David G
New Bee
- Joined
- Aug 11, 2011
- Messages
- 16
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Newhaven Sussex
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1 small
Now it's not me that's all mixed up and not feeding it's me bees, last week a friend and I mixed two swarms I had a queenless swarm in a National hive that were the most placid bees in the world and very settled. I don't know why I am surprised but now I have mixed the swarms together with flour there is an air of aggression about the hive and I have been stung twice already once while putting the washing out and the second time while mowing the lawn, I am hoping they will settle down again as bee keeping is not quite as much fun as it was just lately.
The second thing is that a while ago before the mix of two swarms the sugar went a bit black in patches and some bees died in the feeder. I put a message on this forum and was told the black mould can kill bees so I cleaned it all out and refilled with a smaller amount and replaced on the hive. The problem is the bees have never really fed like the used to and again today there was some (about 20) dead bees in the syrup its a big green feeder the completely covers the hive and has clear cups the bees can access the syrup through. A short while ago when I opened the lid there would be bees feeding but not in the last few times I have checked. Any ideas on what I can do to stop them dying and encourage them to feed or is this all part of the mixing of two swarms.
Thanks
Dave
The second thing is that a while ago before the mix of two swarms the sugar went a bit black in patches and some bees died in the feeder. I put a message on this forum and was told the black mould can kill bees so I cleaned it all out and refilled with a smaller amount and replaced on the hive. The problem is the bees have never really fed like the used to and again today there was some (about 20) dead bees in the syrup its a big green feeder the completely covers the hive and has clear cups the bees can access the syrup through. A short while ago when I opened the lid there would be bees feeding but not in the last few times I have checked. Any ideas on what I can do to stop them dying and encourage them to feed or is this all part of the mixing of two swarms.
Thanks
Dave