culprit in many cases of hive mortality.
https://beeinformed.org/2016/03/08/why-did-my-honey-bees-die/

Proper Pollen Patty Placement

Two beekeepers called me yesterday to tell me they have no brood and must be queenless. They both said they had pollen patties on. After a brief conversation both told me they had the patties in a place where the bees cannot easily get at the patties, and the bees were not eating the patty.
Pollen patties need to be placed right on the cluster of bees. If the bees can't mass around part of the patty, they won't eat it. If they don't have pollen, the population of the hive will suffer.

Sign up for my newsletter

If you want an email on delivery dates, please sign up for my newsletter.
Link to sign up for our newsletter

Queen cells

Olivarez Honey bees are starting to make queens for the package bee season. These are queen cells waiting to go into mating nucs. Each peanut shaped queen cell will be placed in a mating nuc with about a cup of bees. The queen will emerge from the cell. After a week she will be able to fly and go out and get mated. If the weather is good for mating, she will mate with many drones.