Alot of bee keepers keep the hive too small. If the hive is larger, like a Perone hive or longstreth with more brood boxes, the colonies can turn into super colonies. If the hive is bigger, shoud have more bees, so that makes for higher temps inside. That temp helps naturally fight disease and foreign bugs. We loved the process of refining the wax and making candles!!
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All good to know. We had one longstrath hive and one top bar. Both didn't make it. I ran into a friend of mine who is building a insulation box for her hives over the winter. Is that something I should have done? Never thought of it.
Not sure. Ive read about bee blankets that cover hives, but ive never used one. The best idea that ive read was to start bees as early in spring as possible , and for the first year just add boxes. Harvesting honey the second year.
Exactly what i did. By March I had my bees and by fall they had 3 boxes full if honey. I didnt take any honey... bummer! Apparently Verona mites are a big problem around here though so that's what the issue coulda been. I never treated them.
Yeah, that's crazy. Bees have been being bees alot longer than we have been trying to keep them lol. I look forward to trying again, and atleast producing enough honey for our extended family. I wish you luck, and look forward hearing more.
Good Luck in your direction too! I'm sure we'll figure it out ( :