Had no rain since June. Drones gone by August. Nectar plants frozen. Heat came back. Then 2 nights ago we got an inch and a fraction of rain. It's too late and still dry an inch down and dusty under trees. Creeks all dry. Feeding dry pollen substitute and sugar water for winter survival. Entrances reduced robbing eminent. Colonies extremely small. Worst drought ever. Third summer of drought. Ozarks.
Yikes!, at least I got a reprieve this year. I had to feed dry pollen before the goldenrod bloomed, which was a bit late! I can't believe anyone thinks this is normal! All we can do is try to hang on but feeding will eventually have to stop too! Thanks for the info!!
I'm in the South East Ozarks we went a solid month without rain until 2 nights ago. I got a little honey this fall out of Korean Perilla mint 1st week of Oct been feeding every other day since! Hoping it's enough
I love how just about every beekeeper is saying about today is so and so.. I don’t know the exact date. Is that the heat 😂? We have went from monsoon season to drought in NC. Our nectar was not an issue but pollen was a blah situation.
I had a bumper crop of honey this year. I left any honey not completely capped. Thinking of the best way to share resources. Any ideas on the best way to make it to spring?Im from Louisiana. POS.
@thomasbroussard3761 I share frames of honey but try never to weaken a strong colony. Dry sugar in a top feeder can keep them happy as long as there is water available, mountain camp method. At the end of my vid I give my method to keep nucs warm so they won't consume resources so fast. Dry pollen out may calm the apiary but we do want brood rearing to slow for that natural brood break. 🙏🏽✌️
I tell ya that microwave fondant im making is a game changer.. zero waste.. it's inverted sugar so the bees really pop on it like nectar.. doesn't trigger robbing...less weight to haul .. I can feed it in the dead of winter in Michigan bees draw white wax down from it.. helps me get jump start nuc season early by a month. syrup has to much moisture in February... syrup they need to process it sets back smaller units where the fondant they pop on it..
southeast Ga. very dry June and no rain in October. I had no Drones in July and stopped queen rearing. Some colonies have stores but most of my later splits are light and having a hard time getting weight on them. Feed Bill is getting heavy. 6 gal of syrup emptied out in less than 4 hours yesterday. 80% of my colonies are completely Broodless. The queens are there but they are not laying. Pollen stores are low to none and I have fed over 100 lbs of ultrabee. I did take the opportunity to do OAV treatments again yesterday. Went last night and purchased 4 colonies from a Guy because he is getting out of Bees. low was 68 last night and we have been hitting high 80's. There is nothing out there for food right now. Need some rain so maybe the wild mustard will produce when it starts to bloom . Golden Rod was not a big producer this year. Hopeful I can keep the Bees alive and well until spring.
I didn't make a drop of honey this year, I been feeding all summer. I have been trying to build up more hives but as long as its like this its nearly impossible, and the feed bill keeps growing.
I think you will know best when to stop, maybe consolidate the hives if possible. It seems this may be a decision we all will be making! 😬 Thanks for the input! Fingers crossed for better weather patterns!
@ChiChi-u8n 🤨🤨not everyone sees the quandary as a money problem! Selling a fall nuc that may be small is not easy, especially at 200 plus $! Regardless of cost, keepers may have to feed more ! The feed problem remains for the person who may buy his nuc, and with less natural food available, there will be fewer and fewer swarms.
Had no rain since June. Drones gone by August. Nectar plants frozen. Heat came back. Then 2 nights ago we got an inch and a fraction of rain. It's too late and still dry an inch down and dusty under trees. Creeks all dry. Feeding dry pollen substitute and sugar water for winter survival. Entrances reduced robbing eminent. Colonies extremely small. Worst drought ever. Third summer of drought. Ozarks.
Yikes!, at least I got a reprieve this year. I had to feed dry pollen before the goldenrod bloomed, which was a bit late! I can't believe anyone thinks this is normal! All we can do is try to hang on but feeding will eventually have to stop too!
Thanks for the info!!
I'm in the South East Ozarks we went a solid month without rain until 2 nights ago. I got a little honey this fall out of Korean Perilla mint 1st week of Oct been feeding every other day since! Hoping it's enough
I love how just about every beekeeper is saying about today is so and so.. I don’t know the exact date. Is that the heat 😂? We have went from monsoon season to drought in NC. Our nectar was not an issue but pollen was a blah situation.
I had a bumper crop of honey this year. I left any honey not completely capped. Thinking of the best way to share resources. Any ideas on the best way to make it to spring?Im from Louisiana. POS.
@thomasbroussard3761 I share frames of honey but try never to weaken a strong colony. Dry sugar in a top feeder can keep them happy as long as there is water available, mountain camp method. At the end of my vid I give my method to keep nucs warm so they won't consume resources so fast.
Dry pollen out may calm the apiary but we do want brood rearing to slow for that natural brood break.
🙏🏽✌️
I’m in Nova Scotia we have 10 degree days that’s not normal we are way to warm we should be cold by now lol
I tell ya that microwave fondant im making is a game changer.. zero waste.. it's inverted sugar so the bees really pop on it like nectar.. doesn't trigger robbing...less weight to haul .. I can feed it in the dead of winter in Michigan bees draw white wax down from it.. helps me get jump start nuc season early by a month. syrup has to much moisture in February... syrup they need to process it sets back smaller units where the fondant they pop on it..
@@hootervillehoneybees8664 sounds good
southeast Ga. very dry June and no rain in October. I had no Drones in July and stopped queen rearing. Some colonies have stores but most of my later splits are light and having a hard time getting weight on them. Feed Bill is getting heavy. 6 gal of syrup emptied out in less than 4 hours yesterday. 80% of my colonies are completely Broodless. The queens are there but they are not laying. Pollen stores are low to none and I have fed over 100 lbs of ultrabee. I did take the opportunity to do OAV treatments again yesterday. Went last night and purchased 4 colonies from a Guy because he is getting out of Bees. low was 68 last night and we have been hitting high 80's. There is nothing out there for food right now. Need some rain so maybe the wild mustard will produce when it starts to bloom . Golden Rod was not a big producer this year. Hopeful I can keep the Bees alive and well until spring.
You may have to come to Canada 😂
I didn't make a drop of honey this year, I been feeding all summer. I have been trying to build up more hives but as long as its like this its nearly impossible, and the feed bill keeps growing.
💔💔
:/
I' been trying feed my bees for the last month and half. Dont know how much longer i can feed
I think you will know best when to stop, maybe consolidate the hives if possible. It seems this may be a decision we all will be making! 😬 Thanks for the input! Fingers crossed for better weather patterns!
@ChiChi-u8n 🤨🤨not everyone sees the quandary as a money problem! Selling a fall nuc that may be small is not easy, especially at 200 plus $! Regardless of cost, keepers may have to feed more ! The feed problem remains for the person who may buy his nuc, and with less natural food available, there will be fewer and fewer swarms.