Advice Wanted

[Robbo8916]

If the weather is fine I would take the sheet off, open the entrance, give them half an hour to settle down and do it today. Sooner you know what it going on the better.

Try and get yourself into a calm state as well .. there's nothing that can't be corrected with bees usually .. as I think bees sense when you are tense for any reason and react ... it may be that humans give off 'nervous' pheremones that we can't detect ? So, deep breaths, nice cup of tea before you start and go slowly ....

They do. Infact most animals can detect our pheromones, dogs, horses, etc.

As a species we ain't as clever as we think we are

 

[castanea]

Hi
Sorry about the delay hols etc, just before leaving i decided to make sure all was well. I opened the hive took out 1st frame was bending over reading in my mind what you said about taking out 2 frames and read like a book well i did and low and behold who was there, yes i seen the queen with her blue dot (3 months later). The girls have worked well solid frames of pollen honey etc. THANK YOU for you advice.

 

[pargyle]

Hi
Sorry about the delay hols etc, just before leaving i decided to make sure all was well. I opened the hive took out 1st frame was bending over reading in my mind what you said about taking out 2 frames and read like a book well i did and low and behold who was there, yes i seen the queen with her blue dot (3 months later). The girls have worked well solid frames of pollen honey etc. THANK YOU for you advice.

Well done ...it takes a while but eventually you get 'tuned in' to seeing the queen .. there's something about the way they move and their entourage that attracts your eye to her - but it's always a thrill when you spot her. I don't mark them and my eyesight is not great so that makes life harder but I manage.

Having said that .. I've got one really good laying queen and she's the devil to spot .. I've seen her once all season and she was right on the bottom of a a frame - quick as a wink she was off and on the other side and gone from sight. I don't usually worry if I can see brood in a decent pattern.