1st June 2014 Apiary 2
The history of this apiary is varied. It all started with two hives from Worcestershire, which were distinctly feisty bees. They were joined by some bees who swarmed into the orchard (which has lovely low branched trees ideal for collecting swarms from).
Anyway, in 2012 it all kicked off, with the hives constantly throwing swarms which dwindled into weak casts. Finally in 2013 I ended up down to two hives; one of which looked very weak going into winter. However, despite all expectations, both hives made it through and the stronger hive then swarmed in May 2014. Whilst we lost one swarm, we caught two; so now there are 4 hives here….
Hive 1
Hive has swarmed. We lost first swarm, captured second cast into hive 3/4
Today I met the Queen – she’s quite short and completely black. The bees are clearing out and polishing cells but no eggs seen yet, or brood, so presumably the new queen is still settling down after the swarm.
5-6 combs of stores in brood box. Has super still on but not much in it.
Hive 2
Slow build up small nuke of bees that I was very concerned about going into, and coming out of the winter. However, finally they are building up. Today I saw the queen who is long and darkish. Had uncapped brood visible. Stores in brood box. Added super just in case, but won’t hold my breath.
Hive 3 – nearest to the sheds
New swarm from this year 2014
Uh oh. The super eke that I left on in case I got back to feed the bees, well they’ve filled it with wild comb, hanging from the roof; and completely ignored the lovely empty brood box below. Little minxes. I put the crown board below the eke, to stop them cementing the new comb construction into the brood box frames; but only had one pair of hands, so didn’t un-cement the wild comb from the roof inside. I am not quite sure what to do next, other than that they’ve got the summer to build up and move into the brood box. I thought that it was not worth disturbing them at this early juncture when they were settling in and building up and when the June lull is due. So, I left them to it, hoping that they would eventually expand into the brood box. No queen excluder.
Hive 4- nearest the trees
New swarm from this year 2014 that moved themselves into a stack of old equipment that I subsequently rehomed.
Somehow I left a space in the brood box when I housed them, which they have filled with the most lovely wild comb stuffed full of honey. However, since I had fed this fledgling swarm, it was probably mainly syrup here, so I’ve left it to keep them going over the June lull whilst they build up; and have left a super on the top just in case they want to move their stores upwards. There is no queen excluder in the hive.
June 1st, 2014
Topic: Apiary 2 Tags: None
