ANOTHER WINTER PROJECT

This link shows the design of an easy to make bee yard feeders.  All that is required is a 5 gallon (with lid) and a hand drill.  If you don't have a clean pail a food grade pail can be bought at Menard's, Lowe's, Fleet Farm, etc. for under $5.

Gerard made the comment that this feeder could also be used as a water source during dry spells.

http://www.keepingbackyardbees.com/diy-bee-yard-feeder-zvbz011217/

JANUARY THAW

It looks like that during next week Wisconsin will be having it's traditional January thaw.  We have experienced a number of below zero nights.  That cold weather immobilizes the bees and they can't or won't move in the hive to an area still with honey stores.  They will NEVER move down to the honey in the outside frames of the bottom brood box.  Also, the bee cluster in most hives has by this time moved into the top brood box and many, if not most, are bumping into the inner cover.  Next week's temporary warm up is an opportune time to provide a little emergency food.

For ease of handling I put in a sugar disc.  Candy boards are another possibility.

This is a 2 1/2 pound sugar disc.  It is made by mixing 2 1/2 pounds of sugar with 7/16 cup of water.  Through stir the mixture and then place in some type of mold and tamp it down firmly.  Allow it to remain in the mold for several days and it will set up solidly.  The sugar to water ratio is critical.  Too little water and the sugar grains will not bond.  Too much and you will have runny mess.  Of course if you get the ratio slightly wrong it is easily corrected by added more water or sugar as needed.

Do be afraid to open the hive, but don't lollygag.Get in,get out. The inside hive temperature is the same as the outside air temperature. It is the cluster that is warm.

You can also add chunks of winter patties or pollen substitute to the sugar while making the discs.

JANUARY

Not many outdoor beekeeping tasks to perform in January.  An occasional check of your hive's food situation is all that is required.  With all your free time you can attend a bee club meeting.  Remember we have a club meeting this Saturday at 9:30 AM.  It is in the Silver Creek Room in the basement of the Ripon Public Library.

Or you can be building items for beekeeping.  Assembling hives and frames is a typical winter task.  I chose to make a solar powered wax melter to keep busy.  I already had the sheet of plexiglass and the other components cost less than $20.

Side View

                                                                      Front view

Cover removed to show roasting pan-note triangular hole cut in roasting pan to allow melted wax to drip into collection pan.  Inside painted black to maximize heat collection

BEGINNERS BEEKEEPING CLASS IN FOND DU LAC, FEBRUARY 4th

Club member and past ECWBA Vice President Denise will be hosting a beginners beekeeping class on January 28th.  This class is a good way to get educated about beekeeping before your bees arrive.  This is a two part class. The first session will be held at the Fond du Lac County airport on February 4th.  The second session will be at Denise's apiary outside of Fond du Lac in July for some hands on experience including hive inspection.  About the only thing Denise won't be able to demonstrate is the loading of a package of bees into a new hive when they arrive this spring.  However, you can readily see this on various YouTube videos or you can get the help of a mentor for your first time.   Here are the details of the class.

BEEKEEPING 101 - 3 parts

part 1 & 2 - classroom - FEB 4, 2017

location: Fond du Lac SKYPORT CLASSROOM

260 S Rolling Meadows Dr

check-in: 8:30 am

class part one: 9 - 12

lunch break (on your own) 12 - 1

class part two: 1-3

part 3 - RURAL/FIELD classroom - JULY 8, 2017

location: dsbees apiary N7928 cty road WH, Fond du Lac

check-in: 10:00

class: 10:30 - 11:30

field: 11:30....(open)

FEES: $72/each or $50*/additional person (*see qualifications)

INCLUDES - all three classes....

-6 + hours of "classroom" education plus 2 + hours "hands-on" in the field

-BEEKEEPING FOR DUMMIES book

  (this book or a book of equal reference base is REQUIRED)

  (*$50/each if you BRING your own copy of dummies or equal beekeeping reference)

  (*additional person will not receive their OWN copies of reference material - they will share with the primary person)

-REFERENCE material: handouts, catalogs, resources

-Free 2017 MEMBERSHIP in the East Central Wisconsin Beekeepers Association - ECWBA

coffee/tea onsite - classroom

PART ONE: "SOFTWARE" (morning of February 4th)

-bee biology, lifecycle

-queens, breeds

-THE HIVE, functions of the hive

-honey, wax, propolis

-ORDERING BEES - packages, nucs, etc - making choices

PART TWO: HARDWARE (afternoon of February4th)

-Beekeeping equipment, tools, material

-THE HIVE - the BOX - frames - making choices

-putting the two together - getting the bees into the boxes

and STARTING - sugar syrup - the growth of the hive

-An entire LANGSTROTH system will be on hand and demonstrated

-Problems - things to watch out for

PART THREE - FIELD DAY (July 8th)

-Classroom: sharing our "experiences" so far

-What the expectations are - where there may be problems

-Getting ready for winter

and looking to year #2

-Then we'll move out to a hive.
-The state bee inspector has also scheduled time to be present. 

YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE YOUR PROTECTIVE GEAR.

REGISTRATION DUE BY: JANUARY 28

You can sign up by going to dsbees.com and clicking on the "beekeeping 101" button

Payments to:

D's Bees

W4559 Lakepark Drive

Fond du Lac, WI  54937

(920) 922-7487

if you'd like to pay online - send an email to: dsbees.honey@gmail.com

and i will send you a payment link

This class WILL QUALIFY you for the Fond du Lac permit.

.

Varroa, Varroa, Varroa

Here is a nice short video.  It shows two things.  1) Workers of the Purdue Ankle Biter strain attacking a varroa mite.  2)  The ease with which a varroa mite appears to attach itself to a bee.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_6mFZ4xP-w