I had noticed that my entrance reducer was removed on several mornings. Noticing scratches on the wood, I determined that a raccoon or skunk was pulling the reducer away and scraping dead bees off the bottom board for a late nite snack. Today, I wrapped the hive with garden fencing I had left over from last year. It came in a roll, so I just unrolled it around the hive and secured it to itself. My hive is on a hive stand, so that should hold the fencing about 6 inches from the front of the hive. We'll see if this takes care of the problem.

Hive was active again today. Bees coming and going. Lots of them coming back with pollen. Legs are packed with yellow colored material. Don't know what it is or where they are getting it.

My bees were very active today. It looked like one returning to the hive had some stuff in her pockets. I removed my mouse guard to give them easier passage in and out. Hope thats OK. I'm still gaining experience. I haven't bothered the hive oterwise. Think I'll leave them be for awhile till it gets warmer. Its good to know they are ok so far.

March 7, 2010

Today my bees were very active outside the hive. In the late morning it seemed they were trying out their wings within a few feet of the hive. As the day warmed, bees were out searching and many were out in my pastures. I saw a few bees with what could have been pollen on their legs entering the hive. They did not have much of this substance, but what they had was a tan dirty yellow. I did see some chickweed in bloom against the house, and though I do not have crocus, people tell theirs are out. Inside the hive the bees were making a buzzing sound that reminded me of an overloaded electrical circuit...I did not look in to see what the bees were doing so loudly, as I just felt it best not to bother them. Seems that they were doing pretty well by themselves!

Today I opened up the top cover for the first time and added raw sugar. They started investigating right away... I took photos and some short videos. They are here ---> http://public.fotki.com/GaryGS1/family-farm/beekeeping-1/feeding-raw-sugar-t/ Gary G. Schempp

March 6, 2010

The other day I lifted the top cover of my last remaining hive and bees were up and about on the inside cover. I fed them some raw sugar, putting it on the inside cover. Today I lifted the cover and bees flew out, and when I got the cover high enough to see inside, the inside cover was wallpapered with bees and they sounded like a train coming out of a tunnel!

I am not sure if I did right, but I added another super to the top of the hive with seven frames of honey that I had saved from the hives that had not survived. In the empty space left for the three missing frames, I dropped in fondant , which I had made yesterday - it was my first attempt, and I am not totally sure if what I made is what its supposed to be!

I hope that between feeding fondant,sugar, and the "relief" honey, that these bees will make it.

One of my other hives has starved - I fed it everyday since last spring, and even had been using a top feeder up until the cold weather. Still, it did not have enough stores to get it through the winter. Very frustrating.

moving day

I am going to try and move one of my hives tomorrow. Any suggestions?