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Feeding Pollen Patties to Bees
While we would like for our bees to be able to feed themselves exclusively through foraging, there are times when a beekeeper must step in to feed their colonies. When necessary, beekeepers will feed their bees either pollen patties or sugar syrup. Feeding bees can mean the difference between a strong colony and one that is struggling to survive. Of course, there is a correct way to feed bees. Knowing when to feed pollen patties to bees is essential. What are Pollen Patties? Pollen patties are a type of bee food that is made to simulate pollen. Pollen patties do not usually contain real pollen. Instead, they are a mixture…
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Seasonal Management of Honey Bees
For beekeepers, each season brings new tasks in regards to management of their beehives. Depending on the season, honey bees have different needs. The exact timing of the season will vary depending on your location. Some beekeepers like to divide their seasons up into periods instead. Those periods are the dearth period, build up period, honey flow period, and harvesting period. Either way, each season, or period of your hive, have different management methods to help your colony thrive year round. Seasonal Management of Honey Bees Spring Spring can also be known as the build up period. This is when plants are starting to open up and flower. Spring is…
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The Best Time to Start a Beehive
The weather is finally starting to get a little warmer as spring approaches. For beekeepers, this is the perfect time to prepare for the upcoming season. For a bee colony to flourish, you want to get started at the right time. So, what is the best time to start a beehive? Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. Why it’s Important to Start a Beehive on Time If you start too early, and the weather is too cold, the bees will be unable to forage for food. Starting a beehive in winter is…
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Should You Use a Screened Bottom Board in Winter?
In beekeeping the bottom board is the floor of the beehive. There are 2 different types of bottom boards – solid and screened. Both types have advantages and disadvantages, and it is up the beekeeper to decide which one they like best. This article is all about the screened bottom board. Here, you’ll learn what a screened bottom board is, pros and cons of using one, and how to use a screened bottom board in winter. Disclosure: As an affiliate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. What is a Screened Bottom Board? In a beehive, the bottom…
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What is a Super in Beekeeping?
A part of a beehive you may hear about often is the super. If you are new to the hobby, you may wonder, what is a super in beekeeping? This article is all about the super. It will discuss what exactly a super is, how to use it, and when to add a super. Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. What is a Super in Beekeeping? Super comes from the word superstructure, which means a structure built on top of something else. So in beekeeping, a super is a box (or boxes)…
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Do Ants Harm Beehives?
“There are ants in my beehive!” is a common complaint among beekeepers. It’s not surprising because ants are often attracted to sugary foods. So finding a beehive full of sweet honey must be like hitting the jackpot for them. But for beekeepers, while ants are a nuisance, at what point do you step in and get rid of the ants? Do ants harm beehives? Why Ants Like Beehives Like most creatures that try to invade a beehive, ants are attracted to the smell of honey. Just like ant traps use a sweet smelling bait to lure ants, honey is the reason ants will enter a hive. Furthermore, if you are…
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What is the Advantage of 8 Frame Hives?
When you are shopping for beehives, you will notice that there are 2 configurations for Langstroth hives. Langstroth beehives come with either 8 frames or 10 frames. The box will have dimensions specifically for the corresponding number of frames. 10 frames means more room for bees, and more room for honey, so what is the advantage of 8 frame hives? Disclosure: As an affiliate I may earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no cost to you and helps to keep this website running. About 8 Frame Hives Langstroth hives are composed of three different sections. The bottom portion consists of the hive stand, bottom board, and entrance reducer. Next…
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When to Stop Feeding Bees in Spring
For the most part, bees can feed themselves, but there are times when a beekeeper may want to step in and offer some assistance. Feeding bees sugar water can be very helpful to new colonies or during a nectar dearth. While feeding bees sugar water can save a starving colony, it is also important to know when to stop feeding bees in spring. Giving bees too much sugar water when they don’t need it isn’t good for them too. What do Bees Eat? There are three things bees eat – pollen, nectar, and honey. Worker bees spend much of their time foraging pollen and nectar to bring back to the…
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Beekeeping Terminology – What is Beekeeping Called?
For those not experienced with beekeeping, you may notice a lot of unfamiliar words. A common question I get is, what is beekeeping called? It’s true that there are technical terms for beekeeping, beekeepers, and bee yards. What is Beekeeping Called? Beekeeping is called apiculture. Apiculture refers to the maintenance of bee colonies in man made hives. Basically, apiculture is the scientific method of raising honey bees. It comes from the latin word “apis”, which means bee. You will find that many beekeeping terms derive from the word apis. For example, apis mellifera is the scientific name for the Western Honey Bee. While the genus name Apis means bee, mellifera…
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How to Do a Hive Inspection + Free Printable Hive Inspection Sheets
An important part of beekeeping is the hive inspection. While healthy, established colonies may thrive without much intervention, newer colonies might need some help. You cannot just put bees in a hive and expect everything to go well without checking on them. The only way to know what is going on in the beehive is through regular hive inspections. When doing a hive inspection it is good to document your observations. It would be difficult to remember everything without keeping records, especially if you have multiple hives. This post contains free printable hive inspection sheets that you can download and print for free. What is a Hive Inspection? During a…
