The Time to Order Beekeeping Equipment is Now!



Hive Equipment (from top down): Migratory Top Cover, Honey Super, (2) Deeps (Brood Chambers), Bottom Board and Optional Hive Stand.

 Many Beekeepers both seasoned and new make the same mistakes every year by not ordering Beekeeping Equipment and supplies early. The time to order your equipment is now. Most beekeeping companies are not huge corporations and many do not keep large amounts of inventory on hand due to the economy and the fact they have to pay inventory tax on unsold equipment and supplies. Don't forget these businesses are in business to make make money and for every dollar they waste on inventory tax the customer makes up in the following year. The time to order equipment for 2011 is now. Unfortunately many Beekeepers because they ordered equipment two weeks before their Bees arrives end up not being ready when their bees are scheduled for delivery due to equipment back orders or equipment that is unavailable from the manufacturer. In the end you have no one to blame but yourself if you wait till the last minute.

Quality Beekeeping Supply Stores:
www.dadant.com  Dadant & Sons
www.gabees.com  Rossman Apiaries
www.kellybees.com Walter T Kelly
www.mannlakeltd.com Mann Lake LTD.
www.brushymountainbeefarm.com  Brushy Mountain Bee Farm

Honey Bee Nutrition (Pollen Patties)

Commercial Pollen Patty Being Mixed

Bee Nutrition is one of the most important and most overlooked aspects of Beekeeping. Healthy Colonies equal greater honey production larger colony numbers which aids the colony in better defending itself from diseases and pest.

Pollen Patties can be added at any time but are extremely beneficial in the early fall for over wintering build up and for colonies with little stores to help get them through winter and in the early spring to aid in colony build up before the main flow starts which is extremely important.



Pollen Patty placed directly on top of frames in Brood Chamber

Many Beekeepers feel that when a flow is on and Bees are bringing in pollen that Bee Nutrition is being met. In many cases with poor foraging due to modified crops, drought and other natural and man made factors, Bee Nutrition can be severally lacking. The truth is Pollen Patties can be fed at any time. The Bees will feed on the pollen patty as needed. Pollen Patties should be about 1/8" to 1/4" thick and be placed directly on top of the Brood Chamber. If the colony has two brood chambers two Pollen Patties can used one directly on top of each Brood Chamber as shown above.

For Sale Pure Raw Local "Mesquite Honey" ?

A few days ago I received a call from a lady wanting to purchase some "Pure Local Raw Honey", preferably "Mesquite Honey" she said. She then went on to say that the beekeeper she normally buys honey from was sold out and she was desperately looking for some Mesquite Honey for her holiday cooking. As a beekeeper I have always wondered how other beekeepers know that their bees honey is without a doubt 100% "Mesquite","Clover", "Golden Rod" or for that matter specifically from any other source. Having been a beekeeper for many years and coming from two generations of beekeepers, I've had the opportunity to taste honey from many different sources. I can say from experience that not all honey has the same taste,texture or color and I for one cannot 100% say what the source was that the bees were working when they produced the honey. The truth is when there is a nectar flow on here in South Texas when one species of plant, tree or flower is in bloom there can be any number of others in bloom also in the same area. It's not uncommon when Mesquite is in full bloom for the bees to not even touch it if another source is found that better meets the bees nutritional requirements. The fact is the only way to tell exactly what the honey was made from is to have a lab test the pollen content. The only problem with testing is that it is extremely expensive and very few labs exist that can test for pollen. In the end I had to tell the lady that I had Pure Local Raw Honey for sale but I couldn't guarantee that is was Mesquite Honey. She politely said no thank you and remarked that I must not be a very good beekeeper if I didn't know kind of honey my bees produced. I could say I have Local Mesquite Honey for sale but then again I may not be able to sleep well at night knowing I sold something that may well not be what I represented it as. So if your traveling through Seguin and see a sign that simply reads "For Sale, Pure Local Raw Honey" it just may well be mine.