Hi All,
I’ve recently started beekeeping again after a break of a few years (couldn’t juggle work, small kids and bees) and I’d appreciate some AS advice.
I purchased a Nuc from a local beekeeper at the end of March, and I’ve watched the bees building up.
When I inspected last Saturday I noticed play cups with eggs. I removed them and went back today to see what the bees were up to.
Today, I found one cup with larvae floating in royal jelly and approx six other cups with eggs. Whilst manoeuvring the frame with the larvae to get a good look I managed to accidentally give it a good knock against the brood box so I destroyed the cell on the basis that I was likely to have damaged it.
I went ahead and did an AS - flying bees, original queen and undrawn foundation in original position. All BIAS frames and non flying bees in new location, with entrance facing different direction.
Was I too quick to AS? Should I have waited for more than one charged cell?
Original Queen and flying bees are on undrawn foundation, with a super with largely undrawn foundation. I know it takes a lot of effort to draw frames so do I need to think about feeding them? I’d take off the super if I was going to feed but should I remove the super anyway for now?
I’m planning to go back into the colony with BIAS and non flyers on Saturday, and reduce to one good queen cell. I’m not expecting cells to be sealed at this point - expect they will be 6/7 days old. Is this timing ok - should I then just leave them alone and give them a chance to raise a new queen?
Is there anything els I should be doing or thinking about?
Thanks,
Caz
I’ve recently started beekeeping again after a break of a few years (couldn’t juggle work, small kids and bees) and I’d appreciate some AS advice.
I purchased a Nuc from a local beekeeper at the end of March, and I’ve watched the bees building up.
When I inspected last Saturday I noticed play cups with eggs. I removed them and went back today to see what the bees were up to.
Today, I found one cup with larvae floating in royal jelly and approx six other cups with eggs. Whilst manoeuvring the frame with the larvae to get a good look I managed to accidentally give it a good knock against the brood box so I destroyed the cell on the basis that I was likely to have damaged it.
I went ahead and did an AS - flying bees, original queen and undrawn foundation in original position. All BIAS frames and non flying bees in new location, with entrance facing different direction.
Was I too quick to AS? Should I have waited for more than one charged cell?
Original Queen and flying bees are on undrawn foundation, with a super with largely undrawn foundation. I know it takes a lot of effort to draw frames so do I need to think about feeding them? I’d take off the super if I was going to feed but should I remove the super anyway for now?
I’m planning to go back into the colony with BIAS and non flyers on Saturday, and reduce to one good queen cell. I’m not expecting cells to be sealed at this point - expect they will be 6/7 days old. Is this timing ok - should I then just leave them alone and give them a chance to raise a new queen?
Is there anything els I should be doing or thinking about?
Thanks,
Caz