steve_e
House Bee
- Joined
- Jan 19, 2010
- Messages
- 251
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- East Sussex
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3
I did a pretty thorough inspection of my three hives today - first pull apart and clean up of the year as it was 20 degrees and lovely.
As part of this I changed out the OMF floors, using an extra one for the first one, then cleaning up that one, replacing that one in the second hive etc.
Afterwards I noticed the bees on hive number 1 seemed to have reversed, with a small cloud orienting themselves at the back.
Only later, when I popped out to check on things did I see that this was still going on. Getting down on hands and knees at the front I realised what I'd done and replaced the floor upside down. There was a lovely big entrance at the back and a totally ineffective entrance block at the front (since the entrance block was underneath the mesh floor).
I guess they'd have survived but the huge entrance at the back might have let more than mice in - I think your average domestic cat could have set up home quite easily...
Just thought I'd better mention it in case any other new beekeepers are as cack handed as me.
As part of this I changed out the OMF floors, using an extra one for the first one, then cleaning up that one, replacing that one in the second hive etc.
Afterwards I noticed the bees on hive number 1 seemed to have reversed, with a small cloud orienting themselves at the back.
Only later, when I popped out to check on things did I see that this was still going on. Getting down on hands and knees at the front I realised what I'd done and replaced the floor upside down. There was a lovely big entrance at the back and a totally ineffective entrance block at the front (since the entrance block was underneath the mesh floor).
I guess they'd have survived but the huge entrance at the back might have let more than mice in - I think your average domestic cat could have set up home quite easily...
Just thought I'd better mention it in case any other new beekeepers are as cack handed as me.
