Beekeeping Blog

This year, I chose to mark the queen. I opted not to do so last year because I heard it was beneficial for improving my skills in locating her. By marking her, I shift my focus to looking for the mark rather than searching for the queen directly. However, during my...

During a class at the Butterfly Pavilion, the instructor explained that when acquiring a package of bees, it’s beneficial to perform an Oxalic Acid dribble to combat Varroa mites. Since I'm still unfamiliar with various treatments, I began researching this method...

Today marked the release party for the queen bee. Without any candy or a marshmallow to allow the workers to free her naturally, I had to do it manually. It's suggested to wait about 3 to 4 days after installing the package before releasing the queen. Given the...

Today, I picked up my two bee packages. This year, I used two laundry bags with small holes in it to transport them in my car, which helped avoid the hassle of brushing off any stray bees clinging to the outside. Additionally, this setup provided an extra layer of...

Since I decided to add more bees to my apiary this year, I needed to create new hive stands. I wasn't particularly fond of the cinder block design we hastily put together last year. Although it was durable, I didn't like the fact that it provided ample hiding spots...

Last year, I was completely clueless about where to buy bees or how to go about it. A friend recommended a nearby feed store that offered bee packages, so I decided to give it a try.  Since then, I've expanded my knowledge about bees, including NUCs. NUCs are...

As a rookie beekeeper braving my very first winter with a hive, I'm basically on a crash course in bee survival. So far, we've had a couple of bone-chilling cold snaps, and each time I’ve found dead bees at the entrance, which really tugs at my heartstrings.  I mean,...

So, rumor had it that the bees would either keep the second entrance like it was the hottest club in town or shut it down faster than a bad DJ. Curious about their latest entrance choice, I swung by today to peek at the new top entrance. Turns out, the bees decided...

For nearly a year, I’ve been on a mission to find the perfect mouse guard entrance for my hive. I bought one online, but it didn’t quite tickle my fancy. I mean, who thought it was a good idea for bees to scale Mount Everest to get in and out? Then I stumbled upon a...

In the frosty wonderland of Colorado, I've been advised that my bees need two special treats for winter survival: a candy board and a quilt box. Think of it as a cozy winter retreat for them! The candy board is like their personal stash of sweets to keep them chubby...

So, today I decided to play the benevolent bee overlord and installed a top feeder on the hive. I figured the little buzzers could use a snack as autumn creeps in and the flowers fade into oblivion. I whipped up a 2:1 sugar water mixture for their culinary delight....

Today we took a quick peek at the bees to make sure all was looking good.  There were many bees up in the super box but they had not built any comb up there.  Since we're getting closer to winter and they've had several weeks to be working up there and haven't, I...

In today's inspection, I intended to check the lower brood box, but when I attempted to remove the top brood box, I found it to be quite heavy. My bees have been working hard. Concerned about potentially dropping the box, I opted not to inspect the lower brood box...

During today's hive inspection, I began by checking the lower brood box to assess how they were doing there.  I didn't spend much time inspecting it.  It didn't appear that they built any new comb on the outside frames yet so I coated them better than I have before...

Today, I revisited the hive for a closer examination to determine if there were any signs of cross-combing. I removed the upper brood box to check the frames below.  All the inner frames were pretty full with brood and the outer frames still had some room for honey. ...

Today I did another inspection.  Added more sugar water with a little Honey Be Healthy added to it.  Figured this would be the last time I feed them. Once again, I found burr comb at the top of the frames, which I removed. When I took out one of the end frames, I...

Today was my first real hive inspection and add more sugar water.  I carefully removed each frame one by one, beginning from one end and working my way to the other.  The first frame I pulled out didn't have much activity going on it, so I set it aside on a rack...

Its been four days since we added the bees to the hive and we finally had good weather.  Today we checked on the hive for the first time to check on the queen and make sure she got out of her cage.  This was my first time opening up a hive that had bees inside so I...

The smoker is probably what I was most anxious about beekeeping. However, I discovered that using it isn't as difficult as I had anticipated.  It's highly unlikely that I'll ever need it, but just in case the first thing I do each time is make sure the hose is turned...

I love being able to keep an eye on the hive so I set up a BeeCam.  It helps me monitor hive activity and is the water bath is getting low.  Fortunately the hive is close enough to have decent wifi range.

Today I picked up my bee package from a local feed company, Wardle Feed.  I was a little nervous of the hole process since it was my first go around picking up a package.  It was extremely easy. They had a be expert on-site to confirm all the queens were alive before...

Over the last week, I dedicated myself to absorbing as much information as possible about beekeeping. Luckily, I discovered just in time that it's essential to allow ample space behind the beehive for inspections. Initially, I had planned to place the beehive in my...

For the past few years, I've been interested in becoming a beekeeper and have attempted to educate myself on the subject. However, I often found myself distracted by other commitments, which hindered my progress. This spring, as the deadline for ordering bee packages...

For many years, I've dreamed of beekeeping, and this summer marks the beginning of that journey. A few years back, I bought a bee hive, but it has just been sitting unused in my garage. However, I finally took action and ordered my first bee package this spring, which...