Envizsage Bees Australia

27/12/2024

24/10/2024

Hive Inspections: Red, Orange, Yellow, Olive, and Lime Hives, and Baby Yellow Nuc
22 Oct 2024, 11:15am-1:00pm
25degC, 17kph N

Bee population exploding soon across all 6 colonies.
I did not push through with combining the Olive and Lime hives as colony size seems that each can stand on their own.
Slow nectar and pollen inflow is matched if not overtaken by food demand. Might feed in the next inspection just to support the population.
The new Queen of Pale Yellow Nuc has laid her hundreds of eggs.

Looks like as in last beekeeping season, there will be no spring honey harvest in 2024 but looking forward to a big one in summer Feb 2025.

0:00 Intro 0:46 Red Hive Inspection 5:51 Orange Hive Inspection 14:15 Yellow Hive Inspection 23:02 Olive Hive Inspection 27:00 Lime Hive Inspection 30:48 Pal...

19/10/2024

Hive Inspections: Red, Orange, Yellow, Olive, and Lime Hives, and Baby Yellow Nuc
9 Oct 2024, 12:15-1:30pm
13-15degC, 17kph E

Booming population.
Nectar slowly coming in at Orange and Yellow Hives. Some nectar reserves at Red, Lime, and Pale Yellow colonies. Olive hive needed a nectar frame donation.
Spotted and marked with a green dot the new Queen of Pale Yellow Nuc; no eggs yet.

0:00 Intro0:05 Red Hive Inspection3:32 Orange Hive Inspection11:54 Yellow Hive Inspection19:20 Olive Hive Inspection23:20 Lime Hive Inspection28:04 Pale Yell...

10/10/2024

They have a NEW QUEEN!
Check out this nuc (Pale Yellow Nuc) which I have split 28 days ago from mother colony Orange Hive.
See how I almost lost her 3 times and how I marked her with a green dot (for Queens emerging in year 2024)

They have a NEW QUEEN!Check out this nuc (Pale Yellow Nuc) which I have split 28 days ago from mother colony Orange Hive.See how I almost lost her 3 times an...

28/09/2024

Ever wonder how a queenless hive sounds like?
Check out this nuc which I have split 12 days ago from mother hive H2 (Orange Hive).

Ever wonder how a queenless hive sounds like? Check out this nuc which I split 15 Sep 2024 (12 days ago) from mother hive H2 (Orange Hive) ...

28/09/2024

As I rearranged hives 12 days ago they are now not sequential and even I am confused. Have assigned colours to each and applied coloured bands just on top of each hive entrance.
H1 > Red Hive
H2 > Orange Hive
H3 > Yellow Hive
JH1 > Olive Hive
JH2 > Lime Hive

16/09/2024

Had to visit the apiary yesterday to modify the pallets supporting the beehives as vermins started to chew on removable inspection trays of the floor board, they used the slats of the pallets as convenient platform while munching on plastic trays (good thing they can not get inside the hive box or they will be attacked by the bees) 😡. Managed to create a split from where hopefully a new Queen will emerge 🙂 which can be be used as an emergency Queen for or replace ageing Queens in existing hives. Did another inspection just 8 days after the last one, just because I am already there 🧐. After the rearrangement of hives, they are now NOT consecutively positioned, even I am confused which is H1, H2, and H3... might rename them colour-wise and install colour-coded facade artworks 🤔.

13/09/2024

Why does some honey cystallise faster than others?

08/09/2024

Hive Inspection H1, H2, H3, JH1, JH2:
7 Sep 2024, 1:30-2:45pm
17-18degC, 16kph NW

Stung on camera.
Booming population.
Nectar coming in but not quite the flow yet.
Splitting of hives, cancelled.
Rodents chewing on bottom boards.

https://youtu.be/-OKHgV98cPk?si=Be8sH6mWgNW04ZzD

0:00 Introduction, Plan for the day0:48 H1 Inspection6:10 H2 Inspection13:05 H3 Inspection22:52 JH1 Inspection27:30 JH2 Inspection32:26 Closing up@envizsage...

15/08/2024

  Varroa Mite Detection Confirmed in Victoria Varroa mites have been confirmed within Victoria. As a result of routine strip and mat surveillance by the Agriculture Victoria Apiary Compliance team, […]

11/08/2024

How to replace an unstable hive stand with new pallets (and install new mulch for ground cover) in 2 hours tops, as the very active bees fly in and out of the hives on a spring-like sunny end-of winter weekend?
1. Show up with garden tools, new wooden pallets, a bottle of drinking water, and the hive smoker.
2. Wear a beesuit while moving the 5 hives by myself one by one and making sure not to trip over while each colony is carried by hand slowly, two meters forward while setting up their new stands in the original spot. Yes forager bees were flying back into their interim geolocation and not where I am working on during this exercise, thankfully.
3. Move in 3 wheelbarrow loads of mulch, dig soil to level the sloping ground, and keep up the smokes to ward off guard bees.
4. Set down the pallets and make sure they are level with the use of spirit level tool; dig soil/rearrange blocks and planks again to make sure they are level. And finally make sure they are really level, like really.
5. Carry each of the 5 hives back into their original locations - now they are resting on more stable and back-friendly stands.
6. Huff and puff, and ultimately marvel at how smoothly the 2 hour exercise took. Truly, planning it over the winter months in my mind was more chaotic. Oh, I copped a sting on my right kneecap as I was being pedantic with how square each of the hives should sit on the pallet stands. (I am scratching my itchy knee while writing this.)

Let the 2024 Spring Bee Season begin!

(Photo below is the Before and After which OVERSIMPLIFIED Sunday's exercise. For a more realistic photo of how complicated it was, see photo in the Comment)

11/08/2024

Hive Inspection H1, H2, H3, JH1, JH2: 23July2024, 1-1:30pm
16-17degC, 23kphNorth

Winter Quick Peek checking most hives (abandoned checking brood box of H3) max 5 mins each just to check if they have enough food stores (honey, nectar, pollen/bee bread) and if Queens are still laying eggs.

Videos of actual inspections in the comments.

10/08/2024

At the Varroa Management Training Workshop, Geelong VIC

12/07/2024

Been getting ready for it.

Beekeepers are being urged to monitor, test and treat infected colonies as varroa mite continues to spread throughout southern NSW, including to Bega near the Victorian border.

10/07/2024

Randy describes how to enter the bees’ sanctuary respectfully and perform hive inspections with minimal stinging. This lecture gives tips from a beekeeper wi...