Mean, mean bees today

It's been almost 3 weeks since I did my last hive check so I went in there this morning and have multiple stings, even through my PPE.  My intent was to go into each deep and see what's going on with capped brood and if there's a queen...and do a bit of cleanup of comb and scrape off propolis as needed.

However, as I was emptying the super of a few frames to make it lighter, assuming there was something in there, I was swarmed and stung multiple times and chased away.  But I went back to at least close things up, put on a top hive feeder in preparation and added the entrance reducer but with larger opening.  I figured I'd add the mouse guard tomorrow when it's raining and they will be less likely to swarm me.  I won't be trying that anytime soon although I should.  But I don't like the bees at this time of year when they get mean!

I moved one of the empty hives into a spot that I hope will help protect the (hopefully) one working hive from winds over the winter.  I will move the other empty hive, the one that's tipped in the image above, a bit away from the working hive so that I have better access to all sides of the hive.

My intent, if I could without taking anything away from the bees, was to take a few frames from the top deep...but I doubt I'll do that now unless I lose the hive. But until then, the honey will be for them.  I still have enough for at least another season but there will be no selling or gift giving until I have more.

I barely saw any mites on the bottom board. I did the oxalic acid/glycerin treatment earlier in the summer but because I was late doing it, I was late putting the supers on.  

Next year, I'll do the oxalic acid varroa mite treatment much sooner, in May, so supers can go on by mid June. 

Making investments in equipment and supplies

In Beekeeping for Dummies, they list a bunch of vendors where one can purchase equipment.  I also looked on the internet and one site often led me to another site but in the end, I went with one of the bigger outfits, Mann Lake because, for one reason, I liked that all the staff were part owners of the business.  They also ha an easy website to navigate and had all I needed.

I started by purchasing the hives so that I could get them painted this winter. They now have one coat of primer and  two coats of exterior paint. I kept them white, which is the norm, apparently, but one local beekeeper has his painted black and he and his wife have been very successful.

Here's my setup where it sits in my basement waiting for April when my bees arrive.

I went with a 10 frame traditional growing Apiary Kit with wood frames and something called an excluder which keeps the queen from going into parts of the hive where you don't want her to go. 

I also purchased a top hive feeder that you fill with sugar water to feed the hive in the early spring...and when there is not enough honey for them to eat.  Cost for these pieces was about $262.  I've been told to not buy used hives because they could easily contain diseases and you must be very careful ...maybe someday I'd feel comfortable doing so from particular apiaries, but not this first year.  I also chose wood frames rather than plastic...just for the natural aspect.

It'll be interesting to see how many mistakes I'll make over time and if my choices work out!

The next order that went in, again, I used Mann Lake, was for a smoker, hat (helmet) and veil, a mouse guard, and a medicine kit....and a hive tool which is the second image below. The hive tool is used to pry open the hive or frames when the honey has stuck things together.  I"m told this is a mandatory item. It looks like a carpenter's tool and I thought about substituting with one I have in my toolbox.  This second order  cost me a little over $100.

Smoker

hive tool

Hat...somewhat hard

Mouse guard

veil with hat in background

Next time, I'll discuss the bee order.