Learning from mistakes

[HughMann]

My first swarm went into my hive last week, but the hive wasnt really ready.
It had a deep brood box and 2 supers on.
The top super had 7 deeps with foundation hanging down and some super frames with foundation.
Didnt want to disturb the new bees, so left them a week.
Result: (expierianced keepers may want to guess befor reading on)
ALL deep frames had wax pulled out.
2 deep frames were FULL of nector
2 deeps full of eggs and some capped brood
3 deeps also had very long comb underneath
While pulling longest comb out - it broke!
Supers ignored
Solution:
Cut comb off and put them into frames
put all deep frames into deep box and put super ontop
put broken comb into feeder for them to clean out - it was necter

Only got stung once - very calm bees

All remaining swarm catching hives now have empty frames in appropriate places!


Can't believe how busy they have been in just one week.

 

[enrico]

They are at their best as a new swarm. Never leave gaps! They prefer filling them!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

The top super had 7 deeps with foundation hanging down and some super frames with foundation.
.

I'm confused, how did you fit deep frames into a shallow (super) box?

 

[enrico]

I'm confused, how did you fit deep frames into a shallow (super) box?

He didn't, he fitted them into two super boxes on top of each other!!!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

He didn't, he fitted them into two super boxes on top of each other!!!!

That took me back.
In 2008 I bought my first poly hive. I wanted top space and the only ones available were Modern Beekeeping ( run by Rooftops then). I was running 14x12 and they didn’t do those ( did anybody?) So I made my broods from two supers which sat on a deep floor.
I subsequently found Payne’s and abandoned them.
RAB came all the way to Wales from Lincolnshire to take them off me.
I miss his input here, by the way.

 

[Repwoc]

RAB came all the way to Wales from Lincolnshire to take them off me.
I miss his input here, by the way.

He's still around - last post was 2 days ago.

 

[Erichalfbee]

He's still around - last post was 2 days ago.

I know but only intermittently

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

He was treated appalingly and banned for no reason thanks to the usual suspects

 

[HughMann]

He didn't, he fitted them into two super boxes on top of each other!!!!

Worse - 2 supers ontop of a deep. But the space enticed the swarm in so I am now happy.
They are still cleaning up the broken comb that was full, that I put into their feeder - they sure growled at me as I tried to take it. I was going to put it into frames, but they had other ideas. I guess they can empty it instead of having sugar water for now.