Attended the apiary training yesterday and checked a number of nucs which had introduced mated queens in cages to ensure the fondant plugs had been chewed away and the queens released also looked for and found an unmarked queen in another hive.
Today I was going to have a look into my no3 home hive to ensure Tiger Lily was laying ok. As I approached I noticed bees swirling round no 1 hive which had swarmed earlier in the month and been left with viable queen cell. I initially thought this might be a mating swarm but it coalesced into a cluster in the hedge. Consternation! The only receptacle available was a still vacant bait hive so that was pressed into service.
Now we are up to four hives. Had a quick look into the top of no 1 and still lots of bees in there plus drawn comb in the end frames. Didn't disturb the brood centre as I have an idea there could still be a virgin in there.
Quick look in no 2 to make sure there was still space in the outer frames then a full inspection of no3 which was the previous (prime) swarm. Comb being drawn and observed bias. Managed to show my son eggs and larva etc all in classic brood pattern with honey arch.
Positioned the bait hive in the apiary on a couple of breeze blocks and will have to investigate another 14 x 12 hive before the bees have time to establish too much drawn comb on the standard brood frames of the bait hive.
Today I was going to have a look into my no3 home hive to ensure Tiger Lily was laying ok. As I approached I noticed bees swirling round no 1 hive which had swarmed earlier in the month and been left with viable queen cell. I initially thought this might be a mating swarm but it coalesced into a cluster in the hedge. Consternation! The only receptacle available was a still vacant bait hive so that was pressed into service.
Now we are up to four hives. Had a quick look into the top of no 1 and still lots of bees in there plus drawn comb in the end frames. Didn't disturb the brood centre as I have an idea there could still be a virgin in there.
Quick look in no 2 to make sure there was still space in the outer frames then a full inspection of no3 which was the previous (prime) swarm. Comb being drawn and observed bias. Managed to show my son eggs and larva etc all in classic brood pattern with honey arch.
Positioned the bait hive in the apiary on a couple of breeze blocks and will have to investigate another 14 x 12 hive before the bees have time to establish too much drawn comb on the standard brood frames of the bait hive.
