Specific recommendations for Deep East Texas beekeepers by Robert Jones
October will give us the major goldenrod flow along with a variety of other weeds this time of year. The flow can be exceptional, but again, if too much rain is falling the nectar can be washed out and you will need to supplement with sugar syrup. The fall flow normally lasts until the first fall frost but can be slowed by early cold snaps as well.
This is the time, at the end of this flow, to decide what needs help and what can stand on its own. Several things must be considered at this time. The quantity of honey must be at a minimum of 40lbs, or a medium honey super full above a deep brood box. Additionally, the quantity, or number, of bees must be observed. Hives with nests smaller in size than a basketball will not produce enough bees at this point to over-winter. On the coldest winter days, the over-winter process sees the outer layer of bees die off due to cold. If there are not enough bees at this point, the hive will be lost.
It is best to stack two weak colonies, picking the best laying queen of the two, for winter survival. Leaving both as they are will most likely see the die-off of both colonies. Saving the resources this way will allow you to easily spring-split this colony because it survived the winter with the resources that it needed.
In our PBA Bylaws, part of our mission is to improve marketing of honey bee products, so a current regulations summary seems appropriate when considering selling your golden crop! Your best honey is extracted soon
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This is the pdf version of the presentation given by Robert Jones at the February 2019 meeting. It deals with queen rearing using a cell builder colony and the Doolittle grafting method, and also touches
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These are reminders for those who took the queen rearing course or anyone trying their hand at this. Remember - The most important part of creating good queen cells is the cell builder colony. Choose
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Cell builder choice – choose right and build it right. Picking a hive with too few bees will not accomplish the cell building task.Picking a small nest hive with a small amount of nursery bees
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Our Association’s Mission is first dedicated to honey bee education including all the different facts about and pleasures of keeping these wonderful creatures of God. Secondly, we are dedicated to the mission of service to others through internal mentoring and education of our club members as well as external programs to the general public. It is to these two missions we commit our combined efforts as an association to place into others, by mentoring, education, and apprenticeship, our love and passion for beekeeping. Our membership offers to all the much-needed experience that even beginners can have - the pleasure and joy we have personally each time we visit a beehive.