clare p
New Bee
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2009
- Messages
- 96
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- East Sussex
- Hive Type
- WBC
- Number of Hives
- 1 new Nuc and a swarm caught on the 10th July
On Friday i did my first AS and seems successful, even though they swarmed 2 hours after the AS and then returned to the hive and have stayed put since.
Today I thought both hives were going to swarm again, but could not think of a reason.
The air was thick with bees and they were flying from one hive to the other then swarmed up to the highest leylandii they could find (at least 25 feet high). I called upon my neighbour to help hold the ladder, I climbed up, shook them into an empty "bees in the post box" with one brood frame in, waited with the lid open for 5 mins whilst the stragglers flew in to join the queen, climbed down and we had a peep, they covered both sides of the brood frame and sides of the box so just lifted them into the new brood box, shook the last few in closed up the roof and gave myself a bit of a proud pat on the back.
It was so exciting! and I really felt I knew what I was doing, A lot is down to watching the clips on Youtube and from the info on this site!
And my neighbour, Pete, was a bit impressed and could not wait to tell his mates what he had done,
I should add that they were not from my hive, I live close to a beekeeper who is a more natural beekeeper and allows the bees to swarm. I like their methods and take a lot of advice from them, whilst keeping a foot in both camps (if you know what I mean) and ....... this is the second swarm I have caught at home and I am dusting down my old hives as I think there may be more
I am now going to change my status to custodian of 4!! colonies
Love Clare
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Today I thought both hives were going to swarm again, but could not think of a reason.
The air was thick with bees and they were flying from one hive to the other then swarmed up to the highest leylandii they could find (at least 25 feet high). I called upon my neighbour to help hold the ladder, I climbed up, shook them into an empty "bees in the post box" with one brood frame in, waited with the lid open for 5 mins whilst the stragglers flew in to join the queen, climbed down and we had a peep, they covered both sides of the brood frame and sides of the box so just lifted them into the new brood box, shook the last few in closed up the roof and gave myself a bit of a proud pat on the back.
It was so exciting! and I really felt I knew what I was doing, A lot is down to watching the clips on Youtube and from the info on this site!
And my neighbour, Pete, was a bit impressed and could not wait to tell his mates what he had done,
I should add that they were not from my hive, I live close to a beekeeper who is a more natural beekeeper and allows the bees to swarm. I like their methods and take a lot of advice from them, whilst keeping a foot in both camps (if you know what I mean) and ....... this is the second swarm I have caught at home and I am dusting down my old hives as I think there may be more
I am now going to change my status to custodian of 4!! colonies
Love Clare
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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