Hive Inpection 05-14-09

By Brian on May 14th, 2009

Brooks Hive 1

Looks good.  Moderate activity in honey super.  This one will be ready for 2nd deep soon.  I want to at least get a frame or two of honey out of it this year if possible.  If we do it before the fall honey flow that should be doable without affecting their ability to put away winter stores.  SHB trap was clean.  Dusted with powdered sugar.  5 frames of bees.

Brooks Hive 2

Feeder empty so I pulled it.    Saw queen and brood on 2nd frame I pulled so no need to check further.  Good honey and pollin stores building.  SHB trap was clean.  6 frames of bees.  Dusted with powdered sugar.

Brooks Hive 3

Looks good.  7 frames of bees.   This one will be ready for a 2nd deep soon.  Pulled one frame and found brood so no need to go any further.  SHB trap was clean.  Dusted with powdered Sugar.

Brooks Hive 4

No brood in this one and no queen.  Damn.  Pulled brood and a frame of bees from Brooks Hive 5. Hopefully they’ll raise another queen.  Fingers crosed.

Brooks Hive 5

Population building rapidly.  This one will be ready for another deep soon as well.  SHB trap was clean.  Dusted with powdered sugar.

Why barn cats are good.

By Brian on May 14th, 2009

Mice in Goat Feed

 

My daughter found this family of mice in the goat feed bucket in the barn.  The idea of a barn cat is looking better and better.  We keep the feed in locking rubbermaid garbage cans so my suspicion is that one of the kids left this one ajar as a buffet and later raternity ward.