Mymwood
New Bee
- Joined
- Apr 24, 2011
- Messages
- 52
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Gwent
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 3
New beek. I now have 3 hives, one bought at auction and two from nucs. Put them on our small farm and then suffered the anxst of choosing a bad site where they few right across my daughters all-weather horse arena, result horse stung, me stung, .... bees have to move, and after just a week!
Bee inspector came, chap called Dave, was a real pleasure to watch a pro go through the three hives, smooth, quiet, gentle, well practiced, not at all like me! We found all three queens and the result was good for all three colonies.
Then came the re-location. Sought local advice, so moved up to a friends little orchard. Did the move on my own, which was challenging, and had no leaks or disasters. It was quite worrying but seemed to go ok. I had been feeding the nucs ambrosia so I continued this.
The auction bought colony was the one that did the stinging at home. When the insp checked them they started off a little aggresive but soon settled down as they were smoked. As they were rather congested he agreed with a suggestion that the supplier had made, that I add a 1/2 brood (super) above the brood box, to encourage the brood to expand. This we did. A few days later I movd them to the orchard. As it was a new area, i gave them a syrup filled feeder (wooden type) above the honey super. So, now we have from the bottom, varroa floor, brood box, brood super, queen excl, honey super, feeder, crown board, roof.
8 days after move I went to open them today, which is the reason for this post, to gather thoughts. Today, bit rainy, very little traffic to and from the entrance. A couple of days after installing there was a lot of traffic. Checks on nucs went fine, even found one queen. Then came the established colony...
Smoked entrance, waited couple of minutes. Opened up. Honey super filling nicely, but then... on checking the 1/2 brood I found it had been well drawn but then filled with stores!! The feeder was empty by the way. No brood at all in the 1/2 brood box. Just drawn comb and store. By this time they were not pleased with my presence. It was starting to rain so I decided to call a halt before looking into the brood box. Gloves were picking up stings as was the suit. Noise was escalating as well.
I'm guessing I shouldnt have fed them the syrup, as this encouraged them to store it, and as the super was the easiest place thats what they used? So I need a plan. Remove that super and start again? Put an escape under it to draw the bees down first (as the Q could be amongst the frames) maybe? Or insert a fresh super above the brood, raise this store filled super and put an escape under it (will the Q do through the escape??). Then once the bees are all down one level, put the Q excluder above the newly inserted 1/2 brood box.
What do you think? Its no wonder people find this hobby so absorbing. Logical problem solving challenges, husbandry and a crop to harvest. Great fun!!
Martyn
Bee inspector came, chap called Dave, was a real pleasure to watch a pro go through the three hives, smooth, quiet, gentle, well practiced, not at all like me! We found all three queens and the result was good for all three colonies.
Then came the re-location. Sought local advice, so moved up to a friends little orchard. Did the move on my own, which was challenging, and had no leaks or disasters. It was quite worrying but seemed to go ok. I had been feeding the nucs ambrosia so I continued this.
The auction bought colony was the one that did the stinging at home. When the insp checked them they started off a little aggresive but soon settled down as they were smoked. As they were rather congested he agreed with a suggestion that the supplier had made, that I add a 1/2 brood (super) above the brood box, to encourage the brood to expand. This we did. A few days later I movd them to the orchard. As it was a new area, i gave them a syrup filled feeder (wooden type) above the honey super. So, now we have from the bottom, varroa floor, brood box, brood super, queen excl, honey super, feeder, crown board, roof.
8 days after move I went to open them today, which is the reason for this post, to gather thoughts. Today, bit rainy, very little traffic to and from the entrance. A couple of days after installing there was a lot of traffic. Checks on nucs went fine, even found one queen. Then came the established colony...
Smoked entrance, waited couple of minutes. Opened up. Honey super filling nicely, but then... on checking the 1/2 brood I found it had been well drawn but then filled with stores!! The feeder was empty by the way. No brood at all in the 1/2 brood box. Just drawn comb and store. By this time they were not pleased with my presence. It was starting to rain so I decided to call a halt before looking into the brood box. Gloves were picking up stings as was the suit. Noise was escalating as well.
I'm guessing I shouldnt have fed them the syrup, as this encouraged them to store it, and as the super was the easiest place thats what they used? So I need a plan. Remove that super and start again? Put an escape under it to draw the bees down first (as the Q could be amongst the frames) maybe? Or insert a fresh super above the brood, raise this store filled super and put an escape under it (will the Q do through the escape??). Then once the bees are all down one level, put the Q excluder above the newly inserted 1/2 brood box.
What do you think? Its no wonder people find this hobby so absorbing. Logical problem solving challenges, husbandry and a crop to harvest. Great fun!!
Martyn
Still like to know everyones take on drones and bee escapes... not wishing to adulterate your thread
