Category Archives: Honey Bee How to

Installing Package Honey Bees

Posted on March 31, 2013 by David LaFerney

Soon your bees will finally be here – a most joyous occasion for new bee keepers especially. No doubt you have been studying up on how to get package bees into their hive, and already have some idea how to … Continue reading →

Posted in Evergreen, Honey Bee How to | 2 Comments

Confessions of a Bad Bee Keeper

Posted on December 5, 2012 by David LaFerney

I have not been a good bee keeper this year.  I failed to prioritize enough time during the main part of the season to keep my bees healthy, happy and productive.  My sorry excuses for not finding time to take … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 1 Comment

When Good Bees go Bad

Posted on August 3, 2012 by David LaFerney

This article was originally posted in June 2011, but contains seasonally relevant information. Whenever there isn’t a good flow on (like now and throughout the rest of the summer) strong honey bee hives will often rob weak hives – if … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to, Learn about Bee Keeping, Seasonal | 4 Comments

Ed Holcomb on Maximum Honey

Posted on July 26, 2012 by David LaFerney

Mr Holcomb is Mid Tennessee’s resident expert on maximum honey production per hive.  If I remember correctly the average per hive production in TN is around 35 pounds (about 10 quarts) Mr. Holcomb’s standard is about 3 times that.  If … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 1 Comment

Installing Your New Bees

Posted on April 22, 2012 by David LaFerney

This has actually been mentioned before, but I know that at least one person who got bees tonight did not know…   The nucleus hives that many of you bought with our club order are made up with Deep frames – … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to, Learn about Bee Keeping | 12 Comments

Making Increase

Posted on April 5, 2012 by David LaFerney

Making increase is how bee keepers refer to expanding their stocks.  Not so long ago all bee keepers made increase because they couldn’t just order some bees and let someone else do it for them.  Somewhere along the line things … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 5 Comments

Swarm Call!

Posted on March 15, 2012 by JD Uker

Today I received the first swarm call of the year and just picked them up. I figured an explanation on the ways that I have collected swarms might be useful and/or informational. Swarms are usually quite docile and easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 5 Comments

March – Ready or Not – Swarm Season begins…

Posted on February 27, 2012 by David LaFerney

Caution – the videographer utters the s%$t word a couple of times in this video taken in Illinois. What a swarm! But as you all know, as much as bee keepers might like to catch swarms we don’t want them … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 1 Comment

Cut Out Frame

Posted on February 21, 2012 by David LaFerney

If you ever have to do a cut out – or repair collapsed comb in a top bar or foundationless setup this works great. Don’t forget the Beginning Bee Keeping Short Course this coming Saturday at 9:00 AM. If you … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to | 1 Comment

Bee Keeping in February

Posted on January 30, 2012 by David LaFerney

The first thing that Cookeville TN area Bee Keepers need to do in February is plan to attend our regular meeting on Thursday February 2nd – TTU South hall – chat and mingle from 6:00 with the meeting beginning at … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey Bee How to, Meetings | 1 Comment