getting ready to insulate

Today's chore was to move the hive on the left to the right about a foot.  Last week, I move the hive on the right over to the left.  I want them close together when the cold weather hits. Tomorrow, I will recharge the fence to ensure it's fully charged.  Last year, this was the time the bear came through a few times looking for a meal which he didn't get from my hives, but he sure caused a lot of damage around the yard.  I must have posted that debacle in my blog last year.  Check it around the last week or so of October.

In about a week, I think the weather is turning colder so I think I will add the cedar pillow in supers on the hives.  These will catch any condensation.  I also added popsicle sticks on the 4 corners of the two flat tops to give moisture a chance to escape.  The peaked hive top has venting built in to the top. 

My plan is to use the building paper to wrap them in.  I often put a piece of plywood over the top to give some added protection from the elements.  I also have some bubble pack material that I used to insulate inside the greenhouse in years past.  But I don't know if it's an ok practice.  I will need to find out before I do that.  

I think by mid-November, these should be all insulated.  I have used bales of hay in other years but thought about that insulation so I think ti may be just fine but again, I will double check with some experts in the area.

I will keep the fence charged until I'm pretty sure the bears have settled in for the winter.  Someplace other than here hopefully.

Meanwhile I'll continue to enjoy these beautiful, warm October days.  

Hive check 10/2/17

I got through my list over my lunch hour....no stings!  Yeah!

Hive 1 - I removed 3 frames to extract and then consolidated the rest into one super which I will leave on the hive until they either empty it or fill it up.  I expect them to empty it but the upper deep seems to be full too so there should be enough food to last them through the winter.

Hive 2 - I did nothing with them today. I added more fumicilian to syrup and added that yesterday.

Hive 3 - I removed the jar of sugar syrup which they hadn't finished and moved that to a tree stump well away from the hive.  Then I added new syrup to a top hive feeder.  I added a 3 frames to the upper deep to fill in where the jar was.  Then I moved this hive about a foot closer to Hive 1.

I will go into hives again on Friday or another lunch to take a good look at the deeps in Hive 2 and make sure they are looking ok, do a little of comb cleanout too.

Less pollen coming in

As I sat last night with my binoculars, looking at my hives, for the first time, I saw very little pollen going in.

For the past few weeks, my yard has smelled like sour milk by the end of the day.  After much research, I learned that this is a smell that is from goldenrod pollen!  I have a lot of goldenrod around and in those few weeks, bees would come in with their pollen sacs full of golden pollen.

Last night, I saw practically no bees with golden pollen.  I also didn't smell that smell.

 I guess the summer is truly over, even though there has been no frost...and it's been gorgeous!  I have some amount of late blooming flowers they can pollinate and probably some asters nearby.

Stuff to do:

1) Begin moving hives together, a foot at a time (or less) until they are close enough to help insulate each other.
2) Continue feeding Hive 2 with fumicillin
3) Add varroa strips to Hive 2
4) Feed Hivc #3
5) Remove any full supers off from Hive 1 and then consolidate into one super.