Possible new keeper

[Loulipopz]

Hi everyone,
long story short I purchased a beehive and did a beginners course in September 2019 with the intensions of starting up as a hobby in the next season. However covid hit and my local group were not selling nucs to beginners due to the inability to support us. i decided to place my hive in the garden where I planned to keep it as a decorative piece until I could purchase my first colony. yesterday I noticed a few scout bees investigating the hive. I’m not expecting much to come of it due to it literally being a clean new hive (no old drawn up comb or food available) what are the oddes they would return with the family and is there anything I can do to entice them. I also feel like I’ve forgotten a lot of my course due to the amount of time that’s passed I still have my notes and book which I will be re reading but any advice and help would be greatly appreciated.
thanks

 

[Erichalfbee]

Hi and welcome. Very pretty hive.
To make it more enticing block the mesh floor off underneath so it’s nice and dark. Putting your inspection tray in should do it
If it has a super take it off.
Make sure all the crownboard holes are blocked off.
Put a couple of waxed frames in and dot each top bar a couple of times ( no more) with lemon grass essential oil.
Close the front entrance down to a a few centimetres only.
Put the hive where you are going to keep it.
Good luck

 

[Loulipopz]

Thankyou
I will give that a try you have been very helpful! fingers crossed it works I will keep you posted

 

[madasafish]

Where are you based? Someone local may be able to help. if they know the area..

 

[Loulipopz]

Thanks I’m from oswaldtwistle Lancashire UK
when removing the supers would you reccomend just the supers or the outer frame too

 

[Erichalfbee]

Thanks I’m from oswaldtwistle Lancashire UK
when removing the supers would you reccomend just the supers or the outer frame too

Yes take the lift off too.
Or you could leave the supers on but put the crownboard on top of the brood so that the bees have no access to them. That way you can preserve the integrity of your garden decoration, so to speak.

 

[polomadh]

Thanks I’m from oswaldtwistle Lancashire UK
when removing the supers would you reccomend just the supers or the outer frame too

Hi, are you part of the East Lancs group, if so drop a note onto the facebook page, I’m sure we can help. It’s a pain not being able to do face to face apiary sessions at the moment, the covid local restrictions in Burnley being only a part of the issues. Hopefully we will get going again soon.

 

[Loulipopz]

Hi, are you part of the East Lancs group, if so drop a note onto the facebook page, I’m sure we can help. It’s a pain not being able to do face to face apiary sessions at the moment, the covid local restrictions in Burnley being only a part of the issues. Hopefully we will get going again soon.

Hi yes I joined as a county member due to not having bees with the plan to upgrade when I can buy a Nuc but then I noticed scouts so if they do decide to move in I will be upgrading my membership what’s the name of the Facebook group Im on a few bee groups on Facebook but I don’t think ive joined the east lancs group