Cris
Drone
Posts: 71
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Post by Cris on Aug 8, 2011 5:00:09 GMT -7
I started my one hobby hive from a package this Apr. No chemicals, nor do I plan on them. Hopefully they'll have stores enough to winter (my only fear for them) since our summer has been... not cooperating.
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Post by bugleman on Aug 9, 2011 10:35:06 GMT -7
You can always compensate for a poor summer by feeding 2:1 syrup in September.
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Cris
Drone
Posts: 71
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Post by Cris on Aug 10, 2011 0:21:06 GMT -7
I think I'm leaning in that direction; too bad to, I was hoping for a comb this fall.
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Post by rbz on Aug 23, 2011 21:52:05 GMT -7
OK so it's been over a year since the thread was started so perhaps it's time for a check in.
jacquelinefreeman
ryanb
Shawn
Thom
Drew
How'd you're no treatment plan work with respect to
Colony survival
honey production
all aruond vigor
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Post by CountryBeez on Nov 3, 2011 18:54:37 GMT -7
What?.....no responses?  This forum must be having some technical difficulties. ;D The jury is still out deliberating in my yards. Expecting the verdict next spring in april....a little oxalic dribble coming a little later on some. Used formic earlier on some, & some all "natural". Anybody still using "blue shop towels"?  |
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Post by rbz on Nov 3, 2011 19:33:15 GMT -7
Blue shop towels...Yeah...I use em....In my garage
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Post by Charlie on Feb 14, 2016 17:16:05 GMT -7
Interesting thread! Michael Bush, The Practical Beekeeper Beekeeping Naturally, has over 200 hives which he maintains in Nebraska chemical free. You might consider his book, or you could attend his presentation in Hood River on Saturday April 23rd from 10 am to 4 pm.
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Post by KevinPridgen on Dec 19, 2018 4:02:06 GMT -7
I saw this topic and felt I should chime in. Some of you
might remember me.
I’ve been beekeeping for 12 years, 9 years using no treatments. Over the years I had become me accustomed to 2/3 Winter losses.
One hive that I had collected as a swarm from a barn- my “barn hive” went on continuously for a decade. I promise you it didn’t die out during those years. As time went on it became more swarmy and more mean. To the point it wasn’t productive at all. And when it finally died I was relieved. I still have a descendant split off it but it’s similary unproductive and mean as Hades.
I have found Drew’s 2 year “death from mites” cycle to be generally accurate. But there are exceptions to everything in beekeeping.
A couple years ago I decided I didn’t want most of my bees dying off every year so was prepared to throw in the towel and buy whatever chemical Glorybee had for sale. I was woefully out of touch with the products available out there...there are aLOT. There’s no need to go treatment-free any more. There are many organic products out there, some of which work better than chemicals. My deadouts went from 66% to 33%. Still pretty high but I can live with 33%. I figure most things are out of my control (like neonicitinoids). And I don’t want to be in complete control anyway.
That’s my input, hope it helped somebody.
Regards,
Kevin
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This forum must be having some technical difficulties. ;D The jury is still out deliberating in my yards. Expecting the verdict next spring in april....a little oxalic dribble coming a little later on some. Used formic earlier on some, & some all "natural". Anybody still using "blue shop towels"? 