For the past month we have had a hive here on the farm. I didn't want to say anything just in case it didn't work out for us. But so far so good.
I drove to the East side of Indianapolis for these bees. They said there would be around 3000. Now, I am a big ole chicken when it comes to bees. Those boogers hurt. Can you imagine 3000 bees loose in your car? They would own my car and I would walk home. But I went and no one would go with me. Bigger chickens.
When I got there, it was kind of hard to find. But once found, you knew you were in the right place because there were honey bees flying all over the place. I really wasn't sure I wanted to get out of the car. But I did. I must have put on my big girl panties that morning.
These people are the nicest people you would ever want to meet. I must have looked like I was scared as heck because I was met at the door and ushered in. I didn't see them do that to anyone else. One of the owners stood right by my side and answered every question that I had and a few I didn't even know that I did. Then can the dreaded moment.......they brought the bees out.
3000 bees can fit in a very small container. They are seriously buzzing. But not really angry. I asked if they would ride OK home for over 2 hours in my car. He said "Hon, these bees are buzzed on sugar. They don't know where they are and don't really care" Then he said something that knocked him down in my estimation a peg or two. "You have to touch them. You have to carry them out to your car, you know" There was no handle, no towel, no nothing. I am still not sure how I got those suckers in my car. But they were there when I got home.
Have you ever driven with a bee buzzing in your windshield? Try driving when you know there are 3000 of them in your car. Seriously, it is pee your pants kind of fear.
Now they are home and you have to do something with them. I mean they can't stay in the tiny container forever. I was voting yep, they can. But I didn't do it. I listened to the man when he told me how. So I told my dear husband how I was going to do it. And of course he said "That can't be right" Haven't heard that one before, have you ladies.
Anyway, I will spare you the details of you have to take the can out and expose what looks like the grand canyon of holes and hope the bees don't fly out just to get the queen and close the hole back up. Then fix the queen and then liquor the bees up with more sugar water and hit the box on the hive so they will come out. Oh hell NO. But guess what, sugar drunk bees, don't care. And the hit is gentle. More like a love tap with some force to get them out. It worked.
Then you got to feed them. What???? I planted a million flowers for them, isn't that enough. Nope. They have to have sugar water in their hive. Well, geez, it's like giving birth. So now you got to open up the hive remove the box the queen came in and pray she isn't still in there and dead. (she wasn't) and fill up the food reservoir. Smoke'em if you got em boys. This does calm them down. But I go dress to kill in the latest ensemble and yes white does make you look fat. So far we have had to feed these little pigs about once a week. I have no idea why I am weeding flowers for.
But things are going well. We have had to add another section already and it has only been a month. They should be making enough food or laying enough eggs to get through the winter. I am hoping so.
PS: Dear Hubby has taken over. I am not telling him that he is doing anything wrong. I sure don't want to get stung. Female Farmers are not stupid.
