Feeding the bees pollen substitute
Some things don’t change much year to year in beekeeping. At least not the chores. There is some comfort in the routine. This year is much like last. Building boxes, cleaning frames, painting and maintenance. And building bees for the spring. ~sassafrasbeefarm
This time of year can be as busy for the beekeeper as the spring nectar flow period. But now it’s all about preparation. My experience, since beginning this beekeeping journey, is that there is never enough time during the nectar flow. In fact, time becomes precious even before the nectar flow with the need to rotate hive bodies or employ other swarm reducing measures, placement of swarm traps, movement of hives to out yards, making splits, and lots of last minute surprises.
So, here are few pictures of what I occupy myself with during this so called off season:
Order queen pen and my favorite markers to write on the hives.
Making sugar cakes for the tops of the hives.
Adding extra wax to plastic frames.
Collecting and bagging pine straw for my smoker.
Building boxes, bottom boards, and tops.
Adding some color to the entrance reducers.
Painting entrances to the queen mating nucs
This is Advantech – a new material that resists weathering.
Painting everything. Three coats!
Joy! I found three 50 pound sacks of sugar I had forgotten!
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