Deadout

A day no bees will die ?  I don't know when that will be.  With the frigid cold in our forecast, I fear many colonies will perish in the next few days.  Is it "survival of the fittest ?"  Maybe so but nothing is sadder to a beekeeper than a dead bee colony.  The bees in this picture are dead and it is my fault.  Yes they would have probably died even if they lived in the wild without beekeeper management but they didn't die in the woods.  They died in a box that I put them in.  They obviously starved during a recent cold spell even though all the colonies seemed to have enough food not very long ago.  The warmer weather we have had causes the bees to use more food.  Maybe these bees were not a thrifty with their food reserves, maybe a larger colony robbed them of some food, maybe they were weak from a virus or other health issues.  We will never know.  Failing colonies are a part of beekeeping, sometimes no matter what we do a colony will die -  it does sadden my heart though :(

Cleaning Your Smoker - a serious beekeeping tool.

I use natural local dry pine needles in my bee smokers.  Over the course of the season they can get quite grungy and the lids don't close well !

 

The top may get so clogged with soot that air flow is restricted or stopped completely.

First, I removed the grates from the bottom of the smoker and will set them aside.



















Using a propane torch I actually set the sooty residue on fire.  Being VERY careful of burns or fire !!

 

I repeatedly apply the torch to the congested area to get a good burn going.  This is hot people, be careful. Do not let the fire or torch come into contact with the wooden parts or plastic/leather bellows - or yourself.
 In a few minutes the flames will get lower as the resin is burned out of the soot.

You will notice the change of appearance.  We have some black residue still but also some white ash. Let this cool - let this cool - let this cool - get the picture !

 

You did let it cool right ?  Now take a hive tool or screw driver and scape the residue off.  It will flake away rather easily,

 

Be sure to clean well around the inside rim of the hood where it fits the body.

 

 

 Be sure to clean well around the outside of the smoker where the lid fits.

My Dadant smoker has a small hole in the bottom of the bellows.  It is notorious for getting clogged up and I have to take it off the smoker and clear the hole.

Ahh,, all I need now is a handful of dry pine needles, a match and a warm day to work bees !  :)