voytech104

3rd day... Hiving nucleus

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voytech104
, 26-07-2011 at 09:36 PM (12362 Views)
3rd day. 26 July 2011

Yep, did it. 11:00am
I`ve been prepared well - almost. Hive on the side, new feeder with syrup, screwdriver (my hive tool).
I wore my occasional hat and veil, long sleeved jumper, builders gloves, tucked in jeans into my socks (they have multicoloured spots which I have noticed at the time - somehow I dont recognize colours until I have my coffee intake in the morning).
Then, gently started to calming them down - in absence of a smoker, I started talking to them and telling them what I`m going to do.
I moved transportation hive to the side, put new hive into its place. I placed 3 frames on either side of new hive and started lifting frames from nuc one by one. I was looking for my queen. Bee queen - my other queen is at home . On three frames I noticed brood at different stages, freshly laid eggs looking like little comas in some cells. So queen was laying well. I checked all frames and put this back into new hive in the same order. I couldn`t find the queen... I thought - maybe she`s here. Didnt want to take chances so again started one by one and HURRAY! Last one did have queen walking there! Quickly and gently back into hive, crownboard on, feeder on, roof on...

You can notice clearly three different pollens, yellow, green and white. Absolute beauty.

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Now I realise that can only attach 5 photos, I`ll choose some nice ones next time.

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Comments

  1. Trog's Avatar
    Definitely rose bay willow herb. Lots of it here and they love it!
  2. gavin's Avatar
    I didn't tuck my trousers in this afternoon and had a bee up my trouser leg, never a comfortable experience. That occasional hat and veil is going to become a frequent hat and veil, pal! Talking to the bees is good. Just don't let anybody else hear you. Your equipment is similar to mine when I started out, in fact I didn't even have a jacket - just a veil and a waterproof jacket. It is good to see that the inventive spirit still exists during this era of beginner's kits and whatnot.

    I shrink picture files to 800 pixels wide, upload them, and link to them without placing a copy in the vBulletin area. Maybe that is too much, as people with slow downloads have to wait for a while to see several pictures.

    Day 3 already, eh?!
  3. voytech104's Avatar
    It wasnt comfortable experience I bet! Depending how far up the bee went
    3rd day... Yeah, i'm sure You are going to see more 'improvisation-creativity'
  4. Jon's Avatar
    somehow I don't recognize colours until I have my coffee intake in the morning)
    I don't recognise anything until I have tanked up with coffee in the morning.

    You are doing the right thing by starting off with minimal protection. I would also recommend the nitrile or surgical gloves which is all I ever use.
    If you can't work your bees with minimal protection, you have the wrong sort of bees.

    Working your bees with minimal protection focuses the mind and if they behave badly you will requeen rather than go into denial like a lot of beekeepers do. A veil over the head should be enough in most cases. gavin needs to get himself some wellie boots.

    I have to admit I only converse with my bees when I get stung and the conversation usually starts with FFS.
  5. voytech104's Avatar
    I would like to start not using gloves at all, like my old-man but i'm such a wuss
  6. Jon's Avatar
    What age is your old man. Mine turned 80 last week and he still keeps 15 colonies of bees. He usually wears marigolds.
  7. voytech104's Avatar
    My old man is 55
    They started apiary in 2010 with 7 colonies, this year they have 25 colonies and honey... Well, apiary is about 800metres above sea level, trees everywhere. Most of the forage is mixed with honeydew which gives certain hint to all of their honey. I watched and helped them on holidays this year and its such a great feeling working with bees.