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Apiarists

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Beekeepers

Location: Musick's Ferry, MO and the St. Louis area
Members: 82
Latest Activity: Mar 18

HOMEGROWN Discussions

Experiences with Kenyan Top Bar Hives?

I'm looking to at least host a beehive on my land if we end up owning a (suburban) property, and hopefully getting my own hives after the first season or two of learning from a local apiarist club.I…Continue

Tags: hive, bar, top, apiary, beekeeping

Started by Penny V. Mar 11.

Bees 4 Replies

Help. I went into my super last night, took out one frame and harvested the honey (left the rest for the winter) - woke up to check the bees and found ants infesting the inner cover. I will go…Continue

Started by Meredith. Last reply by Carrie Lee Schwartz Jan 10.

First Hive 3 Replies

I am so excited my husband and I just ordered our first hive and I just found my bees. WaaHoo. We have been reading and reading but I would love to know some tips from some first hand bee…Continue

Started by Christene. Last reply by David Moechnig Mar 27, 2012.

Book Review: Beekeeping for Dummies 1 Reply

My husband and I are considering getting bees and read the book Beeking for Dummies by Howland Blackiston. There is a review posted on my blog (…Continue

Started by Diane Hoffmaster. Last reply by Marianne Smith Mar 25, 2012.

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Comment by Meredith on December 31, 2011 at 4:09pm: Help! I live in moderate Coastal California with a very mild winter! My bees seemed to have been overwintering well. Until a couple of weeks ago when the activity at the entrance decreased tremendously. I have not seen the bees bring in any pollen for the last couple of days. This is my first year of beekeeping, so I am green as green can be(e)! Anyway, my question is do bees stop bringing in pollen (they were bringing in pollen a couple of weeks ago) as a normal process? Or is this a bad sign?

Comment by Charles Adams on August 26, 2011 at 12:16pm: Got my Top Bar Hive completed now if it would cool off below 100 plus I'll be able to harvest the wild hive in my meter base.

Comment by Leon Hale on August 1, 2011 at 8:54am: I keep two deep hive bodies on mine just for brood chambers, then add my supers on top of those. Gives the queen lots more space to lay eggs. I also reverse them each spring.

Most bee keepers I know have been keeping bees for 30 + years and they tell me they are still in the learning process

Leon Hale

Comment by Christene on August 1, 2011 at 8:34am: WE added a honey super the next day

Comment by Christene on August 1, 2011 at 8:34am: This is our first year so we are in the learning process

Comment by Leon Hale on August 1, 2011 at 8:18am: Christene,

In my humble opinion you need to add another Hive body ASAP, too many bees, not enough space. Too much heat buildup in the hive, they need more room. If you have a reducer take it off. Your bees do look healthy, they have just run out of room

Just my opinion,

Leon Hale

Asheboro NC

This is just my opinion

Comment by Christene on July 30, 2011 at 8:18am: We got a little freaked out last night when I went out to check on chickens and found this.

We are hoping this is just bearding.

Comment by amanda richards on June 26, 2011 at 4:23pm: Checked out my 2 hives yesterday, the first hive is doing great, lots of activity, but the second hive seems smaller. Well, I found 3 empty queen cells, so I guess we lost the original queen. Hopefully she's mated with a drone from the other hive & will be laying eggs soon!

Comment by Brian and Tammy Mundy on March 25, 2011 at 5:33pm: Had success installing two packages of bees today. A little cool and overcast here in Va today, temps around 45 when we put the bees in the hive bodies. Hoping for the best as 1-2 inches of snow has been forecast over the next 36 hours! There is a nice feeder inside the hive bodies so they will not have to leave the warmth and security to forage!

Comment by Lynda Reynolds on March 7, 2011 at 6:07pm: I'm getting ready to split my two hives today...we finally have a bit of sunshine and the ladie's are working the almonds...I figure now's a pretty good time. Plenty of nectar flow so everyone's in a good mood.