The beekeeper’s Brother… A Return to Beekeeping

In April, I picked up some honeybees. I did some beekeeping back when I was in high school and I decided it was time to get back into the hobby. I have assisted my sister with her honeybees that past couple of years. (She is going on her 9th year of keeping bees.) So, I picked up four nucs. A nuc is essentially a miniature hive. It usually has 4 or 5 frames that includes the queen, worker bees and drones. It also has brood, honey, pollen and nectar. This can be a big advantage in jumpstarting the new hive as opposed to getting a package of bees.

So my bees have been busy… they have had to establish themselves in their new homes, draw out wax honeycomb, locate resources and collect honey for the upcoming winter. I have been keeping an eye on them but pretty much have let them do their thing which, at this time of year, is producing honey. My job has been to add another super to the hive as they fill up the other boxes on the hive.

It has been pretty interesting to watch the bees as they leave the hive to go out and forage, and as they return.

I have been giving my bees supplemental sugar water because they can use it (especially on a rainy day) as another resource. The rule of thumb is to remove the sugar water when the bees stop using it. So far, they have been using it.

It looks like I might get a little bit of a honey harvest this year. (I was not expecting this but it will be an added bonus.) My main goal was to get the colonies established and hopefully see them make it through the upcoming winter. I am down to three hives (from four). The bees appear to have simply left. I am not sure why. The hive was the weakest of the four and, despite my efforts, it wasn’t keeping up with the other colonies. From what I have heard, sometimes it happens. This is one of the reasons I decided on getting four nucs. A beginning beekeeper should get at least two hives. This can prove beneficial when comparing colonies and gives you some options should a hive become weak or die out. I am considering doing some splits next year with my colonies, but we will see how they do over the winter. My remaining colonies are doing well.

Stay tuned for more beekeeping adventures!