It's been fascinating!
I have always known I like bees, well beekeeping. But these bees are just brilliant
I left them in Kensons' home made wooden box for about 6 weeks.
I had loads of advice, on here and from the local beekeeping society members (BBKA). All great. All contradictory
"Leave them alone", "Shutter them down", "Feed them". I also read as much as I could find, watched a lot of youtube beeks and thought a lot.
My wife has the view "Leave the bloody things alone, or kill them IF YOU LOVE ME". She simply says "They are wild creatures, they moved in, they would survive in the wild".
This was a very important time, and it came down to "What sort of Beek am I".
The wooden box has a lid that doesn't really fit and I took to opening it in the mornings or during the day for about a week. When it is sunny and warm they ignore me completely, when cold and wet or raining, about 6 fly straight at me, in a sort of formation (I don't wear anything for these quick peeks) but a step back and they just go back in. Then I replace the lid.
They were mostly not using the "Entrance" and just escaping and returning through the gaps in the ill fitting lid.
I decided one colder wetter morning that I was harming them by removing the lid, and thought "Well, sod it, they deserve a treat". So although I know everyone will go "Oh no! You didn't do that!". I did.
I did it.
Took a bottle of shop bought honey from the kitchen and gave them a treat by scribbling a line of it along the top of a frame (frame 4).
They fell on it like it was nectar from heaven. I replaced the lid and traipsed back up the garden with my head low thinking to myself "Well, if they weren't doomed they might be now because you may have just fed them an infection".
Still it was done.
They cleaned the frame like new. I mean just like new. You really couldn't tell there had ever been a sticky mess there. What amazing little creatures they are.
Anyway, there didn't seem to be anymore bees there, somewhat less if anything, but I thought "I owe them". The children had been looking in at them occasionally too. So I do (did) (still do) owe them. They have put up with an idiot in charge and I had bought them a "Maisemore Poly Nuc" (With miller feeder). Got a child's suit. Some paint. Ambrosia from the BBKA. Some more frames (BBKA). "Candipolline" (Simon).
We painted the Polynuc "Brick Red" and got ready for "The big transfer".
But then I got stuck working in Newcastle for a few weeks and "The big transfer" had to wait a week until a sunny day when I was home.
Kenson got suited up in the suit.
Kensie was on "Camera"
I got plenty of "Frames" 3 with rubber bands stretched around in case I made a complete mess of their "self drawn comb".
I primed one side trough of the miller feeder with Candipolline leaving the other for the Ambrosia.
We set off down the garden.
What I have learned is that you have to "Be prepared". Think of all the things you might need. Lay them out so they are accessible. Then you have a chance.
Not saying I do this, but this time I did try.
Nuc empty. Frames in my Standard Hive box. We lit my smoker for the first time
Kenson would be on smoker (obviously, 7 year old boy).
They had not been disturbed for a couple of weeks as I had been away, it was about 18:00, but warm.
Open the lid and.....
There they were, about the same number as 8 weeks ago. A few popped up to see us. I showed Kenson how to smoke "Above and across" the hive to encourage them to be where we wanted them.
The Frames came out...
Frame 5. Empty foundation frame..
Frame 4. Empty frame.
Frame 3. Foundationless frame with a "Coaster" (2 inch) sized comb drawn out.
This fell off!
Frame 2. Foundationless frame with a "Side plate" (8 inch sized) comb drawn.
I didn't inspect in detail, as the point was to improve their environment and give them a chance, plus my children were around an open hive for the first time.
But this frame (2) is our bees main project, there was clearly stored nectar and pollen.
Frame 1. Foundation frame with about 8 inches (as frame 1) of developed comb on the inner side only.
As they came out they transferred to the Nuc (I didn't just toss them over my shoulder onto the grass
) like this:
Nuc started with one Frame of foundation (Frame 6)
Frame 5: Foundation frame.
Frame 4: Foundation frame. (Replacing Empty frame).
Frame 3: Used one of the "Rubber Band" frames and put the little lost comb back in.
Frame 2: Their own "Drawn Comb" frame.
Frame 1: Their "Foundation Comb Frame".
Miller feeder on and the Nuc was put back on the chair, which needed wedging to get it sort of level.
Ambrosia into the miller feeder. A little observe, lid on and away.
Throughout this Kenson occasionally used smoke. Mostly because he had a smoker
Sometimes he got it near the bees. It was not necessary. They are more than docile. But I fear this is because they are so few in number that they know they must not fight.
We watched for a while. The loss of a "Back entrance" was amusing, as the "Rear entrance" bees returned they would thump into the Nuc and then fly around confused for a bit until they stumbled across the now "Official" entrance. We watched 6 do this, but they all made it.
Kensie and I looked in a few times that evening. The bees liked the Miller feeder and had decided that the Ambrosia side was a swimming pool, there were 6 drowned bees (at least). We acquired some "Wooden skewers" and I put them under the drowned bees (about 7 skewers I believe).
The other bees huddled around the dead ones licking of the Ambrosia. To my surprise all of them came back to life! This stopped Kensie crying
They have been in there a couple of weeks now.
I was back Tuesday and we had a look (Kensie and I) there seemed to be a young bee or two about (more hairy). The big bees still come and go carrying pollen.
We didn't open the hive because I am convinced that too much hive opening is not good for the bees, besides we can see that the Wifes' hypothesis is true just by watching the entrance. Explaining this to the Children (and myself) is interesting. I went through the what if they are being robbed worry, and 20 minutes let me know that if they are being robbed, a lot of the robbers are bringing pollen, and not leaving with any!
On Wednesday we fitted my latest present for them. A "Vivarium" Snake/Tortoise heater. This is only 7w but fits in the mesh floor snugly with an "Upwards" curve. It's a bit of a "Jerry rig" at the moment and I shall wire it in properly next time I'm home. But I think if I get that going well, and their settled spot, IF they have a queen etc. etc. they might get through the winter
They have consumed ~1.5 Kilos of Ambrosia in about 10 days, not much of the Candipolline has gone, but some has.
So we know what sort of Beek I am....
I am a rank amateur.
Who loves his bees more than is sensible.
Who leaves them in the hive despite his overwhelming urge to inspect.
Who feeds them, despite hating the idea of sugar water bees.
Who listens to everyone, and although I don't necessarily do what any one person says, everyone would recognise where their advice has instructed my actions.
Who is really grateful for all advice received.
Who is genuinely pleased he let his children "put a box down the garden".
Who will afford enough expensive things to pacify his bee hating wife
One who will never be able to "Keep bees for honey", but will keep them because they are superb.
K
