Further to not giving up on a virgin!

[Tremyfro]

Woo....Hooooo! And ....Yee...Harr
Had a few jobs to do in the Bee Yard today...release the new Carniolan Queens....which both scuttled into the hives with determination.
I stood looking at the Long Hive and Nuc 2.... Wondering whether the Queens had started to lay. Something prompted me to take a look.....the weather wasn't the best ...cloudy and looked like rain was on the way.
It has been a long wait....I decided to take a little peek.
In the Long Hive...all was quiet...and there in the middle of the third frame was a hand size patch of eggs...just great!
So into Nuc 2 ....looking through each frame....lots of bees in here so not easy to see if there are eggs....OH lay his hand over the bees to move them....and there was an egg and nearby another cell with 2-3 eggs in the very bottom of the cell. I think these must be the very first eggs.
Hopefully both Queens will now continue...will be leaving them alone! Two new colonies!
It just goes to show that being impatient is no good when attempting to be a beekeeper! I am so thrilled.
If all continues to go well....I wil be able to move the nucs into hives before long.

 

[Fatbee]

It always seems to take longer than I think - fingers crossed its worker brood

 

[Erichalfbee]

It always seems to take longer than I think - fingers crossed its worker brood

Yes....have a look in a few days. No need to wait for the cells to be capped.

 

[BrianO]

and there was an egg and nearby another cell with 2-3 eggs in the very bottom of the cell.

Laying workers ??

 

[Tremyfro]

I will check...going to give them a chance to get going first.
I am hoping to start 2 more long hives...if these nucs are strong enough.
I know it is only my second year and I was a bit ambitious in my aims for increase but so far I have been very lucky. Also, there has been forage for the bees...which has helped. The worst drawback has been the awful weather....so cold and windy ...even now. I am sure it has effected the bees a lot. I have been able to avoid swarming so far....so if we ever do get some settled warm weather I am hoping for a good summer nectar flow. At the very least so the bees can gather winter stores.
It seems a lot of colonies have struggled ...from what I see on the forum.
It is possible that I could end up with 6 colonies in Polys and 3 Long Hives. Certainly more than enough insurance for the coming winter.
When you start Beekeeping you don't realise how important having it is to have spare brood and super comb, stores in comb and equipment.....and then you need somewhere to store all the equipment during the winter months. The apiary needs protection from the winds too. A far cry from....a hive at the bottom of the garden!

 

[Tremyfro]

Laying workers ??

No definitely not laying workers....a new Queen is present and the eggs were right at the bottom of the cell. I think she is only just beginning to lay.....I have read that sometimes you can see a number of eggs at the beginning before she is able to regulate the laying to a single egg....but thanks for the nudge to be vigilant.

 

[Hivemaker.]

No definitely not laying workers....a new Queen is present

Did you see the queen?

 

[Tremyfro]

Did you see the queen?

Yes I did see her...she is a light coloured queen...a bit different to the black queens I am used to.

 

[B+.]

the weather wasn't the best ...cloudy and looked like rain was on the way.

Do you ever see the sun where you live?

 

[Tremyfro]

Do you ever see the sun where you live?

We do but it is rarely at a time when it would be useful! Beautiful sunny evenings and early mornings. Sadly temperatures remain too cool.....today improved but very windy and a bit chilly. Quite sunny this arvo. My brave girls are doing their best. I am hoping the new Carniolans are tough cookies!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I am hoping the new Carniolans are tough cookies!

They will keep you on your toes next season

 

[Obee1]

Do you ever see the sun where you live?

I can vouch for Tremy's sun. Was there the other day. Lovely and sunny but she lives on the top of a hill surrounded by fields. Beautiful. But very very windy. It amazes me the bees can fly in such wind but it seems they do as witnessed by her honey crop.

 

[Tremyfro]

Ha ha ....you are used to the soft living in town Obee1..... But you are right...ever since we moved here it has been blowing a gale! So much so that when it stops we all walk around slightly dazed! I think my girls must have strong flying muscles.
Erica.....these are not my first Carniolans.....so I shall be on the ball next spring but so far the ones I started with....have stayed with me. I have heard they can be swarmy perhaps they like the windy hill we live on!

 

[burren]

well done tremyfro, all seems to be going great. We are all waiting for some sun!

 

[B+.]

Lovely and sunny but she lives on the top of a hill surrounded by fields. Beautiful. But very very windy.

I live on on a hill at the end of the vale of aylesbury. The wind here can be pretty strong sometimes too.
Lets hope its a tail wind that helps them up the hill with lots of nectar!

 

[oliver90owner]

Remember what I suggested on an earlier thread? Getting queens mated is a lottery before June for many of us. Wasted time, before coming into lay, makes it sensible to not make splits too early, especially if the time taken runs a risk of her becoming a drone layer.

Things areceven later than the norm this year.

 

[Tremyfro]

Remember what I suggested on an earlier thread? Getting queens mated is a lottery before June for many of us. Wasted time, before coming into lay, makes it sensible to not make splits too early, especially if the time taken runs a risk of her becoming a drone layer.

Things areceven later than the norm this year.

You are absolutely right. I was banking on a more normal spring! Clearly misled by the great weather last year.....
...but I have been pleased and fortunate so far. I made 6 nucs altogether...1 failed but all the others have been successful...in that they have laying queens. I can't be complacent though as it will be some time before I would call them strong nucs. Getting there. I am lucky as there are only a few apiaries in the locality....so not a lot of competition for forage. I am sure that I may have to combine some of the colonies before winter....to help them be stronger...but we shall see. Next year will be a year of consolidation and colony growth.....and some honey...if the sun shines.

 

[B+.]

if the sun shines.

Beekeeping can be an emotional rollercoaster: bee positive!

 

[Cussword]

. I am sure that I may have to combine some of the colonies before winter....to help them by stronger...but we shall see. Next year will be a year of consolidation and colony growth.....and some honey...if the sun shines.

Am I right in thinking that we combine so that the bees bring in more food to store for the as yet unborn winter bees?

 

[oliver90owner]

Am I right-

Not really. Bees can be fed more than sufficient stores for the winter. The need is for sufficient house bees to raise sufficient winter bees.