I am now a Beekeeper!!
Discussion
Released the new queen a couple of hours ago. If you go by "the book" it's recommended to just pull the tabs and let the bees eat their way through the fondant which takes around 3 days for her to be out. But so confident am I, that the audio data over the last two days is good, I just let her out to start laying.
Took the opportunity to take a look at my other Flowhive - weight change over the last 7 days shows an increase of 3.28kg so I wanted to know if they were storing this in the Flow super and not the brood box. Happy days and yum yum
Took the opportunity to take a look at my other Flowhive - weight change over the last 7 days shows an increase of 3.28kg so I wanted to know if they were storing this in the Flow super and not the brood box. Happy days and yum yum
dickymint said:
Turn7 said:
Fascinating ! Thanks for the reply….really enjoying learning about this stuff.
Why not give it go? I wish I started 30 odd years ago when I first got interested. I live vicariously thru PH tbh ….. 😁😁😁
We’ve had a mixed couple of weeks as MrsLT has been out of action on the bee front due to an infected sting but the bees, by and large, are doing fine.
3x new queens recently introduced are all doing well and laying nicely. Do need to give those hives a bit more food to deal with the low numbers of flying bees and imminent population growth.
Need to shuffle a few frames around between half brood boxes and supers in one hive in particular which seems intent on swarming, even though they’ve got a lot of empty space upstairs.
Biggest hive this year is already up to three supers, and two on several others, so it isn’t going to be long before we have to run an extract to get some frames back. Not had to do that quite so early before, so will be interesting to see how the year progresses.
3x new queens recently introduced are all doing well and laying nicely. Do need to give those hives a bit more food to deal with the low numbers of flying bees and imminent population growth.
Need to shuffle a few frames around between half brood boxes and supers in one hive in particular which seems intent on swarming, even though they’ve got a lot of empty space upstairs.
Biggest hive this year is already up to three supers, and two on several others, so it isn’t going to be long before we have to run an extract to get some frames back. Not had to do that quite so early before, so will be interesting to see how the year progresses.
Well, the one that wanted to swarm decided to go. I need to fish through the original and see if I missed a queen cell. I thought I’d squished them all a few days ago but, given I’d been lazy about finding my boots and had been stung on the ankle by a couple of our nasty bees (looking forward to those being replaced as the new queen’s eggs start emerging) and had a friendly one crawling up inside my trouser leg at the time, I was a bit distracted!
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
LooneyTunes said:
Well, the one that wanted to swarm decided to go. I need to fish through the original and see if I missed a queen cell. I thought I’d squished them all a few days ago but, given I’d been lazy about finding my boots and had been stung on the ankle by a couple of our nasty bees (looking forward to those being replaced as the new queen’s eggs start emerging) and had a friendly one crawling up inside my trouser leg at the time, I was a bit distracted!
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
To be honest I was quite relieved when my prime swarm was last seen flying towards town before I could capture them
dickymint said:
LooneyTunes said:
Well, the one that wanted to swarm decided to go. I need to fish through the original and see if I missed a queen cell. I thought I’d squished them all a few days ago but, given I’d been lazy about finding my boots and had been stung on the ankle by a couple of our nasty bees (looking forward to those being replaced as the new queen’s eggs start emerging) and had a friendly one crawling up inside my trouser leg at the time, I was a bit distracted!
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
To be honest I was quite relieved when my prime swarm was last seen flying towards town before I could capture them
Turn7 said:
dickymint said:
LooneyTunes said:
Well, the one that wanted to swarm decided to go. I need to fish through the original and see if I missed a queen cell. I thought I’d squished them all a few days ago but, given I’d been lazy about finding my boots and had been stung on the ankle by a couple of our nasty bees (looking forward to those being replaced as the new queen’s eggs start emerging) and had a friendly one crawling up inside my trouser leg at the time, I was a bit distracted!
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
To be honest I was quite relieved when my prime swarm was last seen flying towards town before I could capture them
Not mine officer "iv'e counted them out and counted them in". !!
dickymint said:
Turn7 said:
dickymint said:
LooneyTunes said:
Well, the one that wanted to swarm decided to go. I need to fish through the original and see if I missed a queen cell. I thought I’d squished them all a few days ago but, given I’d been lazy about finding my boots and had been stung on the ankle by a couple of our nasty bees (looking forward to those being replaced as the new queen’s eggs start emerging) and had a friendly one crawling up inside my trouser leg at the time, I was a bit distracted!
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
Fortunately they settled on a raised bed a few metres from the hive and are now locked away in a spare nuc box.
Having decided a couple of weeks ago that we had enough bees, I’ve done the only sensible thing and ordered two more hives. Trying the Swienty poly hives this time as they’re meant to be compatible with the nationals (so I’ll have four more supers to run at), are much cheaper than cedars, and should allow us to site them in cooler areas. But that really is enough.
To be honest I was quite relieved when my prime swarm was last seen flying towards town before I could capture them
Not mine officer "iv'e counted them out and counted them in". !!
Talking of tech, here's some data of the hive that was re-queened on the 10th May........
|https://thumbsnap.com/gmsqrYfp[/url]
Note the peaks around 400Hz on the left. This was immediately before I put the queen in but still caged. That particular frequency is an indication that all is not well queenwise). I released her two days later on the strength of that frequency no longer there. It still holds true today.
Early days yet but what I'm looking for in this temperature graph is for it to be a flatter line around 35C. This would indicate that the nurse bees are caring for brood and regulating their temperature. As it stands the internal temperature is following the external temperature. Early days yet for her to start laying but hopefully another week should be telling.
Now of course I could always suit up and fire up the smoker but my aims are to be much less invasive (you could call it lazy) which can only benefit the bees. I read somewhere that every time you open up a hive or even tap on the sides (many beekeepers suggest to give them a tap during winter to hear them roar as signs of life!) but what do bees do when smoked or disturbed? They go straight for their stores and gorge themselves (as they do prior to swarming) this is wasted stores for them and us. So worth bearing in mind the next time you disturb a hive that's around a cup full of nectar burnt up.
|https://thumbsnap.com/gmsqrYfp[/url]Note the peaks around 400Hz on the left. This was immediately before I put the queen in but still caged. That particular frequency is an indication that all is not well queenwise). I released her two days later on the strength of that frequency no longer there. It still holds true today.
Early days yet but what I'm looking for in this temperature graph is for it to be a flatter line around 35C. This would indicate that the nurse bees are caring for brood and regulating their temperature. As it stands the internal temperature is following the external temperature. Early days yet for her to start laying but hopefully another week should be telling.
Now of course I could always suit up and fire up the smoker but my aims are to be much less invasive (you could call it lazy) which can only benefit the bees. I read somewhere that every time you open up a hive or even tap on the sides (many beekeepers suggest to give them a tap during winter to hear them roar as signs of life!) but what do bees do when smoked or disturbed? They go straight for their stores and gorge themselves (as they do prior to swarming) this is wasted stores for them and us. So worth bearing in mind the next time you disturb a hive that's around a cup full of nectar burnt up.
Afternoon well spent catching up on this.
My late FIL was a bee keeper. Had many more hives than his wife knew about, would often get a swarm in the garden and some rumblings about a hive in the corner no one knew about.
I'm sure he just guessed and made it up as he went along but the honey he was part of making was delicious. Being able to basically be in the middle of a swarm in the garden, taste fresh honey comb etc was fascinating.
Bookmarked with interest.
My late FIL was a bee keeper. Had many more hives than his wife knew about, would often get a swarm in the garden and some rumblings about a hive in the corner no one knew about.
I'm sure he just guessed and made it up as he went along but the honey he was part of making was delicious. Being able to basically be in the middle of a swarm in the garden, taste fresh honey comb etc was fascinating.
Bookmarked with interest.
Update on my re-queened hive.
Timeline:
24th April - prime swarm
29th April - broke down Demaree and full inspection - no queen
4th May - probable cast swarm
8th May - full inspection - queenless - introduced new marked and mated queen (caged)
10th May - Queen released
22nd May - full inspection, couldn't see her and no larva or eggs!!
Two days ago (29th May) armed with another new queen (that's another 40 quid!!) did another full inspection. Four frames in and blow me one side 3/4 full of capped brood. I was absolutely gob smacked! Fifth frame in it gets weirder - found a queen scurrying around and getting on with here business, a very dark queen (my bees all stem from a nuc of Welsh Blacks) unmarked and obviously not the Buckfast F1........closed the hive up and cracked open several cans of Thatchers Cider
Gutted that due to banana fingers I didn't start the video correctly as the commentary would have been hilarious
Timeline:
24th April - prime swarm
29th April - broke down Demaree and full inspection - no queen
4th May - probable cast swarm
8th May - full inspection - queenless - introduced new marked and mated queen (caged)
10th May - Queen released
22nd May - full inspection, couldn't see her and no larva or eggs!!
Two days ago (29th May) armed with another new queen (that's another 40 quid!!) did another full inspection. Four frames in and blow me one side 3/4 full of capped brood. I was absolutely gob smacked! Fifth frame in it gets weirder - found a queen scurrying around and getting on with here business, a very dark queen (my bees all stem from a nuc of Welsh Blacks) unmarked and obviously not the Buckfast F1........closed the hive up and cracked open several cans of Thatchers Cider
Gutted that due to banana fingers I didn't start the video correctly as the commentary would have been hilarious
That all begs the question… what are you going to do with the extra queen? Another hive?
We’ve had a crazy few days with unhelpful bouts of rain so I’ll confess to only having done quite quick cursory looks through all of the hives for a while.
Our swarm is happily living in the nuc box, and the queen is laying away, so going to be transferring to a new poly hive in the next few days. The big unknown is what will be in the original hive. Still seems to be lots of activity and with other commitments/weather have been forced to work on the basis that they’ve raised a new queen, hopefully mated with one of our better lines. Will hopefully find out tomorrow!
Hoping to get in there tomorrow for a look through after I’ve built the new hive and a few more frames/supers.
Must order jars (but keep forgetting) as we’re getting closer to first extract.
We’ve had a crazy few days with unhelpful bouts of rain so I’ll confess to only having done quite quick cursory looks through all of the hives for a while.
Our swarm is happily living in the nuc box, and the queen is laying away, so going to be transferring to a new poly hive in the next few days. The big unknown is what will be in the original hive. Still seems to be lots of activity and with other commitments/weather have been forced to work on the basis that they’ve raised a new queen, hopefully mated with one of our better lines. Will hopefully find out tomorrow!
Hoping to get in there tomorrow for a look through after I’ve built the new hive and a few more frames/supers.
Must order jars (but keep forgetting) as we’re getting closer to first extract.
LooneyTunes said:
That all begs the question… what are you going to do with the extra queen? Another hive?
We’ve had a crazy few days with unhelpful bouts of rain so I’ll confess to only having done quite quick cursory looks through all of the hives for a while.
Our swarm is happily living in the nuc box, and the queen is laying away, so going to be transferring to a new poly hive in the next few days. The big unknown is what will be in the original hive. Still seems to be lots of activity and with other commitments/weather have been forced to work on the basis that they’ve raised a new queen, hopefully mated with one of our better lines. Will hopefully find out tomorrow!
Hoping to get in there tomorrow for a look through after I’ve built the new hive and a few more frames/supers.
Must order jars (but keep forgetting) as we’re getting closer to first extract.
I didn't want to disrupt my other Flowhive as it's doing well and I'm determined to have a proper harvest this year with the Flow super. My other hive is a WBC (also going great guns) i want to close down to do away with Nationals - it's a real pain in the arse running incompatible kit. We’ve had a crazy few days with unhelpful bouts of rain so I’ll confess to only having done quite quick cursory looks through all of the hives for a while.
Our swarm is happily living in the nuc box, and the queen is laying away, so going to be transferring to a new poly hive in the next few days. The big unknown is what will be in the original hive. Still seems to be lots of activity and with other commitments/weather have been forced to work on the basis that they’ve raised a new queen, hopefully mated with one of our better lines. Will hopefully find out tomorrow!
Hoping to get in there tomorrow for a look through after I’ve built the new hive and a few more frames/supers.
Must order jars (but keep forgetting) as we’re getting closer to first extract.
A quick call to my association and the new queen is now safely housed at the clubs apiary = many brownie points in the bank I van call on
Good luck tomorrow keep us updated. I think you would've had some really warm days since the prime swarm? If so they would've cast if they're going to.
Weather put off looking until today (raining every time I had enough free time!).
The re-queened hive and this years splits are all doing well, although I am looking forward to the remaining grumpy ones from the requeened hive being replaced with quieter bees. Quieter bees that can’t be bothered to find out that they can sting through the cuffs of my suit just below where the mesh liner finishes… never had that happen before! That one colony (caught last season) has got me more times this season than I’ve been stung over the past couple of years combined. Don’t like gauntlets but looks like I might need to get a pair to use with that colony for a few weeks unless i can figure out how to sort the cuffs out.
No sign of eggs in the one that swarmed so am a bit concerned that it might be queen less. They seemed really relaxed so it’s possible I missed the queen and she’s not started laying yet. Gave them a frame from another hive that will either give them a boost in numbers or allow them to work on an emergency queen cell.
The captured swam is still quite happily living in the nuc box. Queen’s laying, but it’s still a very small colony that I’m not expecting will do much this year.
The re-queened hive and this years splits are all doing well, although I am looking forward to the remaining grumpy ones from the requeened hive being replaced with quieter bees. Quieter bees that can’t be bothered to find out that they can sting through the cuffs of my suit just below where the mesh liner finishes… never had that happen before! That one colony (caught last season) has got me more times this season than I’ve been stung over the past couple of years combined. Don’t like gauntlets but looks like I might need to get a pair to use with that colony for a few weeks unless i can figure out how to sort the cuffs out.
No sign of eggs in the one that swarmed so am a bit concerned that it might be queen less. They seemed really relaxed so it’s possible I missed the queen and she’s not started laying yet. Gave them a frame from another hive that will either give them a boost in numbers or allow them to work on an emergency queen cell.
The captured swam is still quite happily living in the nuc box. Queen’s laying, but it’s still a very small colony that I’m not expecting will do much this year.
Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff