Posts Tagged ‘Verticle log hive’

Bee Beard Log Hive, Alive and Well

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 11, 2013| 4 Comments »

Bee Beard...August 1, 2013. The bees always fly around at the entrance between 1:30 and 3:30. I'm not sure why, the outside temperature is only 68 F (15C)

Bee Beard…August 1, 2013. The bees always fly around at the entrance between 1:30 and 3:30. I’m not sure why, the outside temperature is only 68 F (15C)

After it threw six swarms, I wondered if Bee Beard had anything left.  Yes, there were bees but was there a laying queen?  Then in the beginning of April,  I started watching in horror as drones were being tossed out of the entrance.  Drones with reddish colored eyes and ‘chewed up’ wings.  I checked the bee literature and learned that I was looking at a good example of “Deformed Wing Virus,” thought to be caused by the dreaded varroa mite.

Two bees evicting one with Deformed Wing Virus

April 1, 2013…I was filming the bees at the entrance when I heard a thump on the landscape cloth. Two bees were evicting one with Deformed Wing Virus

It started in the beginning of April and continued through the end of the month.  Then came Drone Awareness Month.  I thought for sure, this would be the end of the hive because I had a “laying worker.”

April 25, 2013...SIX DRONES visible. I have never seen so many drones at the entrance.

April 25, 2013…SIX DRONES visible. I have never seen so many drones at the entrance.

You can notice these bees because of their eyes.  The tops of their eyes meet in the middle.  Also drones are big.  In the video you’ll notice how much bigger they are then the worker bees.  I wasn’t worried about their size however, I was worried there was no queen.  For this many drones in one place, it meant (to me) only one thing…a laying worker.  If there’s no fertilized queen (possibly because of all the swarms) then sometimes a worker bee will start to lay.  If you inspect the combs, you’ll see the eggs laid on the side of the cell or multiple eggs in an individual cell…the sign of a laying worker (or more than one)   Workers are not fertile and can only lay drones.  If they are only laying drones, the colony will die out, because drones don’t work.  Since I didn’t want to open the hive and intervene,  I was going have to sweat it out.

August 4, 2013...I see lots of bee activity and pollen going in. Is it possible my fears were unfounded?

August 4, 2013…I see lots of bee activity and pollen going in. Is it possible my fears were unfounded?

Bee Beard Log Hive is an experiment in what happens with no intervention.  I don’t medicate, miticide, or treat the bees with anything.  That includes essential oils and powdered sugar.  I don’t take any honey.  These bees came from a myrtlewood tree last June.  They’ve never even been smoked.  We grow many bee-loving flowers, but I know that bees also go elsewhere for foraging.  Is it possible the Varroa mite and deformed wing virus are still around?  Of course…but as long as the bees can adapt, that’s as much as anyone can want.  I guess I’ll know more by next spring, but right now they look good.

Bee Beard looked a little sharper last year when it finally got some bees.

Read Full Post »

Hal and Patti’s Log Hives and Garden

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Gardening, Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Swarms, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on May 15, 2013| Leave a Comment »

I just love standing on this bridge and seeing all the work Hal and Patti have done. It's so beautiful.

I just love standing on this bridge and seeing all the work Hal and Patti have done. It’s so beautiful.

Hal called me up last week to say he took some video of a bee swarm flying INTO his unoccupied bee log.  I’m thinking “Well, that’s a first.  Whenever I see a swarm, they are flying OUT of something…like a hive.”  I had to see this.  While I was there I shot some photos of all the work they have done.  I draw inspiration every time I visit.  It was here that I learned about sedum and what a wonderful bee loving flower that is. There is so much color here, so many flowers.  It surely takes hard work and dedication to keep everything looking so good.

When I first saw all the bees sipping nectar on these sedum, I knew I wanted a bunch. It's clear it's nectar they are after...I didn't see a speck of pollen in their pollen baskets.

When I first saw all the bees sipping nectar on these sedum, I knew I wanted a bunch. It’s clear it’s nectar they are after…I didn’t see a speck of pollen in their pollen baskets.  This photo was shot at Patti’s garden in September 2012

It didn't take long for the bees to set up home. They swarmed INTO this log, April 18.

It didn’t take long for the bees to set up home. They swarmed INTO this log, April 18.

Patti's gunnera growing under the bridge

Patti’s gunnera is growing under the bridge

Hal and Patti on bridge, May 10, 2013

Hal and Patti on bridge, May 10, 2013

This video shows the swarm of bees moving INTO the  vacated log hive.  Hal explains what is going on as he shoots the video on his iPhone.

All this is natural comb, built in less than two months from when the bees swarmed INTO the log hive.

All this is natural comb, built in less than two months from when the bees swarmed INTO the log hive.

Hal’s first log hives

Hal talks about his log hive

Read Full Post »

Meet Bee-atrice…A Female Companion to Bee Beard

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Swarms, Videos, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 28, 2013| 10 Comments »

Bee-atrice is looking good.

Bee-atrice is looking good.  Okay, the yard sign on her head isn’t too flattering, but it was all I could come up with in a hurry.  We will fix that later.

 When Bee-atrice became aware of her beauty she developed a real attitude.  Her long golden hair, the color of the setting sun, a beauty mark on her face, and the fact that she was carved out of a hard wood by a professional wood carver made her vain.  In conversations, the iPod would always be pulled out to show how she was carved. She would tell people.  “I’m special.  I was carved out of myrtlewood which only grows on the Oregon Coast and in the Holy Land.”  We told her the brochures weren’t exactly true, myrtlewood also grew along the California Coast, and the kind in the Holy Land was a different variety.  She would counter with the fact that “Myrtlewood” is the only wood still in use as a base “metal” for legal tender,  “besides my mouth was carved ‘open’ so I can sing.”  I think she fashioned herself as some kind of diva or something.

We decided to place her near Bee Beard.   We just figured they’d hit it off because they had so much in common.  One look at Bee Beard and she realized her open mouth was carved to let bees pass in and out.  She was shocked and humiliated…stomped off in a huff. I couldn’t figure it out.  Bee Beard has never complained about anything, not even once.  He’s been through a whole year of wind, rain, and bees.   It’s true we’ve never smoked him or bothered him much, I just figured Bee-atrice would be the same.  Not so…“I don’t want to be next to him and I don’t like bamboo.  It attracts wasps. “  We ended up promising her a one of a kind Easter hat and face her into the sun so it could shine on her beautiful golden hair.  She gave in to the flattery, but there was no way she would agree to be near Bee Beard or even to look at him.

The bees first couple of nights were spent here in the upper corner of log.

The bees first couple of nights were spent here in the corner of log.

I've always wanted to note the temperature of the hive.

I’ve always wanted to note the temperature of the hive.

I'm surprised this is only 83 F (28 C) I wish I could see inside better, but I'll have to wait until the combs are visible in the observation window.

I’m surprised the temp is only 83 F (28 C) I wish I could see inside better, but I’ll have to wait until the combs are visible in the observation window.

A short video show bees already bringing in pollen on Day 6

Bee-atrice gets a bonnet

The start of the project

Bee-atrice…the Carving

Preparing Bee-atrice Log Hive for Prime Time

Hal started it all

Read Full Post »

Pat’s New Log Hive

Posted in Hives, Log hives, tagged , , , on April 26, 2013| 2 Comments »

She was but a gleam in her father's eyes.

She was but a gleam in her father’s eyes.

When Shigeo found out I wanted to build another log hive, he offered me a myrtlewood log.  Myrtlewood is a hardwood that excels all other hardwoods in variety of color and beauty of grain.  I was excited by the prospect because bees live in myrtlewood trees.  In fact, my other log hive, Bee Beard,  is occupied by feral  bees from a Myrtlewood tree.

Off to a good start. Log is carved out about 18" from both ends

Off to a good start. Log is carved out about 18″ from both ends

Shigeo brings his 'big dog' to help out

Shigeo brings his ‘big dog’ to help out

Shigeo gets to work on lengthening the cavity

Shigeo gets to work on lengthening the cavity

This is so familiar...when the chain saw cuts don't meet in the middle, we've got to do it the hard way.

This is so familiar…when the chain saw cuts don’t meet in the middle, we’ve got to do it the hard way.

Progress...Shigeo pulls out some wood.

Progress…Shigeo pulls out some wood.

Hollow all the way through, finally.

Hollow all the way through, finally.

Shigeo cuts the top to use as a possible quilt box

Cut the top to use as a possible quilt box

Starting the cut on the observation window

Starting the cut on the observation window

This was a lot of work. I'm glad my son did most of it.

My son brought his Sawz-all to the task

Observation cut-out for window is completed. This was a lot of work...I'm glad my son was able to do most of it.

Observation cut-out for window is completed. This was a lot of work…I’m glad my son was able to do most of it…I was able to visit with my grandson.

Good…I think we’re ready for Brian Vorwaller, the professional chainsaw artist who will be in town next week on April 4th.   I wonder what kind of face he will want to carve.

The carving…

Getting Bee-atrice ready for prime time

Meet Bee-atrice…a Female Companion for Bee Beard

 

Read Full Post »

A Tree Hive

Posted in Bait Hives, Hives, Swarms, tagged , , , , , on April 25, 2013| 5 Comments »

Tree hive, and how it got here

Lucky number 7…I caught bees in this bait box last year, so it was a good choice to use.

Yesterday I caught a swarm from Bee Beard Log hive and put it into my back-up Warre.

I thought I had some time to finish my second log hive before another swarm would take place.  Not so.  On April 18 two more swarms came out.  These are cast swarms…more than likely the queen has not been mated yet.  What to do?  I had already used my back-up Warre and there were some work responsibilities staring me in the face…deadlines that couldn’t be put off any longer because “people are depending on you, Pat!”  Okay, I’ll get the deadlines done first and get the bees figured out in the morning…it rained all night.  My wife suggested I adapt a bait box.  Last year after reading McCartney Taylor’s book on swarm bait hives, I had built nine swarm bait boxes  and placed them in different spots hoping to attract a swarm.  I was successful in two of them.  One I gave away and lucky number 7 went into my new log hive.

After some initial resistance, I realized she had a good idea.  The box is already built.  I just need to add some Warre length top bars…it’s also a good size of 40 liters as recommended by Tom Seeley in his book “Honeybee Democracy.”

First job is to wax up some top bars…

Painted melted wax on top bars

Painted melted wax on top bars

Prewaxed top bars installed into former swarm bait box after scorching the inside.

Three waxed top bars installed into former swarm bait box after scorching the inside.

The above picture shows only three top bars.  I added a total of 12 because I wasn’t sure when I’d get another Warre and at the time I wanted to be able to add these bees to my next log hive if I ever get it done.  I also tapped some panel nails in to keep the bars from sliding when I tilt hive with bees into the tree.  The bars have a slot for the nails, so they will lift out easily.

I like the idea of a ‘quilt box,’ so I cut another bait hive down to make one.

Hardware cloth on the bottom keeps the burlap 'quilt' from getting glued to the bars. That way the sawdust won't spill into the brood box.

Hardware cloth on the bottom keeps the burlap ‘quilt’ from getting glued to the bars. That way the sawdust won’t spill into the brood box.

I drilled several holes into the quilt box covering them with screen.  That way the hive can breathe and keep the hive scent.  I used myrtlewood sawdust for two reasons…feral bees live in myrtlewood trees and I had a lot of it left over from hollowing out my next log hive.  Actually some of my bees came from a feral hive in a myrtlewood tree last year.

I'm beginning to think bamboo is the ideal swarm catcher...this is the fourth swarm to land in bamboo.

I’m beginning to think bamboo is the ideal swarm catcher…this is the fourth swarm to land in it.

After bending branches and snipping them, we managed to get the majority of bees into the box.

"Hey everyone, the queen is over here in the box." (The bees are fanning the pheramone.)

“Hey everyone, the queen is over here in the box.” (The bees are fanning the nasonov pheromone.)

Day 5, they're bringing back pollen already...a sign of a laying queen.

Day 5, they’re bringing back pollen already…a sign of a laying queen.

A short video of swarm activity.  The main video that shows us getting the swarm in the box has disappeared due to Pat’s incompetence.

Read Full Post »

A Face Mask on Bee Beard Log Hive

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, tagged , , , , , , , , on March 29, 2013| 14 Comments »

On a hot day in late March, the bees step out for some fresh air and dancing.

On a hot day in late March, the bees step out for some fresh air and dancing.

It's a hot day for us on the Oregon Coast in late March.

It’s unusably warm on the Oregon Coast today.

The lower bee has been fanning for awhile. While I was photographing, this other bee came out and fed her? I don't know if that's what it is, but from here, that's what it looked like.

The lower bee has been fanning for awhile. While I was photographing, this other bee came out and fed her? I don’t know if that’s what it is, but from here, that’s what it looked like.

Pat's next log hive progresses...much work still to be done before ready for bees.

Pat’s next log hive progresses…much work still to be done before ready for bees.

Some bees are still outside the hive, at 10 pm. and 49 deg. F (9.4C)

Some bees are still outside the hive, at 10 pm. and 49 deg. F (9.4C)

This hive swarmed the next day.  I missed the prime swarm but got the second swarm into a back-up Warre.

Swarm number 4 went into a tree hive.

Swarm #3 got mixed into swarm #5 that went into Bee-atrice log hive.

Read Full Post »

Flowers blooming mid-winter

Posted in Bee-loving flowers, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Uncategorized, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2013| 8 Comments »

Could this be pollen from the laurel bush? It's been blooming since Jan. 22.

Could this be pollen from the laurel bush? It’s been blooming since Jan. 22. I know that you can’t tell by color alone, but at this time I don’t have the microscope or capability to properly identify pollen.

This is the first year I’ve had bees into winter.  I was curious about all the types of pollen showing up on the bees entering the hive.  I was sure some of it was gorse since we seem to have so much of it growing thanks to Lord Bennett of Ireland.

I made a 9 minute movie showing the bees on different types of flowers and Shigeo of the local bee association demonstrates how to transplant an Echium.  I realize that some people can’t spare the time, so I’m offering ‘screen saves,’ as well.

Laurel blooming by Bonnie's house

Laurel blooming by Bonnie’s house

Bee on laurel, tannish-colored pollen

Bee on laurel, tannish-colored pollen…January 22, 2013

Bees on rosemary, at City Hall, February 8, 2013

Bees on rosemary, at City Hall, February 8, 2013

Pussy Willows blooming near our hives...sun comes out...bees love it.

Willow catkins blooming near our hives…sun comes out…bees love it.  February 8,2013

Gorse pollen is orange...I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

Gorse pollen is orange…I had been hoping it was the yellow pollen I had seen going into the hive. February 13, 2013

The video shows this bee in slow motion working the pollen back to it's pollen sac. I didn't see it at first until a more experience bee keeper showed me. February 13, 2013

The video shows this bee in slow motion working the pollen back to it’s pollen sac. I didn’t see it at first until a more experience bee keeper showed me. February 13, 2013

Bee on heather, 2-14-13, right up the street from Tom and Karen's house.

Bee on heather, 2-14-13, right up the street from Joe and Karen’s house.

Bee on acacia, 2-15-13...Shigeo showed me this place to get some video. By the time we got to it, the bees were returning to home so I only got a short clip of it.

Bee on acacia, 2-15-13…Shigeo showed me this place to get some video. By the time we got to it, the bees were returning to home so I only got a short clip of it.

Shigeo shows how to transplant an Echium Tree.

Shigeo shows how to transplant an Echium Tree.

Echium for 2013...I'm hoping this plant will shoot up 10 feet (3 m) starting about April or May.

Echium for 2013…I’m hoping this plant will shoot up 10 feet (3 m) starting about April or May. The tarp protects against freezing weather.

These are the plants that Shigeo demonstrated in the video, how to transplant. They are my hope for 2014

These are the plants that Shigeo demonstrated in the video, how to transplant. They are my hope for 2014

We planted this in late October 2011. It just stared blankly at us for several months. April or May we noticed it had grown about 10 feet. The bees worked it for 3 solid months.

We planted this echium in late October 2011. It just stood still for several months. About April or May we noticed it had grown to about 10 feet. The bees worked it for 3 solid months.

The video shows the bees in action on the flowers.  I used the Canon SX-50 (50x optical zoom) on the laurel as well as the willow catkins.  My little pocket camera, a Sanyo Xacti performed admirably for the rest of the close ups…I love the ‘super macro’ feature.

Read Full Post »

Bees Active in Winter

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on February 3, 2013| 13 Comments »

As a newbie beekeeper I thought the bees just kept within the hive during the winter, leaving the hive infrequently.  I know things are different on the coast because we rarely get snow, but we get loads of cold winds and driving rains.  So it’s to my surprise that the bees are so active.  They are actually bringing in pollen during January and early February.  I’m hoping the yellow pollen is gorse, because everyone around here hates gorse so much (with good reason…it’s blamed for burning the town down in 1936), I’d like to know gorse is good for something, especially since it usually blooms early February.

I’m concerned about the Warre hive. The top video shows the front of the hive with the bees bringing in yellow and orange pollen and through the observation window in back.   I’d like some advice from more knowledgeable beekeepers about what to do.  I almost nadired another box underneath, had planned for the forecasted hottest part of the day at 55 deg.F (12 deg.C) but then the temperature turned cool.  Should I add another box so they can grow into it before they swarm or should I wait for a few more weeks because the winter weather will return the latter part of February and into March?  Another box means they have to heat it.  I’ve got a dry sugar pad above the box as a just in case food source.

The log hive below looks very strong, lots of activity whenever the sun comes out and the temps are in the 50’s (10 C) bringing in pollen during January and February.  Those bees came from a feral tree hive.  I’m leaving them alone to fend for themselves.  I’m hoping the hive will act as an undisturbed ecosystem…bees adapting to survive mites and other pests.

Hope to have another log hive in place before they swarm.

Hollowing out the log  Carving the log

Read Full Post »

Bees still flying in Late December

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 30, 2012| 11 Comments »

A long time beekeeper in the bee association warned me to expect 50% winter losses.   I thought to myself which hive am I going to lose, the one I’m reluctantly feeding or the log hive?

I realize this is only the beginning of winter, but both hives have already come through hurricane-force winds, weeks of steady rain, and a few recent frosty mornings.  The sun finally came out this weekend and to my happy surprise, both hives are still flying, even though the temperature was a mere 50 deg. F (10 deg. C)  The log hive is still bringing in a surprising amount of pollen.

I was able to shoot the 2nd part of this video with my new camera that sports a 50x zoom.  I don’t have to get as close to the hive now. 🙂

Hollowing out the log     Constructing the base     Bee Beard Gets Bees

Here’s a photo of the bottom board taken the next day…Some more experienced beekeepers say you can tell what’s inside the hive by reading the bottom board.  I see flakes of wax, but I’m not sure about the rest of it…

Warre Hive Floor Board...Learning how to read the floor board.

Warre Hive Floor Board…Learning how to read the floor board.  The layout of the bars are parallel with the bottom of this board.  What do you see?

When it's cold the bees hang out in the lower left of hive.

When it’s cold the bees hang out in the lower left of hive.

Status of bee hives one year later.

Here is Bernhard Zaunreiter’s assessment of my little Warre Hive…

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 8:09 am    Post subject:
It is a very small colony. But since they made it until now, they most probably make it through winter and until Spring. It will be a difficult time in Spring, when the old winter bees die off and have to be replaced with young bees just in time. Just make sure you protect them from robbing in Spring. A big colony will surely assault such a small colony and wipe them out of life. So reduce and watch the entrance.Such a moldy floor only can be found in small colonies. The black stuff on the right of the picture is mold. It won’t harm the bees for now. So no worries. The black dirt ist bug poo, I think the hive has quite some wax moths. The common woodlice are wintering within the hive, but won’t harm the bees much. You could clean the floor board regularily, so you can notice the differences over the time. Once the first stripes and pollen appear on the board, they started brooding. Wipe the mold off with some vinegar, washing and drying it afterwards with a hair dryer.Plenty of stores, so no worries about that. Maybe you scrape open some honey cells from above in Spring, so the honey draws moisture and can be eaten up more quickly, leaving empty cells to lay eggs into. Just some combs at a time. The most critical thingin Spring are empty cells.

You can see his example of a  more healthy bottom board here…http://www.biobees.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=88786#88786 (as well as follow the thread)

Read Full Post »

Bee Beard Log Hive…Robber Bees?

Posted in Hives, Log hives, Natural Beekeeping, Videos, Warre Hive, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 22, 2012| 3 Comments »

I’m happy to report my Bee Beard log hive came through the hurricane-force winds without getting blown over.  The bamboo and ‘staked’ hay bales must have protected it enough.

Since we are new to beekeeping  we try to pay attention to the advice of more experienced beekeepers.  We have been warned about robber bees attacking the hive…robbing the honey.  I shot this video in an effort to find out if my log hive is getting robbed.  I don’t know whether these are robber bees or just the normal activity of the hive.  They are still bringing in pollen so I’m assuming (naively?) it’s all normal behavior.  The bees came from a feral hive in a tree on private property.  Maybe it’s strong enough to defend itself.

A short video of my Warre Hive is included.  Much less activity can be seen around the Warre.  Is it because I’m feeding them sugar?  Maybe the bees don’t feel the need to venture out.

Read Full Post »

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »