Mesh floor

[Levitt53]

Should I still have the removable board part of my mesh floor in place or should I have moved it by now? Still no sign of any bees but I wonder if I should have removed this by now. Sorry if my terminology is a bit rubbish.

 

[Levitt53]

Sorry my ability to select icons is almost as bad as my ability to put hive parts together. Aaah!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

should be out at all times - unless doing a mite check - what do you mean by no sign of bees?

 

[theeggman]

JBM,

This could give you a hint

http://www.beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=36328

 

[Brigsy]

Can you get your local apiary you did your course with to come and help you?

 

[Levitt53]

Yes they would but just thought about whether I should have removed the board this morning. Some don't use mesh floors so would it make a lot of difference? Steep learning curve for me if that what has caused their demise.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Are there any bees flying at all when it's warm/sunny? I think you need to find an experienced beekeeper to have a look with you.

 

[Levitt53]

No I haven't seen any flying bees for two weeks now. The forecast is nice for the next few days getting to 15 on Sunday so I guess I'll know for definite then.

 

[Millet]

Get a cheap stethoscope and have a listen all around the outside , i have a decent one here and it lets me know what part of the hive the most activity is in and that they are still alive and kicking, when they where not flying that is.

 

[Levitt53]

My son has just text me to say that there are some flying - yeah! (I'm at work). They must be very fair weather. I was so convinced they were dead that I actually put my ear to the hole in the crown board this morning (I couldn't hear anything). I removed the board from the floor when I went to work - maybe that woke them up.

 

[Millet]

Good news but if you get a stethoscope you will be able to hear them talking to each other without the risk of getting stung in the ear hole.. lol

 

[pargyle]

My son has just text me to say that there are some flying - yeah! (I'm at work). They must be very fair weather. I was so convinced they were dead that I actually put my ear to the hole in the crown board this morning (I couldn't hear anything). I removed the board from the floor when I went to work - maybe that woke them up.

You do have this hole in the crown board covered over don't you ? It's only there for when you want to put a feeder on the hive - the rest of the time it should be covered over with a piece of plywood or a tile - anything that stops a through draught.

 

[Levitt53]

You do have this hole in the crown board covered over don't you ? It's only there for when you want to put a feeder on the hive - the rest of the time it should be covered over with a piece of plywood or a tile - anything that stops a through draught.

Yes, I got fondant on it at the moment.

 

[pargyle]

Yes, I got fondant on it at the moment.

If the fondant is in a clear container you can usually see the bees working at it inside the tub ? Quite reassuring when you worry if they have enough food in there ...

 

[Erichalfbee]

I usually put fondant in plastic bag if it's over the feeder hole. My naughty colony has made holes in the top of it and when I checked ( no bee suit on) I got a face full of angry bees

 

[theeggman]

My son has just text me to say that there are some flying - yeah! (I'm at work). They must be very fair weather. I was so convinced they were dead that I actually put my ear to the hole in the crown board this morning (I couldn't hear anything). I removed the board from the floor when I went to work - maybe that woke them up.

Now the worry really starts.

 

[Swarm]

I usually put fondant in plastic bag if it's over the feeder hole. My naughty colony has made holes in the top of it and when I checked ( no bee suit on) I got a face full of angry bees

No stings, hopefully?

 

[Erichalfbee]

No stings, hopefully?

Ha...no, I was too quick for them. I have honed my beekeeper-dance over the years.

 

[Millet]

Ha...no, I was too quick for them. I have honed my beekeeper-dance over the years.

I'm younger than you and pretty agile i would say but can i hell avoid a sting if a wasp or bee means it, you must be part Ninja ..

 

[bontbee]

I][/I]

Should I still have the removable board part of my mesh floor in place or should I have moved it by now? Still no sign of any bees but I wonder if I should have removed this by now. Sorry if my terminology is a bit rubbish.

Hi, I'm not trying to confuse things, as the advice so far has been to leave it out, but putting the varroa insert back in, even for a week, can tell you a few things about the bees, including if they are alive!

Any cappings both from emerging brood (darker cappings), and from uncapped stores (generally lighter colour), will drop on to the insert and will show you where the cluster is active in the box/es.

They will also give you a clue as to the size of the colony - at least an idea as to how many frames the cluster is covering, as the cappings tend to land in "stripes" on the board. (Ignore the stores' cappings in this case as now, during the warmer parts of the day, the bees are able to move around the hive and are uncapping stores in the more "remote" parts of the hive).

It will also tell you if you have varroa! particularly if you use something like a light slick of cooking oil or Vaseline, or a sheet of sticky backed plastic - the mites stick better and it seems that fewer creature "graze" on the debris and remove it, including the mites, when the board is sticky.

Mite monitoring is really important and although mite drop onto a sticky board may not be the best way of monitoring, it's the only way (that I know of, at least), to do so at the moment, until the bees are building up.

I sure hope your colony is still buzzing - though as bees are somewhat(?!) absorbing, (and great therapy), be warned, they can take over! [