And so it all began...
Last Wednesday we collected our first swarm. First hive. First-time beekeepers. I'm sure we all remember it, but there was that moment when we took the call and we knew it would all start here.
We had read the books, talked to the local beekeepers and understood what we should do. But real life doesn't go like that.
Firstly the weather was so hot that we were worried about overheating in the hive. After consultation with beekeepers, and on this forum, we were able to think through for ourselves what to do next. That was the best advice - listen to others, ask questions but most important of all get to know your bees and learn what they need (not what you want to do!)
So in the first week we have
1) opened the entrance block to get air in the hive
2) closed the entrance block
3) added the super to feed the bees after 3 days
4) removed the feeder after 4 days because the bees didn't need our sugar solution
5) removed the super which was used for feeding
6) added back the super and some frames...
... and so the learning continues
Today with temperatures abnormally high, we found the bees were all clustered in the roof space to cool down. So we have finally added back the super with some frames for them to draw.
So apart from being nervous first time parents, what have we learned.
1) bees know what they are doing, even if we don't
2) there are lots of ways to manage bees, and we must learn to make wise and educated decisions for ourselves
3) Aren't bees fun!
Roll on week 2!
Last Wednesday we collected our first swarm. First hive. First-time beekeepers. I'm sure we all remember it, but there was that moment when we took the call and we knew it would all start here.
We had read the books, talked to the local beekeepers and understood what we should do. But real life doesn't go like that.
Firstly the weather was so hot that we were worried about overheating in the hive. After consultation with beekeepers, and on this forum, we were able to think through for ourselves what to do next. That was the best advice - listen to others, ask questions but most important of all get to know your bees and learn what they need (not what you want to do!)
So in the first week we have
1) opened the entrance block to get air in the hive
2) closed the entrance block
3) added the super to feed the bees after 3 days
4) removed the feeder after 4 days because the bees didn't need our sugar solution
5) removed the super which was used for feeding
6) added back the super and some frames...
... and so the learning continues
Today with temperatures abnormally high, we found the bees were all clustered in the roof space to cool down. So we have finally added back the super with some frames for them to draw.
So apart from being nervous first time parents, what have we learned.
1) bees know what they are doing, even if we don't
2) there are lots of ways to manage bees, and we must learn to make wise and educated decisions for ourselves
3) Aren't bees fun!
Roll on week 2!
