Bum year

So goes beekeeping, last year was great

This is just a shitty year.

Lost 4 hives in late spring, caught two swarms neither survived, lost my biggest hive , just gone in space of 5 days.  Lost another hive for no reason and then my biggest honey producer lost the queen right in middle of season , they did requeen the hive themselves but put a damper on my season.

Left the boxes on and hope o harvest in fall.

Down to 3 hives , but all are strong at present. One is bearding so need to get in but last 3 days have been drizzling or just plain raining.

Unique bee hives in China

Imagine having to work these hives

Feeding piped in

Hives in Taiwan with covers and feeding pipes

Beautiful multi colored hives

Beautiful multi colored bee hives

Bee hives can be any color under the sun, look how interesting they can be...

Tough Winter

From 7 hives , down to 2 , but two very strong hives at least.

Probably magnified by my own lack of proper winter prep. Did  not add top feeders like last year as the weather turned while I was away.

But in January we still had 5 hives that all had food , and the very warm days over a two week period plus early flowering Maples got the bees working and soon I had robbing going on because I chose to open feed stupidly.  By the time I stopped it - was too late. Since then we have had few days that the bees were out and about and my real job has kept me away from the hives during the week (when the weather was warm) , as it was raining most weekends.

But yet again the Wayne's bees have proven to be the solid survivors.

Spring prep : 
I will put some swarm traps out, as well as work any swarms I hear of in spring.  In addition I still have bees in the walls of Ballinger academy , so will do a trap out again and build up a few nucs.

Warm weather this weekend according to the forecast , so will be opening the hives to check on health.

Cold wet December

Not much going on at this time of the year.

Sadly lost one of the Boy Scout hives, but the other is strong and will watch it on warm days.

My 4 hives all seem to be ok, even though one is very small and not likely to make it all winter, should have done a combine.

Haven't had any time to pick up the last hive still sitting at Wally's, last he checked it was fine.

Happy New Year and happy beekeeping.