nickhodge
New Bee
- Joined
- Oct 3, 2011
- Messages
- 45
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Southampton
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3
All
I am a new beekeeper although have attended a training course and had 12 months of research before today.
I received a swarm from a fellow local club member on 30th April 2012 and these are in a National brood box with 11 frames with new foundation.
I opened the box the next day (about the only day with decent weather since, when they were flying) and placed an empty super on with a rapid feeder with 2L of 1:1 syrup. So the assembly is o/m floor, brood box, crown board, empty super, roof.
Since this time, with the weather cold and wet there have been no bees flying. A peep inside (through the ovals in the crown board) on Saturday showed them in a tight cluster around the centre frames (2-3). I left them until on Monday the sun came out, the temperature rose to nearly 16 degrees and the rain stopped.
My observations on removing a the roof was that despite flying bees none were using the feeder??? I continued a very quick inspection and as I dragged frames apart to lift, it was almost like bees were tied together across the frames. There was very little comb building activity and no queen was seen
I guess my questions are:
1) Does the above seem normal?
2) Why would they not be feeding?
3) Does syrup go off on the hive and despite not being used should I change it?
Hope to get some responses for this novice
I am a new beekeeper although have attended a training course and had 12 months of research before today.
I received a swarm from a fellow local club member on 30th April 2012 and these are in a National brood box with 11 frames with new foundation.
I opened the box the next day (about the only day with decent weather since, when they were flying) and placed an empty super on with a rapid feeder with 2L of 1:1 syrup. So the assembly is o/m floor, brood box, crown board, empty super, roof.
Since this time, with the weather cold and wet there have been no bees flying. A peep inside (through the ovals in the crown board) on Saturday showed them in a tight cluster around the centre frames (2-3). I left them until on Monday the sun came out, the temperature rose to nearly 16 degrees and the rain stopped.
My observations on removing a the roof was that despite flying bees none were using the feeder??? I continued a very quick inspection and as I dragged frames apart to lift, it was almost like bees were tied together across the frames. There was very little comb building activity and no queen was seen
I guess my questions are:
1) Does the above seem normal?
2) Why would they not be feeding?
3) Does syrup go off on the hive and despite not being used should I change it?
Hope to get some responses for this novice