dudley
House Bee
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2009
- Messages
- 154
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Kent uk
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2 apiary's 1 with 3 hives 2nd with 5 hives
Can you help, I have 2 questions please?
I have small caste swarm taken a month ago in a nuc box in my No1 apiary, basically 2/3 frames of bees with a queen who is laying ok as there is a small amount of capped brood and eggs on both sides of one frame.
On Sunday I removed a colony from a chimney that had a catastrophic mishap a month ago where all the brood fell from the top of the chimney into the room below.
They rebuilt comb well, but when we took it out on Sunday there was no brood or eggs, just masses of capped honey and with such angry bees it is obvious they are queen less.
I placed a hive on top of the chimney with a frame of brood from a good colony and it instantly acted as magnet to this queen less colony. So I now have them nicely hived in their original location strapped to the top of the chimney stack. And I estimate at least 5 full frames of very upset bees.
My plan is to move them to my No2 apiary. As I do this I would like to combine them with my caste from my No1 apiary which is also more than 3 miles away.
My Question?
When I move the caste from No1 apiary and the colony from the chimney do I combine them immediately or let them settle in their new location?
Do I put the queen right caste on top of the queen less colony or visa versa?
Thank you. Steve.
I have small caste swarm taken a month ago in a nuc box in my No1 apiary, basically 2/3 frames of bees with a queen who is laying ok as there is a small amount of capped brood and eggs on both sides of one frame.
On Sunday I removed a colony from a chimney that had a catastrophic mishap a month ago where all the brood fell from the top of the chimney into the room below.
They rebuilt comb well, but when we took it out on Sunday there was no brood or eggs, just masses of capped honey and with such angry bees it is obvious they are queen less.
I placed a hive on top of the chimney with a frame of brood from a good colony and it instantly acted as magnet to this queen less colony. So I now have them nicely hived in their original location strapped to the top of the chimney stack. And I estimate at least 5 full frames of very upset bees.
My plan is to move them to my No2 apiary. As I do this I would like to combine them with my caste from my No1 apiary which is also more than 3 miles away.
My Question?
When I move the caste from No1 apiary and the colony from the chimney do I combine them immediately or let them settle in their new location?
Do I put the queen right caste on top of the queen less colony or visa versa?
Thank you. Steve.