Last Sunday we added a second brood box to Johnny's bees.

This frame is from the center of the primary brood box.  These bees have drawn comb across all 8 frames

Hive Split Failure

Saturday, Johnny and I attempted to take bees from an existing hive and give them a new queen.  I just checked them and all of the bees have left for their own hive.  Failure!  I'm certain that we tried to locate the newly queened bees too close to the origin hive.  Will have to try again.  Hopefully we can get this to work so we won't lose our queen.

In Memory of ChickenPoop

I've had chicks hatch this week and imprint on me.  It reminded me of my ChickenPoop.  RIP ChickenPoop.

There's Always a Story on the Farm

Today has been a good day to sit under a shade tree.  Warm, slight breeze, not too muggy.  We did manage to do a little of that; but it's hay season.  Johnny began the day with they haybine mowing the front field.  The one that borders Bybee's Church Road.  He broke down twice and fixed it but the third time was the charm.  The yoke broke on the drive shaft.  It's Sunday, nothing is open except for Tractor Supply.  A phone call and check on the internet reveals that, yes, Tractor Supply carries said drives shafts.  So while Johnny continues to break down the haybine I head to Charlottesville with dad to get the part.  Unfortunately, when we got there the size was wrong so we were out of luck.

Johnny had wanted shrimp for dinner anyway, so the trip was not a waste of time.  I stopped at Giant and bought 3 pounds of shrimp and the ingredients need to fry the; peanut oil and tempura mix.  Oh, yeah we were out of milk so got that too. Was surprised that it was $3.49/gal.  Got HK milk too.

When HK and I had set off for Tractor Supply Jared was running the tetter around the field and Amber was laying out in the sun.  When we got back our friend Guy was here and Jared and Amber were getting ready to leave so they could go visit Amber's grandmother. Guy visited for a while, Jared and Amber left.  After everybody left and Johnny was still trying to fix one piece of equipment or another I started prepping the shrimp to fry.  HK came back to the has and I cut his hair.  Once that was accomplished I fried the shrimp and cooked the fresh corn I also picked up when I was in Giant.  Everything tastes great.  I'm taking a little break at the moment, typing this and watching the tail end of Apocalypse Now - great movie I must day - and then I'm going to go out and check my chicks, collect eggs and take some sugar water to the bees in need and mow the grass.  I think that sounds like a full day.

Planning for another Sunday

Oh, I do so enjoy my Sundays.  Sundays mean that Slick and Woodridge come to visit.  This Sunday, since it is hay season means that Johnny is already out on the tractor cutting hay in the field that borders Bybee's Church Road.  The hay is so thick. It's going to take quite a while for him to finish.  As for me, I'm pretty sure I will mow the lawn.

Bees and Chicks

Today I moved the newly hatched chicks to a brooder.  They seem happy enough.  Johnny and I also are attempting our first beehive split.  We took the frames from an existing hive and gave them a new queen.  I don't think they are too happy.  Will keep them confined all through the weekend and keep checking to see if they accept the queen.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that this will work.