New beekeeper.

[MerryBee]

If I am interpreting this correctly you have brood on all 11 frames in the new brood box. You need to get a super on too. If we get a decent bit of weather the bees will soon be piling in the nectar and you dont want it all stored in the brood box or the queen will have nowhere to lay..

As for the stragglers in the nuc box, it is useful to put a sloping board up against the hive entrance, and shake or brush the stragglers on to it. After a few minutes they will just walk up the board and into the entrance.

 

[masimcox]

Do I just put the whole super on with all 11 frames?

 

[MerryBee]

Do I just put the whole super on with all 11 frames?

yes. If you leave empty space the bees will build "free" comb in the box, attached to the crown board.

 

[masimcox]

Thanks merrybee, all done now, not too much hassle, still a few angry bees about following the re-housing yesterday. Thanks for your help.

 

[Obee1]

Do I just put the whole super on with all 11 frames?

As its your first year your super will have to be all foundation which means the bees have to use honey to build combs. After extracting the honey (or the bees eating it!) those combs are used in the supers next year. You will find that drawn combs are a very valuable asset.

 

[MerryBee]

Thanks merrybee, all done now, not too much hassle, still a few angry bees about following the re-housing yesterday. Thanks for your help.

If your weather has been anything like ours, bad temper may be due to that. Bees do not like thundery weather.

 

[masimcox]

Hi everyone, just an update, new hive is going well, super place on last week is having comb drawn on the frames but as the weather has been a little rubbish, not as fast as previously.

Having joined the local BKA group, we went to their first beginners open hive session at the weekend and met up with our mentor, who is one of the groups trainers. He is coming this weekend to look at our hive, we have also signed up for the beginners training course.

We also signed up to bee base to register our colony, feeling much happier now.

Thanks for everyone's help so far, it's been very much appreciated.

Mark

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Hi everyone, just an update, new hive is going well, super place on last week is having comb drawn on the frames but as the weather has been a little rubbish, not as fast as previously.

Having joined the local BKA group, we went to their first beginners open hive session at the weekend and met up with our mentor, who is one of the groups trainers. He is coming this weekend to look at our hive, we have also signed up for the beginners training course.

We also signed up to bee base to register our colony, feeling much happier now.

Thanks for everyone's help so far, it's been very much appreciated.

Mark

Doesn't membership of your bka automatically result in beebase registration?

 

[Swarm]

Auto BDI with our association membership but Beebase registry is a personal choice, it's up to the individual. All new membership details are passed on to inspectors.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Auto BDI with our association membership but Beebase registry is a personal choice

Same here - members are told to register ASAP once they receive their bees, but in the end, it's up to them.

 

[masimcox]

From what I remember from the chat I had with the membership Sec. They did pass on information to the SBI but registration was up to me. Personally I think it's free advice, cost nothing and may well be useful in notifying diseases in the area etc. A good thing I think.

 

[masimcox]

First visit of my mentor

So this morning was our mentors first visit to our new hive. Comments were good. Strong hive, lots of bees, new eggs, grubs spotted, plenty of brood, no queen cells, about 4 queen cups. He suggested we remove the queen excluder and have a one and a half brood box and because of the poor weather he suggested feeding for a few days so we put a feeder on. We also saw the queen for the first time which was great. She now has a yellow dot on her to make her easier to spot in the future. I got stung, own fault, small gap in zips, won't do that again!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

She now has a yellow dot on her to make her easier to spot in the future.

Forgotten his white pen at home had he?