Bee keeping

[Headfry]

Sanman....got a black eye now! great....

[vicpivo]

Sounds painful! Don't tell anyone it was a bee. Tell them they should see what the other 25 blokes looked like after attacking you!

[sanman]

Insepcted the hive yesterday an there were two sealed queen cells. It would appear that they've had enough of the old monarch and are trying to raise a contender. I destroyed the cells; out of panic more than anything and will now have to wait and see what happens.

[Headfry]

I think I would have done the same....panic and take out cells. How old is your Queen?
let us know how it goes Sanman.
My girls are very busy covering about 5 frames now. I think I ought to take a peep soon, I have tried really hard to leave them alone- the glass quilt is great, I can take the roof off and not really disturb them at all.

[Nicos]

I'm following this thread with great interest.
I just wanted to mention that there is a guy on our allotment site who has bees ( and yes- we have helped him catch a couple of swarms over the last few years ) and he reminds us all each year about not spraying our crops/fruit trees until the bees have gone to bed.
Tis the sort of thing other allotment holders might not think about.
You all sound like you're having great fun- I'm really pleased for you!!

[Headfry]

Any chance of you joining us with the bee keeping Nicos?

[sanman]

Yes come on Nicos, have a go.

Headfry, the queen is last years. She has slowed down laying over the past weeks but apparently that is common with the sort of weather we have been having. I'm going into the hive on Saturday or Sunday; first job is to see if I can find the queen. Second job is to see if there are anymore queen cells. If neither are apparent then I'll have to find another queen. Looks like my plans to take them up to the heather may have to wait till next year

[Nicos]

Well...you know I would be very tempted, but my life-style is such that I am away quite a bit and it would be unfair to ask someone else to help out so often.
It's bad enough asking someone to look after the cats, fish, rabbit and horse as well as the pots in the garden and the greenhouse on the lottie!!!!
There are only so many favours you can ask - and on my return I'm helping others out!!
Maybe I could find someone to share a hive with?That would be the answer!
I'd certainly enjoy going on a course as you guys have.
Do keep us up to date with what you're all up to!

[Headfry]

Nicos, what a fab idea- 'share a hive' I hope you are lucky and find someone soon!
Yes- do go to classes, I have made friends with some great people. It will be a good hunting ground for your ' share a hive' idea.
My classes have been such a laugh and its so easy going, the amount I have learnt is HUGE! Our evenings start with us newbies, telling each other of our mishaps and mis-understandings! that in itself is a huge boost as we are all doing crazy things...but we, and our bees are surviving well.
We chat, laugh and learn.
Sanman.... good luck in your Queen hunt. I too would like to get in my hive this weekend, to check out Queenie and the girls, hope to find brood, eggs and new bees....that would be nice! Also need to make up my mind on feeding them again. They are collecting their own food at the moment, and are very, very busy doing so. The weather is not so great here......hmmmm what to do? Is it better for them to forage? Guess I should check their food stores while in the hive!

[sanman]

Went into the hive yesterday and still could not find the queen. Couldn't see any eggs or larvae. There is a huge quantity of sealed brood and two absolutely belting sealed queen cells of the face of the same comb. The bees are working on the last frame of undrawn foundation and the brood box is now fairly full of bees, probably across 7-8 frames.

So I intend to leave both queen cells and let nature take its course. I am going to pop on a super today to give the bees some extra space.

[Headfry]

Hi Sanman and all readers!
Shame about your Queen, at least you have the two cells!!
Went into mine yesterday- found eggs, lava, brood, and Queenie! great.... all looks happy in there. across 7 frames now. They are very busy, flying till nine pm so evenings. They do however seem a touch feisty!!! Still gives me hope that they will defend the hive well when it comes to robbing season.

[Headfry]

Evening classes tonight! can't wait.....
extracted honey last time, came home with some cut comb and a jar of honey!!!
Sanman, are you still at your classes? when do you finish?

[sanman]

Hi Headfry, I finished a few weeks ago although I still phone up my instructor when I have a problem. Unfortunately the association in Sheffield is an absolute dead loss. Do you use the BBKA forum at all? I find it really useful. I've put my name down for some Thymol crystals that one of the forum users is nulk buying as these can be used for varroa control. Put my super on yesterday as the bees are across about 8 frames now and are drawing out foundation on the last one. Keeping my fingers crossed that I may get a little honey from them this year.

[Headfry]

Hi sanman, no not tried that forum, might just have to though.....
Mine little colony is now growing fast and also are covering about eight frames.
I have been advised not to put a super on this year, shame but want to do the right thing for the 'girls' (I do love them so, am I cracking up???)
Conflicting information about feeding, some say carry on, some say they should be ok now and to stop feeding for a while??????
I am not sure what to do. They still have frames to draw out. See what the weather does I guess.
My fingers are crossed for you too sanman
I think our classes go through to early September, I don't want them to stop, as its great having other bee keepers to talk to, I will miss that most of all.

[Headfry]

Claases last night......learnt a new trick
Tutor tried dusting the bees on the SEALED brood frames with a little icing sugar. Put the hive back together and leave for a while.
This makes the bees groom like mad and dislodges varroa mites.
We put a varroa floor in to check the results and it seems to have had an effect, quite a few of the nasty little critters were found and dispatched!!
Tutor had never tried this before, It was good fun all being on the same learning curve for a change :-)