Taking over bee duties

[beewade]

hi everyone, just taken over looking after my dads bees as he doesnt have the time to manage them properly. Only one hive was surviving from winter so I did my first inspection yesterday and thought id write up what I saw/did on here.

Opened the hive up (National-one brood box, no supers) and removed the outer frame which was already covered in bees and some capped stores. Went through all of the frames but could not spot the queen, lot of brood and stores on 9/10 frames and drone cells seen on central frames, no queen cells. It seemed overcrowded and they had built comb to the floor, sticking the frames to the floor. I added a QE and super.

Is this the correct thing to be doing/what else would you recommend? thanks Ben.

 

[beenovice]

Sounds good to me. Keep an eye out for queen cells in the coming days / weeks. Particularly if overcrowded.

 

[theeggman]

To the forum, enjoy the ride.

There are a lot of beeks with a lot more experience than me on here so I shall let them reply to you.

Beekeeping is terrifying, frustrating and so enjoyable when it goes right, which it does more often as you gain experience.

Find time to just stand and watch the hive entrance it's better than the TV.

Tim.

 

[REDWOOD]

Putting a super on was correct but does the queen have enough space to expand, if there are frames full of stores remove and replace with comb or foundation but don't break the brood nest or/and add another brood box. You said queen not seen but only brood, did you see eggs as this is a good indication that the queen is probably in the hive

 

[REDWOOD]

To the forum, enjoy the ride.



Beekeeping is terrifying, frustrating and so enjoyable when it goes right, which it does more often as you gain experience.



Tim.

You will get used to it lol

 

[Cazza]

You said queen not seen but only brood, did you see eggs as this is a good indication that the queen is probably in the hive

It's easier and more efficient NOT to bother looking for the queen unless you have to find her. Better to check for eggs, if they are present, the queen has been there recently. Much easier than constantly playing "find the lady."

Good luck and have fun.
Cazza

 

[beewade]

Thanks for the replies. There was a mix of sealed brood and uncapped with what i presumed to be eggs in. I shall check again at the weekend that there is definitely space for laying, if not I shall add new foundation where there is only food stores. In a national brood box is it best to have 10 or 11 frames? there are currently 11 but space between does seem tight when putting the frames back in. cheers

 

[enrico]

Where are you bee wade? Are you close to knighton? I am there if you want any help
E

 

[beewade]

Im just outside Newport so unfortunately not that close, thanks for the offer though

 

[REDWOOD]

It's easier and more efficient NOT to bother looking for the queen unless you have to find her. Better to check for eggs, if they are present, the queen has been there recently. Much easier than constantly playing "find the lady."

Good luck and have fun.
Cazza

+1

 

[beewade]

Putting a super on was correct but does the queen have enough space to expand, if there are frames full of stores remove and replace with comb or foundation but don't break the brood nest or/and add another brood box. You said queen not seen but only brood, did you see eggs as this is a good indication that the queen is probably in the hive

Thanks for the reply. what should I do with the frame of stores once its been removed and replaced with foundation? Trying not to waste anything

 

[Davelin]

In a national brood box is it best to have 10 or 11 frames? there are currently 11 but space between does seem tight when putting the frames back in. cheers

Normally 11, you can get 12 in when they are brand new so if 11 are tight they have probably not been pushed close enough together.
With 11 some people put a thinner dummy board in one end. I squeeze them up and leave an equal gap either end.

I'd be tempted to add another brood box if they are as full as it sounds.

 

[beewade]

thanks for the clarification, was a bit scared they were getting too cramped up. Do you recommend using a second deep brood box or just using a super without a QE between? cheers

 

[BeeJayBee]

what should I do with the frame of stores once its been removed and replaced with foundation? Trying not to waste anything

If you're sure they aren't going to need it then you could eat it - scrape the honey off and let it run through a fine sieve. You'll have some wax left over which can be cleaned, melted, and recycled.

If you think that this, or another colony, might need a boost of stores later on then freeze it for a couple of days (to kill any wax moth eggs and larvae) then store somewhere safe, probably inside a sealed plastic bag where no bees will find it.

 

[Davelin]

thanks for the clarification, was a bit scared they were getting too cramped up. Do you recommend using a second deep brood box or just using a super without a QE between? cheers

Both methods are used, up to you. I avoid the need for 2 brood boxes by using 14x12

 

[REDWOOD]

Thanks for the reply. what should I do with the frame of stores once its been removed and replaced with foundation? Trying not to waste anything

Store it in a container and keep it cool and feed back to the bees when needed