Bee Development!

As you've probably read, James was gutsy enough to buy, yet THREE more honey bee hives! Being that last year's bees didn't winter over, as the bee experts say. He originally bought two hives and they've been doing well, but apparently not well enough by James' standards.

I've learned that honey bees don't particularly like strawberry blossoms. Well, I guess it's more like they prefer dandelions and other things in bloom over the strawberry blossoms. Strawberry blossoms are their last resort, kind of like me and Coca Cola.. I much prefer Pepsi over Coke, but I will drink it if that's all that is around.

Here's what we have to do after we purchase a hive a bees. We pick them up and bring them to a good spot near the field and creek. They travel in what is call a nuc, which is a box with just 5 frames in, half the size of a regular box.

Nuc Box

After a few days and letting them get used to the area, get comfortable, we have to transfer them into their new boxes. The ones that we made for them. I had a lot of fun, I love to build and paint!

The finished box, before we add the base, the bees and frames, and the top.

James did all of the transferring because he has yet to purchase me a veil. Who knows.. I might just enjoy taking pictures and not be so helpful as far as getting the job done.
Anyways..

Next, after we completed the building, we were ready to transfer them in. First, we James moves the Nuc just slightly out of the way so he can lay down the base exactly where the nuc was. (The base is basically just a spot for the bees to land on and enter the box - like a front porch.) Just like so:

Then he props on the new box and opens up the nuc so that the frames are exposed and he can transfer them over to their new home!

James is clasping the frame from the nuc and carrying
it over to the new box of Hive 4 and gently place the frame into the box,
making sure not to smash any bees.

This is the last hive (Hive 5) to be transferred over of the three that we still had in Nucs.
Also, the last frame to be transfer into this box. Tight Squeeze!

This is Hive 1 and Hive 2. You'll notice that Hive 1 is taller,
those bees have been doing so good they needed
10 more frames (one more box) to continue storing honey in!

I also realized my last picture of one of our honey bees on our blossoms wasn't such a good one, so here is a better one, I'd say:

It's soo interesting to watch them get the nectar! I've seen a majoring increase of bees around the blossoms since he's purchased more, so they are definitely doing their job now!

Coming Soon: Answers and Explanation to this week's poll!