Author Topic: First cut out (Read 17513 times)

riverbee · « **Reply #20 on:** March 15, 2014, 07:27:44 pm »

i think he does lazy, when you open skeeter's pix, he has pix of feed on and pix of the top bar......so not sure what's going on?

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2014, 07:54:11 pm »

I have got a feeder on top of the hive.
I knew they were not liking my setup for some reason, so I started changing things. 1st I had the divider board in my top bar hive, not quite half way back. When they left the second time, I moved it all the way to the back, giving them 4 feet of hive. I also didn`t like my entrance setup, so I made it bigger. I put them back in the second time with the branch over the entrance. I went to town and came back, and I still had bees.
I read Ken`s post about the queen excluder. I took some mesh I had, roughly 1/4 inch or less and put it over the entrance and left a small crack at the bottom. The workers can squeeze through or go under at the bottom. A drone can barely get in and out underneath the mesh, so I hope maybe I got it covered. They might have stayed anyway after giving them more room, but I was wore out from chasing them.
Thanks for all of ya`lls input and advice. Harper

Slowmodem · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2014, 07:59:44 pm »

I hope they stay this time. At any rate, you're an A-1 swarm catcher now!

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2014, 08:27:23 pm »

All this is brand new. I`ve been reading everything I have been able to find on the net, for months, but there`s sure nothing like on the job training.

Perry · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2014, 08:41:27 pm »

Quote from: skeeterhawk1960 on March 15, 2014, 08:27:23 pm

All this is brand new. I`ve been reading everything I have been able to find on the net, for months, but there`s sure nothing like on the job training.

And when you've been at it a few years, you'll realize how most of us are still just scratching the surface.

The day I think I've got them figured out will probably be my last on this beautiful planet.
Beekeeping is an ongoing education that never ends.

iddee · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2014, 09:49:31 pm »

If you have a queen excluder, put it on the bottom board so she can't get out.

Put her in a queen cage or clip.

Try them in another hive. There may be e smell in that one they don't like.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #26 on:** March 15, 2014, 11:05:14 pm »

Thanks all of you again.
There is no paint on this hive at all. I did put a little bit of the dark comb in there that they were on.
I just don`t know. The hive is not in direct sun, but not in direct shade either.
Like I said, I modified the entrance and made it bigger and moved the follower board from not quiet half way, all the way to the back, so they have 48" of hive space. I put the branch over the entrance on the second rehive and left for about an hour and they didn`t leave. Just to be on the safe side, I put the mesh over the entrance to keep the queen in, but again, it is sure enough a learning experience, but it as wore me out, but it has been somewhat enjoyable.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #27 on:** March 16, 2014, 03:10:17 pm »

I`ve still got bees today, so maybe they are going to stay this time.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #28 on:** March 16, 2014, 11:14:26 pm »

Good deal!!! they finally got tired of fighting it and decided with a guy that wants them that bad maybe they should try and give it a try!

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2014, 10:14:51 am »

I reckon so, Lazy.

Perry · « **Reply #30 on:** March 17, 2014, 10:20:33 am »

Now, when you find the time and a couple of bucks, get ready to set up colony number 2! Be prepared, just when you think you are set, stuff happens!

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #31 on:** March 17, 2014, 01:01:13 pm »

I just got a call from from a lady needing some removed from her children`s playhouse. Says they have already got comb. I just happen to have a second top bar hive.

Perry · « **Reply #32 on:** March 17, 2014, 03:03:41 pm »

See?

Go get 'em buddy. Elastic bands to attach them to your top bars if you can, or even chicken wire or something to keep the brood comb intact.

barry42001 · « **Reply #33 on:** March 17, 2014, 04:46:29 pm »

Skeeter,
make up a spray bottle with sugar syrup out, when you shake the bees out into your hive, spray the bees down with the sugar syrup, 1 it make them less likely to fly 2 give them a little bit of food. 3 I would want to put a queen excluder of your fabrication( one of the disadvantages of a top bar hive) to prevent the queen from leaving. I do believe by spraying the bees down with sugar syrup would be one of your best solutions

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

G3farms · « **Reply #34 on:** March 17, 2014, 05:30:12 pm »

I have never worked with a top bar hive and certainly never tried to put a cut out in one. I have seen some pics of the top bars with plastic hair clips wired to them. This will allow you to clip the brood comb onto the top bar. If it is new white comb you will really need some luck to get it on the top bars, maybe some chicken wire stapled to the top bars.

Just something to think about.

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #35 on:** March 17, 2014, 05:38:50 pm »

Thanks Barry and G3. I really do appreciate the advice. Thanks again.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #36 on:** March 17, 2014, 06:31:11 pm »

Top bar... I saw a fellow cutting comb from a feral hive for his top bar.. He used Hair clips.. the type that look like queen clips??? squeeze them they open up... he used some plastic wire ties to hang these clips from the top bar, then he could "CLIP" the comb and let it hang from the top bar.. I thought it was a pretty ingenious idea....

skeeterhawk1960 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 20, 2014, 08:08:09 pm »

They started bringing in a little pollen yesterday and more today. I guess maybe everything is going in the right direction.

Perry · « **Reply #38 on:** March 20, 2014, 08:31:11 pm »

Sure sign there's brood being raised.

G3farms · « **Reply #39 on:** March 20, 2014, 09:37:06 pm »

Yep, pollen is a very good sign.