New Colony

[Raceyboy]

Hi, just introduced a new colony into my hive, it has gone extremely well, the bees have settled down very quickly. I noticed half a dozen bees, rolling about on the roof, is this normal or are they just rolling about laughing at me?? lol. I have a brood box, excluder, crown board (blocked) and an empty super on top, this is because i intend putting a feeder on ........ In your opinions is this the right way to go about it?

 

[Skyhook]

Not sure about the dying bees, will wait for wiser minds.., but not sure why you have the QX on. I suspect they will just look at it as an awkward space under the crown board and fill it with brace comb. I would take it off at the next inspection, and replace it when supering- which may not be until next year now, depending on the size of the colony.

Othe than that, congratulations on your new family!

 

[Ed Woods]

Only one colony! Soon be a dozen or so

Bees are a bit like busses - nothing for ages...

 

[Raceyboy]

Just been watching them for 20 mins, there's about half a dozen bees crawling on the floor, is that normal?

 

[Otleybee]

Just been watching them for 20 mins, there's about half a dozen bees crawling on the floor, is that normal?

Yes it is fine. Just keep watching and in time you will see all sorts. Wasps attacking, bumble bees flying in, swarms emerging, mating flights leaving, guard bees going about their business, dead bees being carried off.

The whole thing is fascinating.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I'd remove the excluder too. If you want to keep it with the hive it can go on top of the super - directly under the roof.

A small entrance is required for a small colony. it will help them defend the hive and keep wasps away. In Spetember/October a mouse guard can go over the entrance.

Ensure you don't spill syrup from the feeder over the hive as this attracts wasps. You now need to ensure that the colony builds up with with adequate stores for the winter.

Varroa treatment will be needed too. There is no reason why you can't start now but I would wait a couple of weeks for them to get settled.

Enjoy your bees.

 

[Raceyboy]

Well today couldn't have gone better, bees have settled down well, noticed quite alot of pollen being brought to the hive ............

 

[Ed Woods]

I got a new colony on Sunday - placed in a Nuc box with 4 frames and a frame feeder. Fed them on Wednesday with Kilo sugar water and again yesterday - they have drawn out nearly every frame now.

Large amounts of pollen being taken in - including during this rain - doesn't seem to have stopped them foraging

May be 3 or more weeks before you see the brood and know you have a laying queen - resist the temptation to peek every few days