Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum  

Go Back   Cigar Asylum Cigar Forum > Non Cigar Specialty Forums > Misc > General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-09-2017, 12:32 PM   #321
icehog3
Admiral Douchebag
 
icehog3's Avatar
15
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Tom
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Posts: 70,447
Trading: (61)
HUpmann
icehog3 has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Quote:
Originally Posted by massphatness View Post
Yes, but I wanted to go old school for the sake of experience
Just like Tupac!
__________________


Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!
icehog3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 09:19 AM   #322
massphatness
Where's my buffaloooo ...
 
massphatness's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Vin
Location: MassHolia
Posts: 12,688
Trading: (206)
ERdM
massphatness has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sad news in the world of bees: as I feared, the ladies did not survive the brutal cold snap we had to start to the winter. I peeked in the hive yesterday as temps got up to 50* and was concerned I didn't see any activity. Even in the winter months, the bees will leave the hive when the temps get way enough in order to make cleansing flights to relieve themselves.

Looks like the entire cluster froze to death in a big ball.

Plenty of honey stores in the hive, so I know they didn't starve.

Grace & I are going to give things another shot this spring. Going to order a nuc instead of a package. A nuc is a working mini-colony of bees: 4-5 frames of bees who have already drawn out comb and are working with their queen. You slide the frames into the hive, and away they go. They'll have a head start on honey stores from last years hive -- I think I have 6-8 full frames of honey still in the hive -- so the hope is this helps them to rapidly build up & strengthen the hive.

Look forward to continuing the adventure, but kinda' sad about losing the bees.
__________________
Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE
massphatness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 09:23 AM   #323
markem
Bunion
 
markem's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Mark
Location: Second Star on the Right
Posts: 22,464
Trading: (47)
HUpmann
markem has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sorry about the bees, Vin. Glad that you are going to continue.
markem is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 09:25 AM   #324
BigAsh
Don't knock the Ash...
 
BigAsh's Avatar
7
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Keith
Location: Yardley, PA
Posts: 5,044
Trading: (46)
Partagas
BigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

I'm strangely saddened by the news...thru this thread, and personal conversation, invested in the project from afar... anything that would've prevented the result?? ...looking forward to the next round
__________________
Keith
BigAsh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 09:37 AM   #325
MarkinAZ
Formerly MarkinOR
 
MarkinAZ's Avatar
10
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Mark
Location: Sun City West, AZ
Posts: 6,220
Trading: (40)
Navy (Served With Honor)
MarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to beholdMarkinAZ is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sorry to hear about Grace and your loss of the colony, especially after all of the nurturing given to the bee's.

Maybe before next Winter set's in, some form of wind break with a heat lamp pointed in the direction of the hive. That is, just enough heat to keep the freeze off the hive. Just a thought...
__________________
"Don't worry, God will work out His plan for your life..." Psalm 138 8
MarkinAZ is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 09:47 AM   #326
icehog3
Admiral Douchebag
 
icehog3's Avatar
15
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Tom
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Posts: 70,447
Trading: (61)
HUpmann
icehog3 has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

You'll tweak it a little and have better success next winter, I am sure, Vin.
__________________


Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!
icehog3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 10:29 AM   #327
massphatness
Where's my buffaloooo ...
 
massphatness's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Vin
Location: MassHolia
Posts: 12,688
Trading: (206)
ERdM
massphatness has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Quote:
Originally Posted by BigAsh View Post
I'm strangely saddened by the news...thru this thread, and personal conversation, invested in the project from afar... anything that would've prevented the result?? ...looking forward to the next round
Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkinOR View Post
Sorry to hear about Grace and your loss of the colony, especially after all of the nurturing given to the bee's.

Maybe before next Winter set's in, some form of wind break with a heat lamp pointed in the direction of the hive. That is, just enough heat to keep the freeze off the hive. Just a thought...

May look into planting some shrubs as a wind break. I knew going in that could be an issue, but I thought the area was wooded enough to provide a natural break. Need to research what kind of shrubs do well in heavy shade.

Not sure a heat lamp is a solution. As I understand it, artificial heat can cause the bees to think it's warmer outside the hive than it really is, and they venture out and die.
__________________
Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE
massphatness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 10:43 AM   #328
CigarNut
F*ck Cancer!
 
CigarNut's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
First Name: Michael
Location: Clermont, Florida
Posts: 18,038
Trading: (111)
RA
CigarNut has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sorry to hear about this, Vin — I hope your next attempt is much more successful!

As others have said, I really looked forward to reading this thread and am saddened. Looking for to future updates later this year.
__________________
Need Beads? Need Five Finger Bags?

2 of 3 Requirements for use of the CA Rolodex: 100 posts/ 60 day membership/ participation in trade (trader rating). New members can be added at any time.
CigarNut is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-11-2018, 11:17 AM   #329
AdamJoshua
Article 4 Free Inhabitant
 
AdamJoshua's Avatar
11
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
First Name: The Other Adam
Location: Satellite Beach
Posts: 14,771
Trading: (40)
Bolivar Army (Served With Honor)
AdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud ofAdamJoshua has much to be proud of
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sad news indeed, maybe their memory bee a blessing.

Seems like they didn't give their tiny lives in vain as you are already researching and looking to improve next time!
AdamJoshua is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2018, 07:52 AM   #330
Dave128
Sexy Dave
 
Dave128's Avatar
3
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
First Name: Dave
Location: Voorheesville, NY
Posts: 3,916
Trading: (4)
Dave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really nice
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sad news, Vin. May round two bring better success.
__________________
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin
I "heart" Boobies and Beer!
Dave128 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2018, 09:36 AM   #331
8lug
Smoking with the Chief
 
8lug's Avatar
6
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Mark
Location: Masshole
Posts: 789
Trading: (14)
Partagas
8lug is on a distinguished road
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Vin, sorry to hear that you lost the hive. I'm sure you'll have much better luck this time around.
8lug is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2018, 12:35 PM   #332
shilala
Dear Lord, Thank You.
 
shilala's Avatar
6
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Scott
Posts: 13,721
Trading: (252)
Cuaba
shilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond reputeshilala has a reputation beyond repute
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sorry to hear it, Vin-Bob. That sucks.
You can wrap the hives come winter, insulating them.
Or build a break with hay bales, or do a lot of other stuff.

Think about the size of the hive vs. the size of the colony (which I think you already have a good grasp on).
There's gotta be enough bees to keep the heat up in the hive. If the little buggers are already chilled, they'll bite the dust on cleaning trips even though they'll shorten them.
Consider maybe even a styrofoam cover you can cob out of blue construction foam and tack on, or remove a section?
__________________
shilala is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-12-2018, 01:04 PM   #333
Dux
Lebowski Urban Achiever!
 
Dux's Avatar
1
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,103
Trading: (24)
Partagas
Dux has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Quote:
Originally Posted by massphatness View Post
Sad news in the world of bees: as I feared, the ladies did not survive the brutal cold snap we had to start to the winter. I peeked in the hive yesterday as temps got up to 50* and was concerned I didn't see any activity. Even in the winter months, the bees will leave the hive when the temps get way enough in order to make cleansing flights to relieve themselves.

Looks like the entire cluster froze to death in a big ball.

Plenty of honey stores in the hive, so I know they didn't starve.

Grace & I are going to give things another shot this spring. Going to order a nuc instead of a package. A nuc is a working mini-colony of bees: 4-5 frames of bees who have already drawn out comb and are working with their queen. You slide the frames into the hive, and away they go. They'll have a head start on honey stores from last years hive -- I think I have 6-8 full frames of honey still in the hive -- so the hope is this helps them to rapidly build up & strengthen the hive.

Look forward to continuing the adventure, but kinda' sad about losing the bees.

Vin, sorry to hear you lost the bees. fingers crossed for the next attempt!
Dux is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 11:09 AM   #334
massphatness
Where's my buffaloooo ...
 
massphatness's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Vin
Location: MassHolia
Posts: 12,688
Trading: (206)
ERdM
massphatness has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Bees 2.0

Having successfully managed to freeze my bees to death over the winter, I was left with a hive full of comb and a lot of usable resources like pollen & honey, but no ladies to work their bee magic.

The pic on the left shows the bees basically frozen in place between frames all bunched together as you might expect for warmth. Pic on the right is after I pulled the frames apart.



This time around, since my first batch of bees had already laid a lot of the groundwork, I opted to go with a nucleus (or "nuc") which is basically a mini working hive of five frames complete with bees and a queen already making brood and storing honey and generally doing bee things.

It comes in a box like this, and thank god I brought bungee cords because one big bump on the road and that top comes flying off. Then voila -- bees in the Jeep!



And with that, I was ready to transfer the frames from the nuc to the hive ...



More later.
__________________
Help Support The Navy SEAL Foundation: HERE
massphatness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 11:18 AM   #335
stearns
Dogbert Consultant
 
stearns's Avatar
16
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Ben
Location: Park Hill
Posts: 5,337
Trading: (50)
RA
stearns is a name known to allstearns is a name known to allstearns is a name known to allstearns is a name known to allstearns is a name known to allstearns is a name known to all
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

The hive is alive!
__________________
"Ignoring all the racket of conventional reality" - Keller Williams
stearns is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 12:33 PM   #336
Dave128
Sexy Dave
 
Dave128's Avatar
3
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
First Name: Dave
Location: Voorheesville, NY
Posts: 3,916
Trading: (4)
Dave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really niceDave128 is just really nice
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Sweet! Maybe you should let the new hive winter in the Jeep?
__________________
"Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin
I "heart" Boobies and Beer!
Dave128 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 01:28 PM   #337
BigAsh
Don't knock the Ash...
 
BigAsh's Avatar
7
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Keith
Location: Yardley, PA
Posts: 5,044
Trading: (46)
Partagas
BigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to beholdBigAsh is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Quote:
Originally Posted by massphatness View Post
Bees 2.0





More later.
so much win here!
__________________
Keith
BigAsh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 01:48 PM   #338
sigsauer
Have My Own Room
 
sigsauer's Avatar
2
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
First Name: Tom
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,361
Trading: (63)
Partagas
sigsauer has a spectacular aura aboutsigsauer has a spectacular aura aboutsigsauer has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

I will definitely buy honey
sigsauer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 01:59 PM   #339
sigsauer
Have My Own Room
 
sigsauer's Avatar
2
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
First Name: Tom
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,361
Trading: (63)
Partagas
sigsauer has a spectacular aura aboutsigsauer has a spectacular aura aboutsigsauer has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

man I would love to have the time to do this
sigsauer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-15-2018, 02:03 PM   #340
icehog3
Admiral Douchebag
 
icehog3's Avatar
15
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
First Name: Tom
Location: Clermont, Kentucky
Posts: 70,447
Trading: (61)
HUpmann
icehog3 has disabled reputation
Default Re: New Hobby: Bee Keeping

Can't wait to meet the new bees!
__________________


Thanks Dave, Julian, James, Kelly, Peter, Gerry, Dave, Mo, Frank, Týr and Mr. Mark!
icehog3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:37 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
All content is copyrighted jointly by Cigar Asylum and the content provider.