Shooks Apiaries

03/09/2026

I love seeing big queens this time of year. She's already laying lots of eggs

03/09/2026

First time opening this hive since last fall. March 9th 2026

03/09/2026

First visit to this small apiary in windham CT march 9th 2026

11/22/2025

10/08/2025

Another batch of carolina reapers heading into the dehydrator! I've been experimenting with different peppers and find these to work very well for my hot honey. Only a few of them are needed to add a nice spicy kick to a 50 pound container of honey but just as importantly, they add a wonderful pepper flavor too. This is enough for several hundred pounds. Currently available in 1/2 and 1 pound sizes. I can fill bigger jars on request.

06/30/2025

Sound on for narration

06/12/2025

Click on photos for captions.

03/17/2025

It's nice to see them getting that skunk cabbage pollen. This incoming protein is vital for their larvae

03/17/2025

While winter losses are higher than my yearly average this year, we still have a lot of successfully overwintered colonies. It's always nice to see queens taking advantage of early pollen foraging and start to expand their colonies' populations. Click on photos for captions.

11/09/2024

10/26/2024

This was found at one of my yards after the leaves dropped. I've only seen this a few times before. A swarm decided to just be an open air hive. It was imminently near starvation. I removed it and installed it a deep super with sugar syrup. Chances are slim it will make the winter but it was surely doomed without my intervention