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Offline tbonekel

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Did A Combine Today
« on: February 22, 2014, 01:03:36 pm »
This is the first chance I have gotten to do a pretty thorough inspection of all 5. Unfortunately, one was weak and queenless. Very little food but the bees were bringing in pollen. One thing that confused me though, is that I saw what looked like a hatched queen cell and on another frame it looked like they were creating another queen cell. I looked all over that thing and couldn't find one egg or any type of brood or queen. I decided to go ahead and combine it with another hive using newspaper. I hope I did it right. If I didn't, I won't lose that many bees. I bet there were less than 1000 in that box.  Pretty windy today and was having trouble keeping the paper down while putting the box on top. I was only able to cut about 4 slits in it. That should be enough I guess. We shall see.
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Offline Perry

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2014, 01:09:21 pm »
Sounds to me like you did alright. 4 slits is plenty, and I know what you mean about wind and paper when doing combines.  ;D
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Offline iddee

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2014, 03:54:13 pm »
You did well. I don't cut slits often, and only one when I do.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2014, 03:59:10 pm »
hehe I have resorted to a stapler when its windy. Sounds like you did the right thing..  build em up and split em later!
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2014, 06:30:29 pm »
tbone, they will chew through the newspaper whether there are slits cut in or not.....good luck to you!
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Offline tbonekel

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2014, 06:55:16 pm »
Stapler....wish I had thought of that. It was my first ever combine so my brain wasn't thinking too clearly at the time. The bees in the top box don't need an entrance, right? They should chew through the paper in just a couple of days if everything goes well I'm guessing. The girls in both hives were pretty nice to me. I was messing with them a lot and they didn't seem too bothered. I checked one of the other hives the yesterday day without smoke and man, they woke up on the wrong side of the hive that day! :P
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Offline Perry

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2014, 07:11:03 pm »
Quote from: LazyBkpr on February 22, 2014, 03:59:10 pm
hehe I have resorted to a stapler when its windy. Sounds like you did the right thing..  build em up and split em later!

Why, why, why, why, have I not thought of that? Doh! :-\ :D
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Offline iddee

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2014, 07:15:44 pm »
""I checked one of the other hives the yesterday day without smoke""

And do you go bear hunting without a gun? What did you expect?

I have worked bees in swim trunks, barefoot, and no shirt, but NEVER without smoker.
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Offline Perry

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2014, 07:23:38 pm »
Quote from: iddee on February 22, 2014, 07:15:44 pm
""I checked one of the other hives the yesterday day without smoke""

And do you go bear hunting without a gun? What did you expect?

I have worked bees in swim trunks, barefoot, and no shirt, but NEVER without smoker.

 :o
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #9 on: February 23, 2014, 08:58:31 am »
Ne entrance is fine TBone.. so long as its not too hot there..  if its hot there during the day they may need an entrance for ventilation, if its not they will do fine and be coming out the hives normal entrance in a day or two anyhow.

   I did the shorts thing once.. never again.. never, ever... no..  wife is still giggling about the first, and last time I wore shorts to check the hives.  Some places a man just cannot tolerate getting a sting!
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Offline iddee

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #10 on: February 23, 2014, 09:04:32 am »
You're lucky, lazy. Mine was a yellow jacket that went all the way up my jeans leg to sting me where no lady has. I wished for three days it had been a honeybee.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #11 on: February 24, 2014, 01:00:09 pm »
Dang Iddee, you have a penchant for making my eyes water...
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #12 on: February 26, 2014, 04:59:05 pm »
It doesn't take much to get you boys off topic. Amusing stories though.
Wind blowing the news paper, place your hand over the paper and let the heat from your hand warm the propolis so the paper sticks if down.
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Offline G3farms

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Re: Did A Combine Today
« Reply #13 on: February 26, 2014, 05:05:19 pm »
A touch of honey on the box top from the corner of your hive tool works good too.
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