Category Archives: Feeding Bees

Post-Winter Hive Check 2016

We had some clear weather at the end of February, and I took advantage of it to check the hives.   For the record, Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey had a 13% loss of beehives from September to March. I’m … Continue reading

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Spring Hive Check List

It is spring here: periods of sun between bouts of rain.  I’ve taken the sunny days to do the spring hive assessment, which requires opening all of my hives (about 80) to check them, remove empty boxes, and give them … Continue reading

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Making Bee Candy (aka Fondant)

I leave lots of honey on my hives in the winter.  Usually about 70 pounds for established hives, a bit less for the smaller hives.  In a normal year this will provide food for the bees from October, when forage … Continue reading

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Do Natural Treatments Work (on my hives)?

Do you ever wonder if the things we do to help the bees survive our climates and manipulations really work?  I certainly do. I learn things from other beekeepers and through reading, then try out the ideas – sometimes they … Continue reading

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Winter Hive Preparation : First Steps

Our Brookfield Farm honey’s pulled, extracted, and on our market tables now. The honey table at our market booth Now the work begins to prepare the bees for winter.  Which arrived here suddenly.We went from a lovely warm summer to … Continue reading

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Checking Hives In February

In a “normal” year, February brings deep snow in our area.  This is year we have seen cold sunny days, cold overcast days, rain, a few sunny 50-degree (F) days, and now, as I write this, snow.  During the sunny … Continue reading

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