WOW. I was feeling so frustrated with my beekeeping experience so I just can’t tell you all how much I appreciate all those comments. They were all informative and helpful. Between these comments and the comments made by the state beekeeping advisor, I’m finally starting to be convinced that maybe there isn’t anything wrong after all. I guess I just expected I’d get more honey and between the fact that my honey stores are way low and my bees have a winter coming, I am doubtful about their chances of making it through winter.
One thing that is becoming very clear based on all your comments and help is that I got my bees and hives way too late! I didn’t even pick up my bees until May 8 this year, and even though I immediately installed them, it sounds like I missed a lot of the most productive time of the year. So Bill and the rest of you were right in saying I may have missed the main spring honey flow.
I took Steve’s advice and watched some videos on robbing. I didn’t see any of the signs mentioned as robbing clues in my hives, so I think what everyone said about my bees just having to feed themselves and their babies probably does explain why I’m so low on honey stocks. I do have the entrance reducers so maybe I should be using them, but since I don’t think my hive is being robbed, I will leave it off for now I think.
Glad to hear the state guy was right about the queen excluder. THanks Muddy. Also glad to hear you think things are actually going ok.
Eric- its funny you mention the strength of the syrup I use. My local “advisor” always told me to mix half sugar and half water, but the state guy said 2 interesting things: 1) that the 50/50 is suppossed to be based on WEIGHT and not volume, so filling the jar half full of sugar and the other half with water is wrong (that what I’d been doing) and 2) that I probably ought to be using 2 parts sugar to 1 part water (again, by weight) so the last 4 days that’s what I’d been doing. Also, since you are in my general area/part of the country, I do think your experiences are quite transferable to my own, and everything you said really fit what I’ve seen.
Bob- I thought there must be a better way to feed than just switching quart jars 5 times a day! I will look into the types of feeders you mentioned.
I need to learn a lot more for sure…Bill, your last post was great and very helpful but I’m gona have to learn about dividing brood chambers and rotating supers, but for now, your information is appreciated!
THanks all. No matter what happens this winter, I will try again next year and schedule my pickup as early as possible.
thanks