Day 4..........
Normal drill, 8.15 from the lodge to Chris's, cup of tea and go through the plans for the day ahead. Overcast and drizzle on and off 8 degrees.
First job in the home apiary is to go through the 6 colonies that were enhanced on Monday with the unites and surplus bees from the colonies that were reduced in size for low maintenance as they were destined for the out apiaries 70 miles away.
These 6 consisted of many boxes of bees, 6,7 even 8. The queen was in a brood on the bottom along with all the old brood (capped), some empty comb (space to lay) and some stores. Next was the QE, on some there would be another brood with old brood in and stores, then a box or 2 of just stores (either a couple of broods or 3 or 4 supers) and lastly on top was a brood with all the young brood and some stores. By old brood I am talking capped, and by young brood I mean in all stages but uncapped.
Our task with these hives was now to make some queen starter colonies, these were to be a sealed 5 frames colony (the bees cant get out), these were to consist of 2 empty drawn frames, 1 frame with pollen and 1 frame with stores, then our queen cell bar frame with our grafted larvae would go in the middle, a dummy on the end and then shake a load more bees into the space, young bees, house bees, bees from supers, bees that would know they are queenless and had the resources available to create a new one. The grafted frames would spend 18 hours in these starter hives before going into the top of the finisher hives, the big stacks previously mentioned where they would go into the top box, along with all the bees and frames. Right time now to let the hives settle for a few hours whilst we hit the apiary trail again.
First stop was an apiary containing 25 nuc's which all had new queens, we were to check the new queen was accepted, laying and had space and stores to expand. 24 were, 1 wasnt and it was decided to leave her another week.
Next apiary had 9 nuc's the same as above, result 8 yes and 1 no
Next was one of the over wintering apiaries where amongst the hives were another 7 nuc's to check all the same as above except 100% result this time.
Load a hive up which was destined for home apiary as it was to be one of Chris's breeder queen colonies as this little lot had produced nearly 400lb of honey last year and Chris was keen to have some of her off spring..........
Back at base and unload the breeder colony, then cup of tea and lunch.
Right then, now its out with the grafting tools, 4 frames of 20 cups and set ourselves up at the grafting lab, I mean kitchen table.
A frame containing very young larvae was taken from the 2 breeder hives Chris now had on site and let the grafting begin. Chris demonstrated the technique first, several times and before long he and Brian were sat side by side taking very small larvae from the frames and placing them into the queen cups on the bars with a deft touch, a grafting tool, good light and glasses all round. When they both had 20 done they nipped back out to the starter hives and put them in to the middle of the 5 frames, their names were added to the top of the frames so we could see who was most sucessful with the ladies.
Myself and Emyr assumed our positions at the grafting table (err kitchen) and started our grafting, I struggled at first picking up larvae that were small enough, but eventually got into the swing of things, lifting them out gently by the 'back' of the 'c' shape and depositing them into the cell with a wish that each one would be the best queen ever. I got my 20 in and slipped my frame back into my adopted hive, when I returned Emyr was on about his 8th and was struggling a bit but was being very thorough. Once he got to 10 Chris took over and did 10 more before Emyr slipped it back into his hive.
We would know how many had been accepted when we looked in the morning (approx 18 hours) then we would move them into the top box of our finisher hives.
Back out to the apiaries and a 25 minute journey had us nipping under the M5 through an agricultural acess tunnel which was at the bottom of a steep, muddy and rutted lane. I think someone should complain to the highways agency about the condition of this and the poor signage...............because a poor chap in his 5 series had obviously become very confused and lost and had parked up in this tunnel to check the map with his lady friend, it must have been to much for him as when 4 beekeepers arrived she seemed to be reviving him on the back seat.............
Got to admire the 5 series for its spacious interior which can allow rapid dressing and moving between front and back compartments and admire its versatility as a motorway mile gobbler and an off road rally car
The apiary just round the corner from said tunnel of love had 16 hives which all needed full health check, swarm, stores etc.
Payback time next, across to Nigels apiary (newish beekeeper from Chris's association) who wanted help with swarm control / split and who helped change our wheel the day before.
He had 2 hives that he was in the process of changing from national to 14 x 12 (box of foundation for them to move up into) but one of these was keen to swarm and Nigel had seen queen cells 2 days earlier. He had 2 empty nuc's and was hoping to do an increase too if possible. After opening up we found 2 sealed queen cells and the queen.........it was drizzling. There then followed a 10 minute discussion about how best to go about this with the combination of boxes, frame sizes and foundation we had. 5 of us and at least 6 solutions........ we eventually settled on 1 as if we had of took much longer the queens would of hatched and mated.
The queen cells were on different frames so 1 was put into each nuc along with the bees, then another frame of brood, one of stores and 1 foundation and 1 drawn comb. The main hive was made up with drawn frames and foundation. All 3 then received a feeder and feed.
Off to next apiary and 17 hives awaited us, general health and swarm check, clip and mark queens. 1 had swarmed.
Next off to an association meeting where Chris had again agreed to do some instruction and help with a split and swarm control. We were 20 minutes late but rolled up suited and joined the throng of beekeepers assembled in Richards garden for the lesson / event.
The set up here was a 14x12 brood at the bottom with the queen, QE, 2 supers and a brood on the top with 3 sealed queen cells (proper ones) and 2 or 3 small, stunted cells sealed with larvae in.......emergency ? This hive had previously been on double brood following a unite and once the queen cells were spotted they were moved away from the queen to the top. Again the course of action was to put 1 into each nuc (2) with some brood, stores and drawn frames all from the top box, ensuring any other queen cells were removed, reduce the original hive back to single brood, check through and remove any more queen cells and close up. A third good sealed queen cell was gently wrapped in tissue and magic away by a lady watching from the wings who hot footed it back to her own apiary to introduce it to a queenless hive. A 2nd hive was checked and was stuffed full of bees and brood but showed no signs of swarming.
After saying our goodbyes we were off, it felt a bit like we were 'flying doctors' nipping around the country performing miracle ops on bee hives..........
Time was getting on now and tonight was the eve of the curry and beer feast, Chris had booked a table for 7pm but as he dropped us at the Lodge where Ian was waiting it was 10 past 7 already.......... Chris then confessed to calling ahead this afternoon and changing the time till 8pm as he could see a long afternoon unfolding.
We had a mad dash and were all in the pub in 20 minutes or so with a beer. Bill had also joined us so now we were 6, beers drunk and off for a curry. The restaurant didnt have a licence to sell alcohol but Chris knew this and had loaded the car with honey beer for the evening. I sat at the end of the table and was nominated beer monitor (playing to my strengths) and ensured that no one ran dry.
Lots of laughs, good grub, great beer and tales of bee keeping till late.
Key learnings
Where do I start.................
the whole subject of queen rearing which is a chapter of my beekeeping career (my 2nd year) that I was happy to leave for another couple of years................but I now have the bug.
Making Nuc's with queen cells
The versatility of a 5 series
Honey beer goes great with curry and lemon rice
Despite what he does for a living............. Chris still makes time to put effort and resources into the local bee keeping community
Wet weather beekeeping is not ideal but possible if you are efficient and have a reason to open the hive.
Emyr can sing.
Chris didnt notice or choose not to when the remainder of the honey beer didnt make it back to his car boot ....
Day 5 tomorrow and the results of our grafting...........
Spreading bees and brood to other colonies to boost them and to make queen rearing colonies.
......or did I nudge it inadvertantly with my wellies a couple of times...........
).
