Back Forty Bees
  • Buy Bees & Hives
    • Package Bees
    • Queen Bees
    • Nucs
    • Assembled Hives
  • Bee Educated
    • Blog
    • Getting Started in Beekeeping
    • Educational Resources
    • Invite me to speak
    • Build it yourself
  • Bee Services
    • Pollination
    • Bee Removal
  • Honey
  • Shop
  • Contact
  • Buy Bees & Hives
    • Package Bees
    • Queen Bees
    • Nucs
    • Assembled Hives
  • Bee Educated
    • Blog
    • Getting Started in Beekeeping
    • Educational Resources
    • Invite me to speak
    • Build it yourself
  • Bee Services
    • Pollination
    • Bee Removal
  • Honey
  • Shop
  • Contact

Adventures in Beekeeping
(my blog)

Protective Gear – jackets and veils – Where to start and thoughts

1/27/2020

0 Comments

 
​I get asked about protective gear quite a bit, so here are my thoughts for new backyard beekeepers.  First, unless you are allergic or really nervous, you don’t need a suit.  Stick to a jacket or veil.  Now, as to the type, I’ve used a few.  In the top left is a simple veil – I keep these around because they are handy, lightweight, and useful when just doing something simple.  In the bottom right is the “standard” or “budget” jacket made out of cotton and poly.  I’ve used it for years and it works, but in Hampton Roads, Virginia it is really, really hot in the summer.  So, I’ve moved on to ventilated fabrics.  There are two leaders here (though many others) – PROVent and Ultra Breeze.  I’ve used both and prefer the Ultra Breeze, though both work fine.  The Ultra Breeze cools better for me, has higher quality zippers, the hood is slightly better in shape, and (yes, this is a pet peeve) they do not slap a giant non-breathable logo on the chest!  At the end of the day, buy what you can afford and wear what makes you comfortable working with your hives…even if that is a full suit.  
Picture
0 Comments

Full and active hive January 2020

1/19/2020

0 Comments

 
One of my hives caught my eye today – there was a ton of activity at it. I thought at first “Uh oh, dead out being robbed”. But, on closer inspection it is simply a booming hive. This one will be an early split - I peaked inside and it is packed full of bees. Note the video is slow motion for first 10 seconds, speeds up to zoom in, and then a full minute of slow motion at the entrance. There is just something mesmerizing about watching honey bees in slow motion.
0 Comments

A friendly hitchhiker

1/19/2020

0 Comments

 
She hung out on my hand for a few minutes while I was watching some hives today.
Picture
0 Comments

Winter feeding & the warm weather

1/3/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
It was in the 70's last week in Williamsburg, which means the bees all broke cluster and enjoyed some cleansing flights.  There is a risk with the warm/cold cycle of days as we go into January and February.  The bees will use more resources (honey) when they break cluster.  To help them through the winter I put dry sugar on the inner cover.  This absorbs moisture, as well as provides emergency food.  How much they use it varies by hive (size, stores, etc).  The hive in this photo went into winter very strong and I was not surprised to see some bees on the inner cover when I checked them.  
0 Comments

    Don Cole

    Beekeeper extraordinaire.  

    Archives

    October 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    October 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017

    RSS Feed