Queen Bee Intiative of Brazoria County Beekeepers Association

11/12/2024

Another great morning at Takitos befoer heading to yard to sort, clean, paint, boxes and frames.
Txs to Chuck, Sam, Paul, David, Monica, Kent, John, Nelson and special Txs to Ray and his brother for fixing us breakfast and coffee for the Klatch.
Fun by all and we always discuss the bees and whats happening in every ones apiary.

03/08/2023

Member Keith using OAV to treat for Varroa Destructor on a QBI colony.

16/04/2023

Pulled capped cells this AM and placed in temp/humidity controlled incubator. Friday they go to mating nucs.
Wed we recharge the starter with nurse bees and new grafters instructed by Sam will go again.

01/03/2023

Productive AM inspections this AM. All colonies have now had 1st inspection and 1 colony has QCs drawn out with larvae but not capped!! In a few days we will use them to make some 2023 nucs!
Had 1 deadout and the 2 nucs that had donated queens by Keith last fall were over running with bees and resources.
Always special tx's to Evelyn, Athena, David(newbee), Keith and our resident grafter Sam. Got some good queen spotters too!
Next few weeks our inspection intervals will increase as we build resources and cut out QCs for more nucs. Now we decide on which of the colonies that we concentrate on for queen rearing by notching and grafting from the bestest colonies.

24/02/2023

RAFFLE !!!
Over 200 Grooved Type Top Bar Frames that hold plastic Foundation being removed from Associations Queen Bee Initiative Yard.
Frames are not cleaned and some are in excellent shape and some are not.
Details on how to clean up for use can be given if needed to winners. Pickup at QBI yard.
Frames will go to 4 Drawn Winners on March 4th 2023 Drawing at Noon.
Winners must have paid up Association dues for 2023 to win.
If interested and would like to enter into Raffle drawing please text your name and contact number or send an email to:
281-386-6375 or email to [email protected]

22/02/2023

Great productive klatch this AM at Takitos and then to yard till rains swept us away. Began cleaning organizing and ridding old woodenware for the upcoming queen rearing season.
No chance to open the colonies but maybe next time. Quick smoker Lighting tutorial so now its practice on that by members.
Thanks and appreciation to Athena, Shane, Evelyn, Faith and Kathy. Made the morning fun and entertaining.
Material will be purchased for a structure to "tarp" the woodenware behind the Lab so a work party is coming.
A word to the wise! Please do not plan on doing inspections with flip flops!! LOL

15/02/2023

QBI members met this morning after being absent for last 2-3 weeks. Started out with breakfast at Rays(Takitos) and then a few of us went to scan the QBI Apiary.
Discussions were mostly on bee questions but also what the next few weeks work at the yard will be.
Thanks to Kathy, Faith, Athena, Shane and Paul for showing and then a few of us went to yard. The Dry Pollen feeder bucket was a huge hit attraction for us but also the bee attendees were excited as well.
The next few weeks we will be cleaning up nucs, frames, Lab and start resource concentration inspections on the yard colonies.
We all had a great time

19/01/2023

https://www.vox.com/down-to-earth/2023/1/19/23552518/honey-bees-native-bees-decline

Pollinators!

Want to save the bees? First, throw out most of what you know about them.

16/01/2023

Felicia, Jeff, and Shane worked colonies at QBI yard this afternoon and fed the bees dry pollen and syrup. We all had fun and learned a bunch. Thanks to all!!

16/01/2023

Felicia , Jeff, and Shane worked some colonies and fed the bees and we all learned some things.
Txs all for your help!

09/11/2022

Great morning klatching at Mr Takitos and discussing SHB Initiative at the yard. Nice bunch of beeks were there. Txs to Chuck, Kathy, Athena, Robert, Sam, Steve, Sandra, and 1 of the clubs Masterbeeper, Kellie, coming from OOT for a special visit. Never made it to the yard but we did have a nice chat and was enjoyed by all.

05/10/2022

Great cool morning start at Takitos and chatting and them on to the yard.
We mentored 1 newbee(Shane) but also OAVed all colonies with Keiths donated OA tablets.
OAE sponges are all on colonies and will be renewed in a few months.
ALSO, the smell of goldenrod is in the air and was noted by a few beeks!!! Yeaaaa!!!
Thanks all to Chuck, Keith, Donnells, Sam and newbee Shane.And to all the cute ladies residing in the colonies doing their thing for their queen and function of the colony!!