Originally posted on the 26-4-09
and i've never been stung
'tis true, every word and there's not many beekepers can say it
the truth is slightly less glam, today is the first day of me owning bee's and I've been through the hive for the first time this afternoon but I still managed to do it without stressing anyone out.
the bee's came from a 5 frame nuc and were bursting at the seams, they've got plenty of room now that they have a few frames to draw out.
When i arrived at the hive I stood and watched the entrance for a minute and didn't see a single bee so started thinking they'd buggered off, I lifted the roof off and cracked a corner of the crown board and heard a buzz, thank gawd for that. I worked my way through the 5 frames and saw empty queen cups, brood from newly laid eggs to a bee emerging from its cell
I found the queen scurrying around on the middle frame, tried to catch her with a cage to mark her but I needed 3 hands to do it without spiking any poor workers, I gave up after 2 attempts with a view to doing it when someone else more experienced is with me.
and i've never been stung
'tis true, every word and there's not many beekepers can say it
the truth is slightly less glam, today is the first day of me owning bee's and I've been through the hive for the first time this afternoon but I still managed to do it without stressing anyone out.
the bee's came from a 5 frame nuc and were bursting at the seams, they've got plenty of room now that they have a few frames to draw out.
When i arrived at the hive I stood and watched the entrance for a minute and didn't see a single bee so started thinking they'd buggered off, I lifted the roof off and cracked a corner of the crown board and heard a buzz, thank gawd for that. I worked my way through the 5 frames and saw empty queen cups, brood from newly laid eggs to a bee emerging from its cell
I found the queen scurrying around on the middle frame, tried to catch her with a cage to mark her but I needed 3 hands to do it without spiking any poor workers, I gave up after 2 attempts with a view to doing it when someone else more experienced is with me.
