First Bees

jenkinsbrynmair · Apr 25, 2011

Finally grasped the nettle, bit the bullet and taken the plunge!
I pick up my first ever nucleus of bees next week they nuce should be in place at the top of the garden by late afternoon. A bit of advice please, when should I then move the frames in to my hive: immediately? in a few days to let the girls get settled or when. (bit excited, apprehensive etc! especially as I haven't told the second half of the beekeeping partnership yet i.e. the other half)also how would you advise I do it - spray with water etc?
Lot of daft questions I know but this is a big step for me especially after being told of my grandfather's first bees in 1940. - pick up bees in train station, carry box 2 miles over fields (jiggle bash shake) arrive at cottage so excited, open box and look in (no bee suit) exit stage left pursued by bees - including comedy style man shaped hole in row of peas! don't want to relive all of grandad's experiences!!

Dishmop · Apr 25, 2011

as I haven't told the second half of the beekeeping partnership yet i.e. the other half)also how would you advise I do it - spray with water etc?

bottle of good perfume might work..

beeboybee · Apr 25, 2011

some good info on this already on this site try the search function but i would get them in position of final hive, then open the Nuc entrance and let them fly, next day around lunchtime when most of the bees will be out foraging, temporarily move the Nuc to one side place the floor then brood box in same original position as the NUC and then transfer the frames decide whether to use a dummy board or fill the remaining space with new frames, crown board on top then roof. any stray bees in the NUC box should be gently tapped out near the hive entrance. leave them to it for a few hours to settle then pop back and watch them

jenkinsbrynmair · Apr 25, 2011

Maybe punctuation not good enough - i meant is it advisable to spray the nuc with a bit of water, not other half! :biggrinjester:

loving_allsorts · Apr 25, 2011

jenkinsbrynmair said:
especially as I haven't told the second half of the beekeeping partnership yet i.e. the other half)also how would you advise I do it - spray with water etc?

I'm pretty sure that she'll be pretty miffed when she finds you have loads of bees, probably best to buy her some flowers, I would certainly advise against spraying her with water.