Are you ready for your second year

[enrico]

Hi to all beekeepers coming into your second year..... I usually mention this because it is something I remember when I started!
Your second year will bring changes, if you started with a summer nuc last year be prepared to have loads more bees this year! They are already reproducing and the amount of bees by mid summer can be staggering, also the comb, last year it was pristine, white and level, this year it will be dark, there will be holes and it will be built anywhere there is a space big enough. Lastly, if you think you had trouble with swarms in your first year then be well prepared for this year, nothing to fear.... Collecting swarms can be fun, just be prepared!
Good luck to very one. Keep us informed!!!
E

 

[tonel]

My second year...biggest worry I think is dealing with potential swarming. Have a plan (intend to use nucleus method) but am sure when I see those first queen cells things are going to get scary! Just hope I can find the queen when the time comes

 

[Erichalfbee]

Commit this to memory ...or at least file in an instantly accessible place

 

[enrico]

Make sure she's marked then!
Good luck!

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi to all beekeepers coming into your second year..... I usually mention this because it is something I remember when I started!
Your second year will bring changes, if you started with a summer nuc last year be prepared to have loads more bees this year! They are already reproducing and the amount of bees by mid summer can be staggering, also the comb, last year it was pristine, white and level, this year it will be dark, there will be holes and it will be built anywhere there is a space big enough. Lastly, if you think you had trouble with swarms in your first year then be well prepared for this year, nothing to fear.... Collecting swarms can be fun, just be prepared!
Good luck to very one. Keep us informed!!!
E

Can't beat having some spare hives ready i found out the value of a decent set of steps, secateurs and a barrow as well. If you want a record of your fun you need a tripod or someone to operate the camera.

 

[itma]

Commit this to memory ...or at least file in an instantly accessible place

Certainly that Welsh Queen Cells booklet is something that you should read before your second year, and keep it somewhere handy!



Work out what artificial swarm technique you plan to use (it is really when, not if) and make sure that you have ALL the kit needed to put it into practice - on all your colonies simultaneously!

Super too early, rather than too late. And that applies especially if you are adding a new box, full of frames with undrawn foundation.

 

[REDWOOD]

And if executed correctly you will become two hive owners

 

[tonel]

Thanks for the link..have read it before and have it filed away, have been reading lots too so have it all planned in theory but as I said, actually putting it into practise (especially with lots more bees around) might be more tricky Am planning to make increase from my single colony, been planning on the nuc method as it seemed pretty simple but I have a spare hive now so am debating maybe just going the AS route to get that second colony. Managed to mark my queen last year so hopefully I'll be able to find her.

Whilst on the subject, have a question about performing an AS - was wondering if the last stage is essential (moving original BB from one side of new BB to the other) or would it work without? Just wondering as space is a bit limited on one side of my existing colony..

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you've left just the one QC the second manoeuvre isn't necessary.

 

[pargyle]

And if executed correctly you will become two hive owners

I live in hope !!

 

[itma]

...
Whilst on the subject, have a question about performing an AS - was wondering if the last stage is essential (moving original BB from one side of new BB to the other) or would it work without? Just wondering as space is a bit limited on one side of my existing colony..

That part of the procedure is about "bleeding off" flying bees from the 'brood' colony.



One of the most important aspects is checking the number of QCs left to develop.

Ideally, you would select down to just one good QC to leave.
The thing to be aware of is that, after you have "Artificially Swarmed" the colony, the bees probably will try to create more, based on eggs and young larvae that were in place before Q was removed.
Hence, about four or five days after you have made the split, you MUST go through the brood colony again and remove whatever new QCs have been made.
The time for leaving them strictly alone relates to the time beginning when your chosen QC should be due for emergence, until the princess should have mated.
IF you leave them entirely alone starting after the split, the probability is that they will produce lots more QCs, and you will lose lots of 'cast' swarms ...
You do NEED to be aware of this late flush of emergency QCs, and deal with them - otherwise you will be dealing with casts!
It seems a common misapprehension that one should 'leave alone' after the split. But the job isn't finished at that point!

There is a school of thought that it may be better to keep one of the new QCs, because even the novice can be fairly precise about what date the egg could have been laid, and can therefore predict more certainly the due date for emergence. This idea becomes more important if you are trying to go a step further and harvest several QCs just before emergence, so that they only get shifted into individual mini mating nucs a day or so before emergence.

 

[yellowrage 53]

this will bee my 1st yr but the bees 3rd when is a good time to put a super on

 

[enrico]

this will bee my 1st yr but the bees 3rd when is a good time to put a super on

Not yet awhile. Depends on how full the brood box is and that is unlikely to be bursting! It is a personal judgement but you have to bare in mind that they need to heat that are too and we are still having cold nights. What you don't want to do is get the queen trapped under the QE while everyone else moves above it!
When there is a good flow on, and you will know by the level of activity, then that is the time to think about it. Unless of course you are on rape! Hope this of some help!
E

 

[yellowrage 53]

Not yet awhile. Depends on how full the brood box is and that is unlikely to be bursting! It is a personal judgement but you have to bare in mind that they need to heat that are too and we are still having cold nights. What you don't want to do is get the queen trapped under the QE while everyone else moves above it!
When there is a good flow on, and you will know by the level of activity, then that is the time to think about it. Unless of course you are on rape! Hope this of some help!
E

thank you it has

 

[itma]

this will bee my 1st yr but the bees 3rd when is a good time to put a super on

Not quite sure what this means!
3 year old queen?
Good stock of supers with drawn comb?

More info might help.


/// Generally, you wouldn't add a super until the brood box was filling up with bees - brood on at least 6 frames.

 

[yellowrage 53]

Not quite sure what this means!
3 year old queen?
Good stock of supers with drawn comb?

More info might help.


/// Generally, you wouldn't add a super until the brood box was filling up with bees - brood on at least 6 frames.

i got bees in oct from a mate have 4 supers all with drawn comb he's had the bees about 3yr's

 

[enrico]

Bumped this one back in for those who may not have read it before! If you are new and having nightmares then remember..... There are others out there probably worse off than you! Best of luck second years!
E

 

[jd101k2000]

My second year...biggest worry I think is dealing with potential swarming. Have a plan (intend to use nucleus method) but am sure when I see those first queen cells things are going to get scary! Just hope I can find the queen when the time comes

Don't worry, your worries about POTENTIAL swarming will soon pass. (As you will be dealing with actual swarming )

Not only that, but you almost certainly won't have to restrict yourself to one method of swarm management. If you are feeling 'under-beed' you can always go and collect some swarms from other people's bees. (Then go home and read the newspaper - about the problem of reducing honey-bee numbers.)

Have fun.. it's a hobby

 

[sbisme]

This is my second year and wow, got my bees through the winter ok and they have built up a treat, already done a AS and now have 2 colonies with my original colony having 3 supers on, one I will be looking to extract in the next few days, did a Shake test today on a few frames an no honey came out, the 2nd super is being filled and the 3rd has just gone on as its only foundation, so in a nutshell going from a single brood last year nicely ticking over to Boom, bring it on.

 

[Dared]

Hi to all beekeepers coming into your second year..... I usually mention this because it is something I remember when I started!
Your second year will bring changes, if you started with a summer nuc last year be prepared to have loads more bees this year! They are already reproducing and the amount of bees by mid summer can be staggering, also the comb, last year it was pristine, white and level, this year it will be dark, there will be holes and it will be built anywhere there is a space big enough. Lastly, if you think you had trouble with swarms in your first year then be well prepared for this year, nothing to fear.... Collecting swarms can be fun, just be prepared!
Good luck to very one. Keep us informed!!!
E

Going into my third year and gone from one hive in first year, three second year and at moment am on ten!!!

Good luck to you all