Bee Purchasing News, February Meeting, and Weather Advice
Hello all! I have some great news so let’s get caught up!
It’s time to start ordering your bees!
Ben Sneeden at Great Northern Honey Company in Whitefish has agreed to give a big discount to anyone part of our club purchasing bees from them this year. All you have to do is mention you are part of the Flathead Valley Beekeepers club and he’ll provide the following discounts:
Packages: $160 each
Nucs: $180 each
Single Colonies: $200 each but required to purchase in groups of 4 colonies in the order. Singles are a deep box, 8 frames of bees plus a 1 gallon feeder, on a four way pallet with a lid.
If you want to split this $400 cost with another club member that’s up to you to coordinate with another beekeeper you know but place the purchase under one name to honor his quantity requirement. If you can swing this cost (which till now would have been the same cost you would spend anywhere else on a 5 frame nuc) I highly suggest it as a bigger population of bees for foraging will be double as prepared for winter in a shorter time.
Great Northern Honey ads can be found on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, or their website with contact info here.
February Meeting
First club meeting will commence on Tuesday, Feb 24th at 6:30 pm at the Flathead County Health Department, second floor. 1035 1st Ave W #5607, Kalispell, MT 59901 See you there!
This amazingly warm weather has your bees out and about and active. My best advice is:
- Do NOT open the top unless you lift the entire hive and there is almost no weight to it. If there is truly no weight to it, quickly place a Crabby Patty on the top bars. Recipe is linked under Winter Feed Options heading.
- If weight feels moderate, just provide protein by placing pollen substitute powder in a plate somewhere on the apiary property.
- Make sure bees have access to water if normal water sources are all frozen
- Do NOT remove insulation or wind breaks at this time. This is false spring. More winter will come!