Building/Growing My Colony

[JazzJPH]

Hi guys,

Most of you already know my setup but I'll quickly summarise:
Picked up 6 frame nuc on 17th May. It was heaving and I was advised to get it in a full size hive before they think about swarming.
First inspection 24th May revealed they'd drawn out most of the frames with foundation. That's ten frames drawn and one about a quarter drawn. This one was from just a starter strip.

What can I do to grow my colony? While I don't want to rush nature, I do want to learn how to efficiently keep bees.

They're living in an Abelo Poly hive (national).

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

10 frames drawn, but how many bees?

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Have you got triple the gear you think you need.. Really do with another colony... Contact your local bka see if any swarms need homing... Chill

 

[Murox]

A few thoughts in no particular order.
Do you intend to run double brood ?
As they are drawing comb well it might be advantageous to use them to draw more foundation than you need immediately. Both brood and shallows.
As they develop take care to keep the brood in the central area of the BB moving frames with honey to the outside, and don't let the queen run out of laying space.
Picking up a swarm could be useful, don't look a gift horse in the mouth. A swarm of bees that did not come from your colony is an asset that can have different uses, some of which can help your own colony. Swarms of bees are in a hurry to draw foundation and build comb, and work "overtime" to find the necessary nectar to accomplish this.

 

[Beefriendly]

What can I do to grow my colony? While I don't want to rush nature, I do want to learn how to efficiently keep bees.

.

Your queen will determine how large and fast your colony can grow. All you can do is sit back and watch at this point.
I'd advise a second brood box and more frames because if she gets to 8 or 9 frames of brood she will need more room...
Also watch if she is laying wall to wall brood (complete brood frame) or an oval inside of a brood frame with stores and pollen on the outside of the oval.

 

[JazzJPH]

A few thoughts in no particular order.
Do you intend to run double brood ?
As they are drawing comb well it might be advantageous to use them to draw more foundation than you need immediately. Both brood and shallows.

Which way is best to do this? Just plonk another BB on top with 12 frames of foundation? Or remove a comb or two drawn and replace with foundation every week or so? Or other?

Your queen will determine how large and fast your colony can grow. All you can do is sit back and watch at this point.
I'd advise a second brood box and more frames because if she gets to 8 or 9 frames of brood she will need more room...
Also watch if she is laying wall to wall brood (complete brood frame) or an oval inside of a brood frame with stores and pollen on the outside of the oval.

I had put a shallow box with frames of foundation on as a super. I then took it off as you may have noticed in another thread. If I put that back on without QE does my hive then become brood and half?

Really appreciate your guidance here guys

 

[Welshboyarchrr]

I had put a shallow box with frames of foundation on as a super. I then took it off as you may have noticed in another thread. If I put that back on without QE does my hive then become brood and half?

Really appreciate your guidance here guys[/QUOTE]

It becomes a load of gaff as JBM would say. Yes, it would be a brood and a half.

 

[Beefriendly]

If I put that back on without QE does my hive then become brood and half?

Whatever you do do not go brood and a half.
You've only had your bees for over a week...give them a month before you do anything...it takes time for bee numbers to build...there is 21 days from laying an egg to a new bee .......

 

[JazzJPH]

Whatever you do do not go brood and a half.
You've only had your bees for over a week...give them a month before you do anything...it takes time for bee numbers to build...there is 21 days from laying an egg to a new bee .......

Roger that, not brood and half

I'll keep an eye on them and inspect regularly. Just wondering if there are any tips and tricks that would see them build up faster.

 

[Millet]

Roger that, not brood and half

I'll keep an eye on them and inspect regularly. Just wondering if there are any tips and tricks that would see them build up faster.

Yes ..the trick is hope for nice weather and leave well alone..

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Whatever you do do not go brood and a half.
You've only had your bees for over a week...give them a month before you do anything..

brood and a half is never the answer unless the question is "what is the stupidest setup if one brood box is not enough"
you are nearing the tipping point now where there won't be sufficient bees to tend any more brood so you will notice a significant slowdown in progress

 

[JazzJPH]

brood and a half is never the answer unless the question is "what is the stupidest setup if one brood box is not enough"
you are nearing the tipping point now where there won't be sufficient bees to tend any more brood so you will notice a significant slowdown in progress

Ah well I'm glad I asked haha, I'll try to burn that into my brain.
Well there is still plenty of space for the queen to lay so I'll just sit back and be patient... Reluctantly!

I may take the earlier advice of seeking more bees

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I may take the earlier advice of seeking more bees

you can never have too many bees
....... or places to hide them