I’ve had to move a tetchy colony yesterday, Sunday. Queenless with virgin that emerged last Thursday (I gave a cell).
How long do you think it could take to settle?
How long do you think it could take to settle?
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I find full colonies (like you have reported) don't like being moved, particularly ones that are not nice and calm in the first place. Others report no issue. Probably all the factors you mention above have contributed. They could take as much as couple of weeks to settle down I reckon.I’ve had to move a tetchy colony yesterday, Sunday. Queenless with virgin that emerged last Thursday (I gave a cell).
Virgin won’t be ready to mate though til this week to coincide with better weather. Don’t think she will have started orienting but will be v soon. I took another hive away last week (for a separate apiary) and I suspect some flyers from that joined this one as well as other colonies. So it’s a full colony.
Brought it home yesterday as causing a few issues and couldn’t leave where it was. Now at least 40 metres from our house down our field. Boy were they upset yesterday. Couldn’t shake off followers. Has a lot of flying bees now and c 9 frames sealed brood and 3 supers. Didn’t go through it of course but took a couple of steps (below) that I thought I should do.
I took a super off, with the bees to move it home and united to another colony to attempt to reduce the size. Going to have to leave them alone to settle down but I have put in a test frame of young larva yesterday ev, to check the virgin emerged / is there. Gave them another brood box, with mix of drawn comb and foundation along with the test frame as rammed with bees too and plenty of stores (1 1/2 supers, super I took off was also full).
Is the increased defensivess / following down to the move, fact they’re queenless, or with virgin only just developing her pheromones and lots of flying bees, or all of the above? They are in a harder climate up here but loads of trees coming out and yesterday evening was heading for heavy rain last night so expect a good flow when weather improves tomorrow.
How long do you think it will take to settle? Encouraged hubbie to wear bee suits round the garden as a precaution until they do! Anything more I should consider or think about in your experience? Massive learning for me dealing with a tetchy and following hive, not had to tackle before…
Thanks, thought so….I find full colonies (like you have reported) don't like being moved, particularly ones that are not nice and calm in the first place. Others report no issue. Probably all the factors you mention above have contributed. They could take as much as couple of weeks to settle down I reckon.
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