Ape Resi
New Bee
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2011
- Messages
- 39
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Bangor, Gwynedd
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1 and a swarm
hello!
I received a new swarm this week and i what a question...or two....
I started beekeeping last June 2010 when I purchased a nuc form the local beekeeping association.
this week I received a swarm - I collected on Tuesday. the swarm was in a nuc box and had been there overnight.
On Tuesday night, I placed it in the brood box. (am i right to think I should have opened the nuc and just left them to 'naturalise'??) the bees were very 'sticky' like they had velcro paws! and they fanned alot - making a right racket but were v docile.
On Wednesday morning my father in law called me at work to say there were 100s bees on the roof (north facing one) of the house - as he could see bees going in/out of new hive - we assumed they were another swarm, it is a very common activity here!
He told me today (saturday) that the bees went away every night form the roof but returned the following day but not today - but we have had rain yesterday....
now, I just looked at both my hives.
Hive 1 (June 2010) Is live and kicking - big time - with plenty of brood and plenty honey. The hive is on 1.5 brood box, the brood is in the brood box, whilst only honey capped and pollen in the .5 box, queen excluder then a super with almost full super of honey - think only 2-3 frames as just drawn. they were quite lively by now so I 'retreated'...
Hive 2 (2011 swarm) has no eggs and some honey uncapped. have I lost the queen? ah, also no drones. Plenty of bees on the mesh floor.
now should I move one of the brood frames in hive 2 form Hive 1?
Shall I feed Hive 2 to give them a boost?
should i just leave until next week end and see how they get on?
look forward to your advice!
thanks, R
I received a new swarm this week and i what a question...or two....
I started beekeeping last June 2010 when I purchased a nuc form the local beekeeping association.
this week I received a swarm - I collected on Tuesday. the swarm was in a nuc box and had been there overnight.
On Tuesday night, I placed it in the brood box. (am i right to think I should have opened the nuc and just left them to 'naturalise'??) the bees were very 'sticky' like they had velcro paws! and they fanned alot - making a right racket but were v docile.
On Wednesday morning my father in law called me at work to say there were 100s bees on the roof (north facing one) of the house - as he could see bees going in/out of new hive - we assumed they were another swarm, it is a very common activity here!
He told me today (saturday) that the bees went away every night form the roof but returned the following day but not today - but we have had rain yesterday....
now, I just looked at both my hives.
Hive 1 (June 2010) Is live and kicking - big time - with plenty of brood and plenty honey. The hive is on 1.5 brood box, the brood is in the brood box, whilst only honey capped and pollen in the .5 box, queen excluder then a super with almost full super of honey - think only 2-3 frames as just drawn. they were quite lively by now so I 'retreated'...
Hive 2 (2011 swarm) has no eggs and some honey uncapped. have I lost the queen? ah, also no drones. Plenty of bees on the mesh floor.
now should I move one of the brood frames in hive 2 form Hive 1?
Shall I feed Hive 2 to give them a boost?
should i just leave until next week end and see how they get on?
look forward to your advice!
thanks, R