What did you do in the Apiary today?

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi Emily it’s when you want to combine 2 small colonies. You don’t need to consider which is queen right or queenless. Here’s the steps:
-Colony in existing brood box is rationalised (brood frames and best stores) to the entrance end of the brood box.
-Place newspaper over the frames and tuck it over the frame furthest from the entrance and down onto the floor ‘Z’ shape
-Line the rest of the box with a piece of newspaper so it comes up the other side
-Colony 2 e.g. a Nuc - Place in the remaining space so it butts onto the last frame from the other colony and on top of the newspaper lining the rest of the box
-If there’s a super (usually unlikely if 2 small colonies but could be if a colony has swarmed) , put a sheet and excluder beneath the super

I have done this a couple of times, works well and saves having to use 2 brood boxes

Elaine

Might save on using two brood boxes (which isn't really a big deal anyway) but seems to be a heck of a lot of fiddle and faff for what is in essence a pretty straightforward and easy procedure.

 

[madasafish]

I’ve just united two colonies in nucs by putting one nuc on top of the other with newspaper

Air freshener works quicker

 

[Erichalfbee]

Air freshener works quicker

I know but I’ve never had the nerve to do it. Persuade me please

 

[madasafish]

I know but I’ve never had the nerve to do it. Persuade me please

Take Air Freshener.
(I use AirWick 6 in 1 with100% Natural Propellant "Premium Fragrance, acts in seconds, lasts up to 1 hour, Inspired by Natural OIls, " ) (Ivory Freesia Bloom but other scents will work just as well)

Spray on top of frames of lower colony . Then take upper colony ,tilt to one side and spray on bottom of frames. Duration of spray ? I use 4-6 seconds.
Temporarily blocks sense of smell. Bees go all buzzy.

Unite.
Walk away.
Leave 24 hours
Done.

No faffing round especially in windy days when paper tries to fly away..

Also used to add one (or more) frame of bees to a colony. (Spray both sides of frame and colony top frames plus gap where frame is to be inserted.)

 

[Murox]

I know but I’ve never had the nerve to do it. Persuade me please

Ya, me neither.

 

[gregior]

Had a peep in the top supers of some of mine today. It may come as a shock to the Southerners here but it's been really dry up here until a couple of days ago when we had a good 3 hour spell of heavy rain. The weather now is perfect for a strong flow with warm humid and calm conditions and the nectar is now pouring in from the bramble and clover.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Take Air Freshener.
(I use AirWick 6 in 1 with100% Natural Propellant "Premium Fragrance, acts in seconds, lasts up to 1 hour, Inspired by Natural OIls, " ) (Ivory Freesia Bloom but other scents will work just as well)

Spray on top of frames of lower colony . Then take upper colony ,tilt to one side and spray on bottom of frames. Duration of spray ? I use 4-6 seconds.
Temporarily blocks sense of smell. Bees go all buzzy.

Unite.
Walk away.
Leave 24 hours
Done.

No faffing round especially in windy days when paper tries to fly away..

Also used to add one (or more) frame of bees to a colony. (Spray both sides of frame and colony top frames plus gap where frame is to be inserted.)

Thanks. I might try it. Nothing ventured.....

 

[Erichalfbee]

Just sitting in the sunshine and the wild bees at the bottom of the garden swarmed. If they are still there later will try to get them but they are pretty high up. I’m sure they have already thrown a prime which I think we got in our bait hive.

 

[Boston Bees]

Got a call about a swarm so went and got it into a nuc box (fingers crossed it's still there).

The swarm was hanging in an apple tree. It had come from a colony which has built combs 20ft or so up from the branches of a nearby cherry tree. You can see the white combs from the ground. Indeed, some of the comb has recently fallen off and the homeowner has collected it in a pile.

Should I leave this nest where it is? Or take the risk to life and limb and go up a ladder to try to hive it (moderate risk - it's a fairly solid tree)? What would you do?

Goodness knows why they have chosen to nest under a tree branch rather than in one of the many air-bricks or chimneys nearby.

 

[user 819]

I have only tried AF once and it failed they killed the Q, for me if I have to it's still the local rag to unite.

 

[Curly green finger's]

I'm off to sort swarms out I'm told there are 4 one on the side of a house and the rest in bait hives, I'll know if there mine because mine are all marked white.
Is it a day for swarming or what?

 

[user 819]

I simply don't do ladders for swarm collecting, it's high enough to break your neck.

 

[Boston Bees]

I simply don't do ladders for swarm collecting, it's high enough to break your neck.

You are right. I will decline the 20ft-high cherry tree nest (the owner seems happy to keep it anyway as it doesn't bother him).

I guess I will be back for more swarms to this garden in future! Well, until the cold kills the colony this winter, silly things.

 

[elainemary]

Not really, v quick

Might save on using two brood boxes (which isn't really a big deal anyway) but seems to be a heck of a lot of fiddle and faff for what is in essence a pretty straightforward and easy procedure.

Not at all, takes maybe a minute longer to wrap the newspaper. And you don’t need to spend time after the unite consolidating 2 boxes down to 1

 

[E&MBees]

Hi Emily it’s when you want to combine 2 small colonies. You don’t need to consider which is queen right or queenless. Here’s the steps:
-Colony in existing brood box is rationalised (brood frames and best stores) to the entrance end of the brood box.
-Place newspaper over the frames and tuck it over the frame furthest from the entrance and down onto the floor ‘Z’ shape
-Line the rest of the box with a piece of newspaper so it comes up the other side
-Colony 2 e.g. a Nuc - Place in the remaining space so it butts onto the last frame from the other colony and on top of the newspaper lining the rest of the box
-If there’s a super (usually unlikely if 2 small colonies but could be if a colony has swarmed) , put a sheet and excluder beneath the super

I have done this a couple of times, works well and saves having to use 2 brood boxes

Elaine

Thanks Elaine. That’s really useful.
Emily

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You don’t need to consider which is queen right or queenless. Here’s the steps:

Bit lost at that statement.
Do you meant you don't know whether both have a queen? I can't think of any time where you would consider trying to unite two queenright colonies unless you didn't care which queen won (or whether both get killed)

 

[E&MBees]

Might save on using two brood boxes (which isn't really a big deal anyway) but seems to be a heck of a lot of fiddle and faff for what is in essence a pretty straightforward and easy procedure.

There is nothing wrong in finding out about different ways of doing things.

 

[madasafish]

There is nothing wrong in finding out about different ways of doing things.

Said the actress to the Bishop

Or Boris to Wives #1,#2 or#3..

So sorry .. I'll get my coat.

 

[BugsInABox]

Said the actress to the Bishop

Or Boris to Wives #1,#2 or#3..

So sorry .. I'll get my coat.

Does anyone else think it odd the number of children our prime minister has is secret?

 

[Boston Bees]

Does anyone else think it odd the number of children our prime minister has is secret?

I think the number of children he has is secret even to him.