Cheddar Hill Hives

08/09/2024

Just did a hive check, no honey this year, the hive is doing good! We will try again next year! We usually don't get honey from a swarm hive in the first year!

06/15/2024

Summer time is here, going to add some more supers for the girls! Never had a beard that large!

06/10/2024

Hot humid days cause the bees to gather outside to help cool the hive. They form a beard shape, by the bees gathering outside, they create room for air to circulate . It's also a sign of a strong hive! I will be going live this week to check for honey!

05/21/2024

We checked the hive today, the girls looked good, and only had a couple of racks of honey. Hopefully we will have some honey in late June. We didn't film today because it was a spur of the moment check .

04/19/2024

Facebook live didn't work today, Facebook prevention services were working overtime! Everything went well!

04/19/2024

Just got our second swarm!

Send a message to learn more

04/12/2024

Send a message to learn more

04/08/2024

2017 video of the eclipse, showing bees coming back during the eclipse!

03/16/2024

Trying it again, swarm traps are out! This is our tenth year anniversary, maybe it will be a Lucky one!

12/30/2023

Hoping for a better year, didn't have any honey this year, but hopefully we will in 2024!

10/07/2023

08/19/2023

Just did a hive check and everything checked out fine. No wax moths, strong numbers, no honey! Didn't do a video today, we went deep into the brood box, which is a lengthy process.

08/14/2023

Is the benefit of adding honey to your coffee a good idea? If you are adding it because of the substitute of sugar, then yes it's better than sugar. If you add it because of your allergies, NO, once honey is heated above 104 degrees, it loses all the healthy benefits, so is a good idea? Only if you are substituting it for the sugar.

08/12/2023

Wax moths information for those who were wondering about them, and what happened to our hive.

There are two species of wax moth, the Greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) and the Lesser wax moth (Achroia grisella). Both species eat beeswax, particularly unprocessed wax, pollen, remains of larval honey bees, honey bee cocoon silk and enclosed honey bee faeces found on walls of brood cells.

08/12/2023

Final Talley on what we lost to wax moths:
13 racks of honey
10 racks of brood, which is probably 30,000 bees that would have been born in the next 60 days
Honey total lost 30 jars of honey, (guessing).

If you are not used to taking losses, beekeeping is not the hobby to be involved in, this was the first time we had this happen.

08/05/2023

Transferring a swarm into a hive box!

08/05/2023

Check my hive for wax moths!

08/02/2023

After today's news about a honey bee swarm in town on a fire hydrant, I thought I would post about swarms. I was surprised at the comments on the post, some folks have been mislead on bee swarms. Yes it's a natural way of making sure their are plenty of bees, all hives swarm are they extremely dangerous? NO! If I'm allergic to bees will they sting me? NO! When bees swarm they are more concerned with the queen, they could care less about humans. They will not sting you unless you present a threat to the queen. If you see one enjoy the nature way of making sure their are plenty of bees. I have walked into a swarm flying in circles, covering the entire yard, and not once had one run into me. I have had the pleasure many times, NEVER been stung by a swarm. You must also know that every bee in that swarm is full of honey, it's their lifeline to making a new start wherever they make a new home. Then you may ask, Why do beekeepers wear suits when dealing with swarms, personally I respect them, one wrong move by me can set them off, plus they will get around your face, this includes ears . In closing enjoy the view, if you see them flying around, don't worry, they will bump into you first, before they will sting you. The bump is the warning, just back away and enjoy the show.

07/23/2023

Checking for some honey, checking on the progress of the hive!

07/07/2023

Checking out the smoker!

07/04/2023

Checking the hive for honey!

07/03/2023

Adding a honey super to give the girls more room. Also checking for honey!

07/02/2023

Bees bearding when it gets hot!

06/23/2023

Girls stretching their wings, and hatching out, large number which indicates a strong hive.

06/15/2023

Half of a rainbow after today's storm!

05/24/2023

Cool pic.

Bees visit flowers to collect nectar and pollen, which they use as food for themselves and their larvae. By moving from flower to flower, they are vital pollinators of many garden and wild flowers.

05/23/2023

Today is Cheddar Hill Hives 9th year anniversary, we started it in 2014. Thanks for your support!