Mur's Cozy Colony - Volume 1; Issue 1

Krystle Gaiser

July 17, 2020

Do it yourself

Host a Hive turned Beekeeper

We recently celebrated National Pollinator Week and that got me thinking about how and why I got started with my own beehive. My name is Mary, or MurHodge, and I am an amateur beekeeper who is going to share all my beekeeping adventures with all of you!

My curiosity about beekeeping began about 8 years ago when my cousin in Michigan began her beekeeping journey. I watched her from afar getting familiar with the idea of having bees in my own backyard and tapping into her frustrations over swarming and hive loss Winter after Winter. I often weighed the pros and cons of having a colony of bees but was still uneasy about the idea. Then I met Cory Gaiser.

“The beginning beekeeping class offered by The Gaiser Bee Co. is an up close, hands-on look at what it takes to set up a hive and ensure it is thriving through at least one’s first bee season.”

Cory & Krystle Gaiser are a husband and wife beekeeping team running an apiary on the west side of Cincinnati, Oh. With such a valuable resource in my backyard, my confidence in the idea was building. I decided to Host-a-Hive with The Gaiser Bee Company back in 2019 and I gifted it to my teenage daughters for Christmas the season before. If you have teenagers you can imagine their reaction…they were kind, but clearly not interested in the idea of giving up an entire, precious, Saturday to sit through a beekeeping class which was part of the package. So instead, I grabbed my bestie and we spent a day learning about bees with Cory.

The beginning beekeeping class offered by The Gaiser Bee Co. is an up close, hands-on look at what it takes to set up a hive and ensure it is thriving through at least one’s first bee season. We also learned so much about the fascinating life of these insects – their anatomy, their purpose in the colony, why we need a Queen – by the end of the day I was convinced that I was almost sure I wanted to be a beekeeper. Later that summer, I had the opportunity to do hive checks at The Gaiser Bee Co. and that’s when I fell in love with honeybees. That’s it. I’m in.

“This class is what gave me the confidence to start my own hive at home which is my current favorite adventure.”

Fast forward to 2020, here I am with one thriving colony of honeybees. I’m in love with them and in love with watching them. I spend so much time in my backyard watching them come and go from the hive, working with purpose, building their home and I’m learning so much about their behavior and demeanor. How are honeybees like ants? What the heck is a pollen bag? Can bees swim? I hope you’ll tune in here to find out!

While The Gaiser Bee Co. no longer offers the Host-a-Hive program, they still offer their annual beekeeping class. This class is what gave me the confidence to start my own hive at home which is my current favorite adventure. Follow along with me as I explore the captivating world of the honeybee and all the wonderful things about backyard beekeeping. Welcome to Mur’s Cozy Colony.

Krystle Gaiser

October 13, 2016

Do it yourself

Preparing your bees for winter

Krystle Gaiser

October 13, 2016

Do it yourself

Photo credit to Amanda B Griffin Photography

Preparing your bees for Winter

The cold months are upon us which means that the largest amount of colony losses is right around the corner. It is important to do your hive inspections before the cold temperature sets in. We wanted to share some tips on what to look for in your upcoming inspections. From the right amount of food to hive location.

Photo credit Amanda B Griffin photography

FOOD
Honey bees are cold blooded insects that regulate their own body temperature and do not hibernate during the winter months. Instead, they will vibrate their flight muscles, creating friction to keep the hive at about 93 degrees fahrenheit . In order to do this, they need energy. The honey bees will eat the stored honey during the months they can not forage. This is why adequate food storage is crucial.
How much honey is good? The general thought is 70-90 lbs. per hive here in the mid-west region but keep in mind that climate will play a role in this amount. Please check with other local beekeepers if your climate is different then ours.
Do I feed my bees? Yes, we feed. During fall months we feed our bees a 2:1 sugar:water solution to help them store up. We have a DIY article on making your own feeder if you are interested in how we feed. Click here.
Are there other ways to feed? Yes there are, it is called "dry feeding". You can do this by placing granulated sugar on newspaper on top of the frames in the top box. This method is best used as "in-hive" feeding during cold months when liquid feeding is contraindicated . Other options are fondant "bee candy" and pollen pattys. Simple recipes can be found online.

HIVE INSPECTION
"When the Queen is happy, there is peace in the Kingdom", a quote that I heard once and enjoyed. Going into winter with strong, healthy Queens free of disease will give your hive a better chance at survival. The Queens age will also be a factor for survival. Some beekeepers will re-queen a second season Queen because she has a 50:50 chance of failure over winter.
What should I look for on my fall inspection?

Pest management which includes mite counts and treating if indicated.
Check for hive beetles and wax moths that may be looming in the crevices.
Ensure to visualize adequate food stored in the combs.
Make sure you have brood, the pattern should be tight as a spotty brood pattern can indict a poorly laying queen.
Your worker bee population should be large, if your numbers are low you may need to combined smaller colonies (see video).
Eliminate unused space. If you observe that your bees are not storing food or laying eggs in a particular box, remove that unused space. The extra space will welcome unwanted guests.

EXTERIOR PREPARATION

If not already done, your hives should be facing the southeast direction. It is important to have early morning sun and direct sunshine most of the day.
Moisture will form on the lid of the hive as the bees consume the honey. Absorbent material can be used in exchange for your inner cover to help diffuse moisture. These can be purchased or can be made. Absorbent boards can be purchased or you can make your own "quilt box".
Angling the hive also aids in safe moisture run-off. This can be done by placing shims under the rear of the bottom board, slightly elevating the back of the hive.
By propping the top open, between the telescoping cover and inner, you can create an alternative exit for your bees. This may come useful in months where your entrance may be blocked do to snow. Without proper ventilation they can suffocate. We use a simple twig about the diameter of a pencil as a spacer. This also aids in ventilation.
Wind breaks and wrapping may come in handy. Using a wind break (such as a piece of privacy fence or plywood) creates a barrier from damaging winds. Hive wraps can be used to add exterior installation or to absorb UV light for added heat. We use 2" foam installation to cover our hives or you can purchase pre-fabricated ones.

Hope you enjoyed our tips for planning for winter.

Hope you enjoyed our tips for planning for winter. If you have any comments or concerns please feel free to contact us.
Have a good inspection!
Krystle & Cory Gaiser

Krystle Gaiser

August 1, 2016

What is happening

What are my bees doing?

Krystle Gaiser

August 1, 2016

What is happening

Your first thought when you see this photo may be a fearful ..."Umm, what is happening?" But do not worry. What you are seeing is called "bearding".

During the hot months honey bees will cluster on the outside of the hive and the term we use to describe this is bearding . It can be quite frightening in the beginning when you are trying to determine what is going on but no need to fear. This is not only normal but also can be a great sign that you have a strong colony with a large population.

So why do they do this?
Honey bees control the temperature of their hive during warm months by fanning to keep the hive ventilated and maintain it at about 93 degrees. When we enter months with high humidity and high temperatures combined that with high populations, they will begin bearding on the front of the boxes. Over crowding can make it hard to keep the hive ventilated and overheating can be damaging to the brood.

Could this a sign of swarming?
While a swarming hive will happen suddenly and be pouring out of the entrance is large qualities, bearding is very calm and quiet.

What do I do now?
Although bearding is generally a good sign, be sure to check your hive. Do they have enough space? You probably already know the living situation of your honey bees if you monitor them regularly but it is something to think about. Providing more space, like an additional deep or honey supers, will allow for them to continue building and filling comb.