Roof off :(

[chicken]

I have been down to my hives and one of the roofs is partly off as well as the crownboard

it must have happened over night, and now I think I have probably lost a colony- no signs of life even though it is just under 10 Celsius.

I am going to suit up in a bit and go sort it out...

 

[pargyle]

I have been down to my hives and one of the roofs is partly off as well as the crownboard

it must have happened over night, and now I think I have probably lost a colony- no signs of life even though it is just under 10 Celsius.

I am going to suit up in a bit and go sort it out...

Stolen ???

 

[Edwardking]

Good luck - let us know how you get on. Who / what could have shifted the roof?

 

[chicken]

Good luck - let us know how you get on. Who / what could have shifted the roof?

That's my worry. There was a huge lump of rock on the top.



Will update after I have been back down. I have covered the gap with a heavyweight blanket for now.

 

[chicken]

Stolen ???

No, all kit still accounted for- just weird roof/crownboard arrangement.

Will amend if I go down and find the brood box empty

 

[pargyle]

No, all kit still accounted for- just weird roof/crownboard arrangement.

Will amend if I go down and find the brood box empty

I really hope not but it's an odd situation ! Good luck ...

 

[enrico]

If it is vandals.... Take care... They may come back, you may have to look for a new place to keep them? Fingers crossed for you
E

 

[Tom Bick]

I have had a couple of problems with vandals in the past and sadly a result of urban beekeeping. What I have found out is they may return once or twice getting more adventurous each time but never more than three as by that time I assume the bees have sorted them out. The important bit for me is making sure the hives are well strapped down. Hope its just an isolated incident.

 

[chicken]

They are at the end of my very long garden with no rear access so not too many worries about vandals...

Right, I have been down, a corner of the roof has failed due to the large rock I placed on the top. The metal reinforcer has bent, and the screw has come out. This then made the crownboard slip out of place- It has probably been happening slowly.

I have bent the roof back as well as I could, replaced the crownboard (peered inside as it is a glass one) and generally made my bees angry. Will have to fix the roof properly soon.

I used smoke- makes me feel better as I am actually quite scared of them up close. I appreciate that this might have been what angered them

 

[itma]

They are probably peeved because of the open roof!

Lots of things can be pressed into service as a temporary roof.
A roughly cut piece of Kingspan for instance. (With a small rock on top!)
Or an upside down gravel tray (giant kitty litter tray).
Even a binbag taped in place will provide waterproofing.


And you probably need a spare roof as part of your artificial swarm kit...

 

[pargyle]

Well... that's a relief then .. amazing what 'natural causes' can contrive to do !!