Hive no 2

[Headfry]

Have bought and built hive no 2 for Queen Boadicea!
I will now need to put my name down for a swarm, though they say it's a very poor year for swarms- not many about!!

I am worried about hive No 1 Queen Attila, just hope the inspector was right and that they will have reared 'Tilly 2 she should be hatching about now and looking for the boys! (drones) to mate with.
The weather is so poor that I wonder if I should feed my girls? un-heard of this time of year with all the rape in flower, but I can't have them go hungry, the thought is just to awful.
But, with a new queen on the way I must try not to disturb them....poor little bees. What to do for the best????? worry, worry, fret, fret.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hope all goes well with your queens Headfry. Good luck with the swarm and new hive. I love reading about your bees. I have been watching bees on my raspberries the past couple of days - even with this weather they have been busy - and I have been thanking them for their help. Just wish I knew enough to tell what type of bees they are, I notice there are lots of different ones now.

[Plot17B]

Hi,
We're still feeding our first hive - but then it's a new swarm and they're still settling down I guess. Our allotments are surrounded by mega fields of rape and other green flowery stuff, but the weather this weekend was shocking here. I don't think they could physically get out to harvest! I'm going to dig out the inch thick polystrene to fit into the hive roof to warm the girlies up.

Let us know how hive#2 progresses. Good luck!
P17B

[Headfry]

Hi, went to look at the girls last night and to work on the plot. Such a lovely evening, still and mild, they were working hard, and just a tad (ok, a lot) fiery! this could be a sure sign of not having a queen or a sure sign of bad weather to come- they do say the bees know when a thunder storm is on it's way.... guess what we had last night? yep...thunder! clever little bees.
About my queen, still waiting....I just hope they have 'built' a new Queen Attila 2 things not going as book states, could be down to the weather its been truly awful here!
Still I will try and sit tight for now. ho hum
ho hum, ho hum ,ho hum, goodness how I want to have a look in their hive to see what they have been up to over the past weeks........... tie hands up ...quick!!!

[Plot17B]

Erm...Why not get geared up and check the frames for the queen cells and how/if they are progressing? Or eyeball a new queen full stop? Is it just the cold/damp weather stopping you or are you worried of unsettling them? I know not to disturb them too often but from the above it sounds like you've not been in there since back from hols? Apols if it's an ignorant question and I'm missing something!

I think we need to go into business and develop "hive cam". We'll make a mint i reckon.

[Headfry]

When you have a queen cell and you want to hatch out a queen -it's a good idea to leave the bees alone, ok once mated and laying, then I can resume as normal - yipee, Inspector said 3-4 weeks, but as the weather has been so poor, I am not sure that she will have come out and mated.... could have to wait longer.
I would love a "hive cam" I spend ages watching mine just come and go.
Do you like the smell of your hive? - inside I mean.....I think I need help as I love the smell inside my hive!
It's a mix of warm cedar wood and honey/wax, and something that smells kinda different- cant put my finger or nose on it, but it keeps me sniffing!

[rhubarbontoast]

Is the smell the propolis? It is fabulous stuff.

[Headfry]

It could be, though I think its a mix of all things. Had a wee sniffy last night!
I put some food on for them! fancy doing that this time of year....it's all wrong, that darn weather! but I was so worried that they might starve..
Spoke to our local 'Bee catcher' last night asking him to put me on the swarm list please- he said of course, and added " you are no 101"
He has so many people waiting and there are so few swarms about this year.
He has about 10 hives, and has not had a single pound of honey so far (he sounded shocked) and whats for worse as I see it is that he has lost so many of his bees, down to just four colonies, two weak ones and two that are quite strong.
Margaret the lovely lady Inspector has said it's ok to look in hive now.
bye..............
- no, I cant yet as I am at work today and want to wait for nice weather. I really hope they have done as nature intended and have brought on a new Queen for me and the girlies! we need a leader. If all is well and I find her then this year she will wear a red crown (red mark on her throax) to denote that she is a 2008 queen, and I will be a very happy Headfry.
Had small bumble bees working the cotoneaster flowers even in all that awful weather. Felt like putting them out some sugar syrup to help them.

[shirlthegirl43]

Had small bumble bees working the cotoneaster flowers even in all that awful weather. Felt like putting them out some sugar syrup to help them.

How do you go about feeding wild bees? I would love to help them out in our garden as we don't have many flowers (and my heathers died when I transplanted them). Can you buy a special feeder and food?

[Plot17B]

When you have a queen cell and you want to hatch out a queen -it's a good idea to leave the bees alone, ok once mated and laying, then I can resume as normal

Ahhh...ok, makes sense. I've got lots to learn methinks, most of it sheer experience!

As for "Aroma of Hive" - hadn't thought about it! So busy trying to read the frame activity, not been smell-focused. I'll see if i notice it when we go into the hive (hopefully over the weekend).

Cheers
P17B

[Headfry]

ahhhh, see I have lots to learn too! and am loving it!
I spend all my time doing daft things like smelling my hive and listening to it, then I miss all the tech stuff! oh well never mind, I am not in it for the honey-money. I just love having my 'pet' bees as you have read- they are my girls!
so long as they are happy, healthy and NOT swarming all over the place (annoying people) I don't mind if the learning is a long job.
Honey would be nice but it's not about selling jars and jars of it! Nice to give some away to friends though

[trebellangeminired]

Hi Headfry,

Logged into wildlife forum for the first time today. Seriously considering keeping bees myself but because of surgery, I have decided not to start this season. My friends father used to keep 80 hives but when he passed on, the family sold all but two of the hives, a basic set of equipment and a whole library of books! I have been offered first refusal on the whole lot if I decide to go ahead. I have been loaned four of these absolutely beautiful books from the 1950's to the 1970's after expressing an interest and have been overwhelmed by the complexity of it all. I suppose it's like everything else, there is no substitute for experience. The next step in my plan was to join the local beekeepers and get as much hands on practice and information as possible before next season. I have also got to find a suitable site as although we have a 100ft garden, it is narrow, we grow veg which needs tending and we have two children who are used to playing anywhere in the garden. I really don't think there is anywhere sufficiently out of the way to site the hives. However, we are surrounded by farmland and know quite a few of the farmers so with a bit of negotiation, we would probably be able to find someone willing to accomodate a couple of hives. I will check in on your adventures from now on. I found it encouraging to read your post as I can imagine feeling the same way myself in such circumstances; anxious about the progress in the hive, wishing to follow the voice of experience, impatient to know whats going on, etc.

Looking forward to your updates

[Headfry]

Hi There trebellangeminired....phew! welcome to the vine!
Well .....YOU CAN DO IT! beekeeping has lots to learn, BUT you really can and do learn as you go and beekeepers are only to pleased to help others get started. Please don't be put off by all the book stuff.
Try and get on a course it's a great place to start and you will meet some lovely people. The hardest part really is getting the kit! and you have got that almost sorted, it should be a lot more easy for you. You will love having bees I feel sure. Remember that a lot (most) of the books are geared towards you producing maximum amounts of honey, if you are not so worried about that and wish to enjoy your bees for the love of them and to get some honey, then don't look back- GET those girls!!! Lots of honey will come with time as will your knowledge of bee keeping!
Just do it! ENJOY :-)

[trebellangeminired]

Hi again,

Thank you for the encouraging words, I've just been in the garden watching some bees on the raspberry flowers and dreaming. Yeah, I too only want to keep bees as pets and for some home produced honey not to make a living from them. It's really exiting but I was concerned for the welfare of the bees if I couldn't perform routine care effectively. I feel it's probably time to make contact with the local beekeepers and go from there. I'm sure it will all make alot more sense then.

Oh by the way, sorry about the long name. I had trouble finding a name no-one else had but maybe I went a little over the top! Squashysu shortened it to Trebell but TGR will do!

Thanks again

[Plot17B]

Right then. Research is a wonderful thing. (I actually used to make a career out of it!)

Guide to Honey & Bees - Ted Hooper. (the "bible" according to many)(actually, it is pretty good!). Chapter 2, The Bee's Behaviour - section = Guard Bees.

"The colony odour is a product of the food eaten, and because of the very thorough food transfer all the bees in a colony have the same substances in the same proportions in their gut, and so their scent is the same. Different colonies will have different odours because they will have a different mixture of the various flowers of the district." (Hence the guards distinguish between colony members or robbers/drifters).

So you're smelling the selected flora from about 2 miles radius. :-)