Robbo8916
Field Bee
- Joined
- Aug 9, 2012
- Messages
- 521
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Tyldesley, Gtr Manchester
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 2
Well, they are at it again!
Sat and watched the entrances for a while and the bees have found the balsam! Yippee!
However when I went through the brood box, spotted my (very well marked I must say) Queen, eggs, brood in all stages, lovely laying pattern. I found TWO sealed and charged swarm cells.
I took them down to buy myself a couple of days. One had a large lavae in it, one had a pupa. The bees grabbed that before I had chance and flew away with it.
They have three undrawn frames of foundation! So why the hell are they still trying to swarm?
Anyway checked the nuc, they are beautiful calm bees as they used to be. No smoke required, very chilled, slowly mooching around the frames. Queen seen, looks like the brood I gave them did give them the required boost in numbers. Working away nicely.
So what are my options with the main hive? They are on 8 frames in total. 4 brood and the others of pollen and stores/unripened nectar.
I did consider using the hard working nuc bees as frame drawers, and then switching them for foundation when drawn. One frame at a time, giving the lazy main hive bees somewhere to store and for the queen to lay?
Or do I just swap the foundation for brand new and put it in between brood frames? Or between brood and stores? (The foundation has been in there for months untouched)
I am starting to question things........
Sat and watched the entrances for a while and the bees have found the balsam! Yippee!
However when I went through the brood box, spotted my (very well marked I must say) Queen, eggs, brood in all stages, lovely laying pattern. I found TWO sealed and charged swarm cells.
I took them down to buy myself a couple of days. One had a large lavae in it, one had a pupa. The bees grabbed that before I had chance and flew away with it.
They have three undrawn frames of foundation! So why the hell are they still trying to swarm?
Anyway checked the nuc, they are beautiful calm bees as they used to be. No smoke required, very chilled, slowly mooching around the frames. Queen seen, looks like the brood I gave them did give them the required boost in numbers. Working away nicely.
So what are my options with the main hive? They are on 8 frames in total. 4 brood and the others of pollen and stores/unripened nectar.
I did consider using the hard working nuc bees as frame drawers, and then switching them for foundation when drawn. One frame at a time, giving the lazy main hive bees somewhere to store and for the queen to lay?
Or do I just swap the foundation for brand new and put it in between brood frames? Or between brood and stores? (The foundation has been in there for months untouched)
I am starting to question things........