Author Topic: WHOOO HOOO! (Read 57785 times)

Jen · « **Reply #20 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:55:29 am »

Wow! I'm just grinning from ear to ear! Happy to see your kids involved. I need to get a suit for my 2 years old grandson, he's already been stung by a bee, cried for about 10 minutes, went back out and started talking to the 'bee bugs' again. Happy for you

Zweefer · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:55:36 am »

The kids (and myself to a small extent) were disappointed to learn they couldn't open it up right away again this morning to see how they were doing. Other than check and change the syrup, when is it safe to open it up if for not other reason then to look to make sure we still have two queens? $:-\$

Zweefer · « **Reply #22 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:57:49 am »

Quote from: Jen on May 17, 2014, 11:55:29 am

Wow! I'm just grinning from ear to ear! Happy to see your kids involved. I need to get a suit for my 2 years old grandson, he's already been stung by a bee, cried for about 10 minutes, went back out and started talking to the 'bee bugs' again. Happy for you

The only sting received was the dog (which was why I had put her in the kennel to begin with). She's a quick learner though, so shouldn't be much of a problem in the future

apisbees · « **Reply #23 on:** May 17, 2014, 02:02:47 pm »

in photo 6 the bee population on the frame looks to barely cover the brood. this could be caused by drift back of foragers when the nuc was made up. it is hard to tell from 1 frame but haw was the population of bees in the nuc box? lots of bees on each frame and more hanging on the box or all the bees on the frames with them sparse on the outside frames.

Zweefer · « **Reply #24 on:** May 17, 2014, 03:00:31 pm »

I too thought population was a bit sparse...

There were none loose, just on the inner frames. very few on the exterior.

And now to make matters worse, one hive has a ton of activity, the other appears to be nonexistent...

I think it may be being robbed by the other hive, as the only bees i see going into the slow one does not have any pollen in the baskets, and some appear to be coming right back out again - as if they were thrown out...

should i plug the entrance and hope it helps, or am i over worrying?

Garden Hive · « **Reply #25 on:** May 17, 2014, 03:30:17 pm »

Hey there Zweefer,
Great that you got your nucs. By the looks of things, you got just fair nucs. I didn't see any capped honey around the brood in the photos.
The one dark brood frame was (just that), not wonky comb. I'm not crazy about that because there are no bees on it. Hopefully it had pollen and nectar in it.
You did good with the feed inside the boxes on top. With entrance reducers on you are giving them the best chance to defend and it is highly likely that they are.
Check on the feed, replenish as needed and let them bee for awhile.
Great to see the family excited about them!
Tim

Zweefer · « **Reply #26 on:** May 17, 2014, 03:34:35 pm »

Thanks Tim. My mentor is ill, so I've been doing this solo... that much time by myself without any affirmation / guidence / advice can be a dangerous thing. all I needed was someone to calm me down. $:-\$

Slowmodem · « **Reply #27 on:** May 17, 2014, 03:41:48 pm »

Quote from: Garden Hive on May 17, 2014, 03:30:17 pm

Check on the feed, replenish as needed and let them bee for awhile.

I agree. Check the feed every day. They can go through a quart (or more) a day. Give them all they want. They have a lot of work to do.

Good luck!

Zweefer · « **Reply #28 on:** May 17, 2014, 05:27:52 pm »

I'm an idiot! I went to pick up some trash that got blown across the yard, and on the way back noticed this on the far side of the "slow" hive.

Completely forgot that cover had that opening cut in it... Guess that's why the front door wasn't that busy.

Should that face the same way as the entrance or doesn't it really matter?

Garden Hive · « **Reply #29 on:** May 17, 2014, 05:48:03 pm »

That slot........(I) would close off because it allows quick access to the feed that robbers could get to. I'd cut a small wedge to stuff it.
JMO...........Tim

Slowmodem · « **Reply #30 on:** May 17, 2014, 07:21:00 pm »

Quote from: Garden Hive on May 17, 2014, 05:48:03 pm

That slot........(I) would close off because it allows quick access to the feed that robbers could get to. I'd cut a small wedge to stuff it.
JMO...........Tim

a paper towel or rag will work, too

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #31 on:** May 17, 2014, 09:07:37 pm »

Quote from: Zweefer on May 17, 2014, 05:27:52 pm

I'm an idiot! I went to pick up some trash that god blown across the yard, and on the way back noticed this on the far side of the "slow" hive.

Completely forgot that cover had that opening cut in it... Guess that's why the front door wasn't that busy.

Should that face the same way as the entrance or doesn't it really matter?

You have no idea howmuch better it makes me feel to see other people do stuff like that... I feel less alone in the world now Zweef!!!
I'd just tape it or as mentioned plug it until you do the first check on the queen cage, then you can flip it.

Bees are ugly this year.. I've never worn a suit to install packages until today.. 6 ? stings in total, 4 installing and two when I replaced a dead queen/cage.. I put the suit on, and continued, so the bees decided to go after the wife!!! That was the end of her videoing.. she got two stings, one on the back of the neck and one RIGHT on the tip of the nose... Tried to get her into a suit, but she refused.. I suppose insisting would have made her even more resistant....

Looks like a good day for you Zweefer, glad, GLAD to see you got the kids involved!!!

Zweefer · « **Reply #32 on:** May 17, 2014, 10:05:10 pm »

sorry to hear of your troubles lazy... and am also sorry you quoted my typo (I'm blaming autocorrect).

The hole has been plugged.

It was a lot of fun just to sit and watch them coming and going this afternoon. saw two different types of pollen judging by the color in the baskets.
I could have spent hours there if I didn't have other work to do (wife is putting up a fence around teh garden, and the chicken coop needed the chicken wire patched).

They don't seem to be taking much of the syrup though.. how long should I leave it sit out there?

Tomorrow is our monthly keepers meeting, and now i can finally feel like i truly belong

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #33 on:** May 17, 2014, 10:48:58 pm »

Sitting and watching the bees is a requirement. It is necessary to insure that the new bees are going to go back to the right hive. You MUST sit and watch, and if you see a bee going in the wrong box you can gently herd her to the right one................. Thats what I tell the wife.. OH, a mixed drink is usually part of the requirement, but a beer can be substituted!!!

Zweefer · « **Reply #34 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:00:41 pm »

Shoot! I was drinking wine.

See? I can't do anything right :'(

And i didn't have a footrest.

I have so much to learn!

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #35 on:** May 17, 2014, 11:38:35 pm »

Wine!!!!! ............Facepalm............ Mead is acceptable, but only when your extracting!!!! Unless of course you have nothing else available, then wine is perfectly acceptable!!!

apisbees · « **Reply #36 on:** May 18, 2014, 03:17:36 am »

Just wondering LazyBkpr are you brave enough to post a picture of your wife's swolen ... I bet Perry would have a slice pie if you posted.

Sent from my LG-P500h using Tapatalk 2

blueblood · « **Reply #37 on:** May 18, 2014, 06:24:56 am »

Thanks for the pictures! Enjoyed them. I think you did a fine job. My mentor was ill but simply didn't make it on the day I installed my first bees three years ago. I was so glad for the same folks here in this forum at the time and all the books I had referenced. It really carried me through.

Slowmodem · « **Reply #38 on:** May 18, 2014, 06:29:07 am »

Quote from: LazyBkpr on May 17, 2014, 10:48:58 pm

Sitting and watching the bees is a requirement.

What a great picture!

(What evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows!)

Zweefer · « **Reply #39 on:** May 18, 2014, 09:48:59 am »

Quote from: blueblood on May 18, 2014, 06:24:56 am

Thanks for the pictures! Enjoyed them. I think you did a fine job. My mentor was ill but simply didn't make it on the day I installed my first bees three years ago. I was so glad for the same folks here in this forum at the time and all the books I had referenced. It really carried me through.

Thanks blueblood.
If it weren't for all of you fine folks, and the wealth of information here, I'm sure they would still be in the nucs awaiting Harold's return to health!