Which brood box where??

[Heather]

I have a colony that is queenless. Large brood box, loads of foul bees (understandable) no brood so no queen or laying workers. 2 full supers also.

I want to join it to a queenright swarm that is laying well. I like to put the queen right brood box under - but the 2 colonies are only 50ft apart.

Will the queenless ones go back to their original site after they have eaten through the newspaper or will the Q pheromones keep them on the new area?

Or any other suggestions?

 

[susbees]

Ensuring that the swarm has developed far enough so as to have open and sealed brood checked for signs of foul broods and varroa levels acceptable...

...then the theory is that by the time they have eaten their way through then the bottom colony will be home. I don't give it a thought.

 

[Heather]

Cheers-
will give it a go- have 3 queenless a...y big colonies and 3 developed clean swarms- I know their source...

I am sick of being chased down the garden by bees and sick of trying to requeen in this pigging awful year. ..and we still have a hosepipe ban.

 

[richardbees]

Heather,

I find uniting with a sheet of newspaper is one of the few reliable techniques with beekeeping.; In my experience they always adjust to the entrance of the new hive below.

richard

 

[Heather]

Yep, always do the newspaper way- but it is going to be fun lifting a heavy grotty load of bees and their supers onto the unsuspecting nice hive - and I wont let guilt get in the way!

 

[Finman]

.
And you do not know what to do? (old fart)

Where is Oliver?

 

[Heather]

Who are you calling an old fart- you still not been to visit me!!! Then we see who is old!!

Oliver is probably saving the world with army manoeuvres

I know how to join!! but the 2 are close together and I dont want queenless pigs of bees back on the old site where they came from- they have stung enough workmen at my new house I expect the final bill to go higher. The poor plumber was in a hooded top on a rare hot day- just to protect himself, and the other chap was handing him equipment through a window.. He got stung instead

 

[oliver90owner]

and I dont want queenless pigs of bees back on the old site where they came from

They will be if you are moving them that far, especially if supers have to be removed.

The simple,(oh, sorry - strategic) solution is a nuc box with drawn frames on the old site and deal with that later. Back into the jungle with camo fatigues, to avoid the hostiles. BFN.

 

[Heather]

Yep, good thinking- - my brain numb from other activities (Son's wedding etc).
Will do that today in the one day weather gap....

 

[george]

Heather the good news is the hosepipe ban has been lifted !!
G

 

[Heather]

Damn, and there I was using a bucket on the temporary 30ft lake in my garden to water the hanging baskets- I felt so righteous obeying the ban!