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Author Topic: My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12  (Read 19697 times)

Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« on: October 14, 2005, 08:24:02 pm »
So I trapped the swarm built the hive, dumped them in, and left them alone for a week.

I moved them 10 metres last night to the best spot for them, put a branch infront of the hive.

Today, first day out foraging from the new spot, theres about 50 returning to the old spot and flying around where the hive box used to be. I presume its not the same 50 all the time. Theres a steady stream to and from the hive in the new location. Will the lost ones finally get the message throught the day? or will they wander forever lost in the big world?

hope someone can tell me, Illlet you know either way.

Im not game to move it back to where it was as I think it would only confuse them more.

manowar422

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #1 on: October 14, 2005, 08:59:05 pm »
Mick,
if you moved the hive during daylight, you left behind
some of the field bees who were out of the hive at that time.

The best way (to move them), is to close up all the hive's
entrances well after dark, thereby trapping all the bees
inside for the journey.

Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #2 on: October 14, 2005, 09:10:02 pm »
Yep did that, moved em after dark.

Offline bassman1977

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #3 on: October 14, 2005, 09:26:01 pm »
Probably stragglers that were out in the fields over night.
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Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #4 on: October 14, 2005, 09:42:46 pm »
wow theres about 90% returning to the old spot and the rest to the new one. I can smell the new one from about 5 yards away so I hope when the seabreeze kicks in they will smell it too.

ZBe interesting in about 8 hours time when its getting dark.

Wow the real hive is really buzzing now and theres a lot more activity at it. Its a fine spring day here and a lot of them have heaps of pollen on them.

The old spot still has a constant stream to and from it, but its not getting any worse. I have a feeling that most of em  will work it out by the end of today and tomorrows weather is the same so by when i go back to work it should be ok. fingers crossed. :)

Offline bassman1977

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #5 on: October 14, 2005, 09:51:24 pm »
Quote
wow theres about 90% returning to the old spot and the rest to the new one


Well then, that's different.  Sounded like only a few (50 doesn't sound like that many).  Forget what I said earlier.  No idea.  I'd put a box out at the old spot to catch the stragglers.
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Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #6 on: October 14, 2005, 10:06:17 pm »
Its more like 50/50 movement now IMO. :)

Offline Joseph Clemens

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #7 on: October 14, 2005, 10:20:55 pm »
How far did you move them? Can the hive be seen from the old location? Do you have other hives nearby?

The bees will not stay orphans for long. If their home is nearby, they will soon find it, but if another hive is closer, they may join it instead.

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Offline Michael Bush

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #8 on: October 14, 2005, 10:23:40 pm »
If there is nothing at the old location for them where are they going?  If there IS something at the old location, don't put it there except just before dark.  That way they don't have anywhere to go except to find the new loation.

If you put a box there to get the stragglers, be sure to put a branch in front of it after you move it next to the new location.  And make sure it's NOT there EXCEPT right before dark.
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Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #9 on: October 14, 2005, 10:34:29 pm »
thanks guys, i only moved it ten metres. Theres nothing at the old location for them, theyre just buzzing around it then flying off again and either returning or going to where they are sposed to be.

I might try the box tomorrow night if necessary. Im not aware of any hives nearby but who knows? I dont have any other hives either

they can see their new home if they look in the right direction

im enjoying watching them. :)

manowar422

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #10 on: October 15, 2005, 12:08:02 am »
Since you closed up after dark and moved it, I wonder if
maybe the bees you are seeing at the old location could
possibly be robbers returning to the scene of the crime?

Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #11 on: October 15, 2005, 02:43:28 am »
Well after 9 hours of daylight theres only a few dozen die hards at the old spot. The new hive is really buzzin lots of activity. MIght have a first look in it tomorrow and take some pics, thatll be 10 days after capturing them i wonder what ill find?

I dont kow if they were robber bees coz there wouldnt be much to rob as they started on wired foundation only.

:)

Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #12 on: October 15, 2005, 08:18:04 pm »
All is good in the bee world at my place. The stragglers, robbers or whatever they are,  all disappeared about 2 hours before dark.

The new hive has plenty of activity already this fine morning, theres a few flying around the old spot, so perhaps they were robbers and not stragglers?

I will lift the lid of in a few hours time and see what they have done n there over the last 2weeks or a bit less.

:)

Offline mick

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update
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2005, 11:41:54 pm »
Well good news and bad. We all had to move house so its been interesting. I looked in the hive and to my dismay the second frames foundation in had collapsed in a zigzag pattern. I resecured the remaining foundation to the  frames as best I could and left them alone as we had to move.

I taped them up at night and we moved 15k opr about 10mi and I opened them up an hour after arrival at 11am. They were into action immediately and really went for the water!

That was 2 weeks ago. I will open them up soon to see if anymore have collapsed. I hope not and dont think so as it hasnt been long enough.

They are really well behaved but theres not a lot of them.

cheers

mick

Offline mick

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possible insect problem see photo attached
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2005, 12:21:58 am »
Well I opened it up and took some pics but i was in a hurry so nothing worth posting.

The first and second frames are pretty much glued together and to each other but are chocka block full of bees. The third frame is covered in bees both sides and looks straight, no warping. The fourth is also heavily covered on one side and lightly on the other. All these seems to be being filled and capped so all looks good.

The other frames need to be refondationed (?) so I think I will try to buy some already embedded.

One sheet of wax was lying at the bottom on the hive, acting as sort of a rubbish trap. There are lots of small white eggs and some 2mm long white thin maggots i think crwling around. they are as thin as a human hair and have brown heads and crawl like a catepillar with the back hunching. I suspect they might have been eating the foundation. Any ideas guys? They remind me of fruit fly larvae, just a spec.

Aside from that they look happy enough, thre were more in the hive than I expected, but i spose there are a lot more bees now!


Offline Finsky

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #15 on: December 11, 2005, 02:56:37 am »
Do you have exra roo in your hive box?  It is wise to restrict the room as large as bees have occupied the frames. Other frames is better to take away. You put exta loose  wall inside the box.   It keeps hive warm and it easy to bees protect their frames.

Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #16 on: December 11, 2005, 02:59:31 am »
Thanks Finsky, I get the idea, makes sense, bt its summer here, average 30c during the day and 14c during the night, so do you still think I should remove the other frames and block off the rest of the hive?

Offline Michael Bush

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #17 on: December 11, 2005, 07:57:21 am »
The picture has wax moth debris on it. I think that's what your maggots are.
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Offline mick

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #18 on: December 12, 2005, 02:33:34 am »
Thanks Michael, will do some research. They are on the groound atm. Whats the ideal height for a hive?

Offline Michael Bush

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My first hive, problems overcome, new report and pics feb 12
« Reply #19 on: December 12, 2005, 08:09:24 am »
Well, the bees seem to think the ideal height is about 30 feet up in a hollow tree.  :)

I put mine on treated four by fours with no botom entrance and it works well for me.  I don't have to lift that top super so high.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
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