Hello readers,
Another drizzly day here in Belgium... Temperatures today were not even hitting 10°C.
Very little activity near the hive and only a bit in between showers.
Bob Out
Monday 30 April 2018
Sunday 29 April 2018
Sunday 29 april 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were very low. Up to 13°C around noon, but below 10°C most of the day. A lot of rain, but not pooring. As a result there was very low activity near the hive.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were very low. Up to 13°C around noon, but below 10°C most of the day. A lot of rain, but not pooring. As a result there was very low activity near the hive.
Bob Out
Saturday 28 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures are dropping and we only got to 16°C, there were a lot of clouds and a few raindrops in the morning.
The activity near the hive was as can be expected.
Color of pollen being brought in were still yellow, to white and some orange.
Bob Out
Temperatures are dropping and we only got to 16°C, there were a lot of clouds and a few raindrops in the morning.
The activity near the hive was as can be expected.
Color of pollen being brought in were still yellow, to white and some orange.
Bob Out
Friday 27 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 19°C. I had a working day so didn't go in my apiary. (If I can call it that with only one hive)
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 19°C. I had a working day so didn't go in my apiary. (If I can call it that with only one hive)
Bob Out
Thursday 26 April 2018
thursday 26 apr 2018
Hello readers,
I was home today but as you may have noticed, next to my bees I also have an aviary, in the morning that took up most of my time.
I had a quick look into the hive and saw some bees on the foundation in the bottom box, but they weren't drawing comb yet.
In the middle box the building on S1 has begun. (Used to be B1)
- I'll number my frames from left to right and B stands for bottom, S for super and T for top-box. If I should, but I'm not planning to, add more supers the S's will get numbered from bottom to top. -
Temperatures today were around 15°C, but there was little to no wind, and the clouds drifted by scarcely. Activity near the hive was less than last week, but then again, there is a lot to do in the hive for all the bees and the weather outside isn't that optimal.
Color of pollen being brought in: Some yellow, some orange and almost white.
I wonder where they get everything from.
Strawberries and the walnut tree in the back are blooming, but I haven't spotted any bees...
Bob Out
I was home today but as you may have noticed, next to my bees I also have an aviary, in the morning that took up most of my time.
I had a quick look into the hive and saw some bees on the foundation in the bottom box, but they weren't drawing comb yet.
In the middle box the building on S1 has begun. (Used to be B1)
- I'll number my frames from left to right and B stands for bottom, S for super and T for top-box. If I should, but I'm not planning to, add more supers the S's will get numbered from bottom to top. -
Temperatures today were around 15°C, but there was little to no wind, and the clouds drifted by scarcely. Activity near the hive was less than last week, but then again, there is a lot to do in the hive for all the bees and the weather outside isn't that optimal.Color of pollen being brought in: Some yellow, some orange and almost white.
I wonder where they get everything from.
Strawberries and the walnut tree in the back are blooming, but I haven't spotted any bees...
Bob Out
Wednesday 25 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Another working day, but still I had a chance to go and peek at the bees before heading off. The morning sun was peeping out from underneath it's sheets of white in the sky... The bees were still asleep.
Temperatures today were around 16°C, there was some wind out so it felt colder than it was.
Bob Out
Another working day, but still I had a chance to go and peek at the bees before heading off. The morning sun was peeping out from underneath it's sheets of white in the sky... The bees were still asleep.
Temperatures today were around 16°C, there was some wind out so it felt colder than it was.
Bob Out
Tuesday 24 April 2018
Tuesday 24 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were around 16°C, during the day. Shorly before midday I shot this picture of 14°C
There was normal activity near the hive. I worked in front of the hive for my project. I leveled the dirt and put two pieces of stone tiles down to put the hive on. The bees were calm as I was working in front of them.
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and almost white.
I got my first bee sting today! Right on the bottom of my nose!
Since I was looking at the hive during my work on the project long hive. I got over confident and decided to put a deep box underneath the current hive. I worked without protection and without smoke or waterspray. I payed the price!
Want to see the video? It'll be up on tuesday may 8th 2018. Here's the link:
Bob Out
Temperatures today were around 16°C, during the day. Shorly before midday I shot this picture of 14°C
There was normal activity near the hive. I worked in front of the hive for my project. I leveled the dirt and put two pieces of stone tiles down to put the hive on. The bees were calm as I was working in front of them.
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and almost white.
I got my first bee sting today! Right on the bottom of my nose!
Since I was looking at the hive during my work on the project long hive. I got over confident and decided to put a deep box underneath the current hive. I worked without protection and without smoke or waterspray. I payed the price!
Want to see the video? It'll be up on tuesday may 8th 2018. Here's the link:
Bob Out
Monday 23 apr 2018
Hello readers,
As I was knackered from work I didn't get out to look at the bees at all!
Although forecast said it would rain, it didn't (untill at night) I expect the activity will have been good since the weather was nice with temperatures around 18°C.
It's going to cool down during the coming week.
Bob Out
As I was knackered from work I didn't get out to look at the bees at all!
Although forecast said it would rain, it didn't (untill at night) I expect the activity will have been good since the weather was nice with temperatures around 18°C.
It's going to cool down during the coming week.
Bob Out
Sunday 22 April 2018
Sunday 22 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were 26°C again, but forecasts said there was a chance of storm (showers, lightning and thunder).
The hive activity was wonderfull I saw a lot of bees coming in but not that many with pollen, some yellow and white'ish were being brought in sporadicly As a 'newbee' I'm going to say that must mean the others bring in nectar (and water?)
I also noticed some bees outside the hive again, still behaving weird. I picked up the drone I filmed first in this next clip:
I noticed it had a good wing set on one side but only one wing on the other side. Otherwise I couldn't really notice anything wrong at all. I showed the little fella to my kids. They didn't know drones can't sting!
That was it for today.
(Unless you want to watch my chickens for a bit)
Bob Out
Temperatures today were 26°C again, but forecasts said there was a chance of storm (showers, lightning and thunder).
The hive activity was wonderfull I saw a lot of bees coming in but not that many with pollen, some yellow and white'ish were being brought in sporadicly As a 'newbee' I'm going to say that must mean the others bring in nectar (and water?)
I also noticed some bees outside the hive again, still behaving weird. I picked up the drone I filmed first in this next clip:
I noticed it had a good wing set on one side but only one wing on the other side. Otherwise I couldn't really notice anything wrong at all. I showed the little fella to my kids. They didn't know drones can't sting!
That was it for today.
(Unless you want to watch my chickens for a bit)
Bob Out
Saturday 21 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Another work-day for me.
Temperatures today were 26°C at max! Didn't take any pictures or make any video's. Left my phone to charge but do have something to report!
I saw my first hatched drone inside the hive! The bees are booming! I didn't count frames, but they're building for sure!
Bob Out
Another work-day for me.
Temperatures today were 26°C at max! Didn't take any pictures or make any video's. Left my phone to charge but do have something to report!
I saw my first hatched drone inside the hive! The bees are booming! I didn't count frames, but they're building for sure!
Bob Out
Friday 20 apr 2018
Hello readers,
A late post for Friday, another workday...
I got home late and found temperatures at 24°C,
activity near the hive was pretty much the same as yesterday.
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and very pale yellow.
Bob Out
A late post for Friday, another workday...
I got home late and found temperatures at 24°C,
activity near the hive was pretty much the same as yesterday.
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and very pale yellow.
Bob Out
Thursday 19 April 2018
Thursday 19 apr 2018
Hello readers,
As I was out working again today and didn't see my bees yesterday I was glad to see some action shortly before 20h00. Temperatures were still above 20°C, in the evening and there was still some activity near the hive.
Here is some footage of what I saw near the hives, oh I think I forgot to mention in my previous post from tuesday, I turned the entrance reducer over again. Since there are a lot of bees dead in front of the hive I don't want them to get robbed out. Of course I'm not sure if my hive is 'weak' compared to others in the area, but rather be safe than sorry:
I'll try to read up on the (dis)advantages of entrance sizes.
I also started watering the plants and found a dead bee in a flower. I wonder what happened. This is the second time I see bees dead in a way that makes me think my environment is polluted and poisoned:
Have any thoughts or knowledge that can help me out?! Don't hesitate to contact me!!
Bob Out
As I was out working again today and didn't see my bees yesterday I was glad to see some action shortly before 20h00. Temperatures were still above 20°C, in the evening and there was still some activity near the hive.
Here is some footage of what I saw near the hives, oh I think I forgot to mention in my previous post from tuesday, I turned the entrance reducer over again. Since there are a lot of bees dead in front of the hive I don't want them to get robbed out. Of course I'm not sure if my hive is 'weak' compared to others in the area, but rather be safe than sorry:
I'll try to read up on the (dis)advantages of entrance sizes.
I also started watering the plants and found a dead bee in a flower. I wonder what happened. This is the second time I see bees dead in a way that makes me think my environment is polluted and poisoned:
Have any thoughts or knowledge that can help me out?! Don't hesitate to contact me!!
Bob Out
Wednesday 18 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Today I did not go out and look at my hive, work, work work... Temperatures today were up to 25°C.
I hope the bees were active and are building the comb out in the 2 boxes high hive.
I've put my skep to catch swarms into my car, with a sheet and my beesuit. I hope to get a call sooner than later!
Bob Out
Today I did not go out and look at my hive, work, work work... Temperatures today were up to 25°C.
I hope the bees were active and are building the comb out in the 2 boxes high hive.
I've put my skep to catch swarms into my car, with a sheet and my beesuit. I hope to get a call sooner than later!
Bob Out
Tuesday 17 April 2018
Tuesday 17 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 21°C, as a result there was good activity near the hive. The wider entrance was put to use.
I did not take any pictures today, nor did I use the BuzzBox app (my phone was charging inside).
I did take a good look through my observation windows and am glad to report that on frame B8 there is a good amount of newly built comb. It looks like it's built inside the frame and is almost reaching the bottom bar! B2 was abandoned and empty, well it was mostly empty comb to begin with.
The bees are all over B4 till B9, there is some movement on B3 and B2, but no comb built yet on B3. In the top right above that form S4 to S9, there is good bee activity. I couldn't see S10 since the comb on S9 is preventing me to look past it. The 3 frames S1 - S3 are all foundation and nothing more. I'm not sure if there is new comb on S5 . Must take a look again, tomorrow?
See ya!
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 21°C, as a result there was good activity near the hive. The wider entrance was put to use.
I did not take any pictures today, nor did I use the BuzzBox app (my phone was charging inside).
I did take a good look through my observation windows and am glad to report that on frame B8 there is a good amount of newly built comb. It looks like it's built inside the frame and is almost reaching the bottom bar! B2 was abandoned and empty, well it was mostly empty comb to begin with.
The bees are all over B4 till B9, there is some movement on B3 and B2, but no comb built yet on B3. In the top right above that form S4 to S9, there is good bee activity. I couldn't see S10 since the comb on S9 is preventing me to look past it. The 3 frames S1 - S3 are all foundation and nothing more. I'm not sure if there is new comb on S5 . Must take a look again, tomorrow?
See ya!
Bob Out
Monday 16 April 2018
Monday 16 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today are around 17°C, there is good activity near the hive.
Color of pollen being brought in small amounts of yellow.
I noticed the entrance reducer got pushed a little by something. Since there is a forecast of nice weather for the coming days, I turned the reducer around so the longer slit is now at the bottom.
Bob Out
Temperatures today are around 17°C, there is good activity near the hive.
Color of pollen being brought in small amounts of yellow.
I noticed the entrance reducer got pushed a little by something. Since there is a forecast of nice weather for the coming days, I turned the reducer around so the longer slit is now at the bottom.
Bob Out
Sunday 15 April 2018
Sunday 15 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures this morning before I left home were 15°C, activity near the hive was non-existant as it was still to early.
I used the BuzzBox app that showed me the hive was healthy, it was about 08:20.
I came back home around 19:00, still light outside but starting to drip a bit, some late stragglers came home. One of them had some white pollen with her, not much though.
Bob Out
Temperatures this morning before I left home were 15°C, activity near the hive was non-existant as it was still to early.
I used the BuzzBox app that showed me the hive was healthy, it was about 08:20.
I came back home around 19:00, still light outside but starting to drip a bit, some late stragglers came home. One of them had some white pollen with her, not much though.
Bob Out
Saturday 14 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were 18°C and below, I filmed the activity near the hive, not too busy, but not calm either!
Color of pollen being brought in: Mostly dark and bright yellow, some orange.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were 18°C and below, I filmed the activity near the hive, not too busy, but not calm either!
Color of pollen being brought in: Mostly dark and bright yellow, some orange.
Bob Out
Friday 13 April 2018
Friday 13 apr 2018
Hello readers,
It's Friday the 13th... Temperatures today were up to 16°C, a cloudy but dry day. Good activity near the hive, some bees making orientation flights, some bringing in pollen.
Color of pollen being brought in: Bright yellow, dark yellow, bright orange, darker orange and some almost white.
I noticed a group of bees outside the hive on the ground. I don't know what caused this... Activity near and in the hive seems ok. Let's just go with: bees know best...
I also noticed some small insect near the back of the hive. First time I see one of these critters, must try to look up what it is.
Bob Out
It's Friday the 13th... Temperatures today were up to 16°C, a cloudy but dry day. Good activity near the hive, some bees making orientation flights, some bringing in pollen.
Color of pollen being brought in: Bright yellow, dark yellow, bright orange, darker orange and some almost white.
I noticed a group of bees outside the hive on the ground. I don't know what caused this... Activity near and in the hive seems ok. Let's just go with: bees know best...
I also noticed some small insect near the back of the hive. First time I see one of these critters, must try to look up what it is.
Bob Out
Thursday 12 April 2018
Thursday 12 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Today it was rather cloudy, temperatures were up to 15°C, there was almost no activity near the hive, no orientation going on, and only single bees departing for flights.
Color of pollen being brought in, didn't see much, but what I saw was yellow.
I used the Buzzbox app @12:48, it told me the hive was healthy.
On a side note, I helped out a fellow beekeeper today moving frames from his 6-frame nucleus to a 10 frame hive. Since the weather wasn't that great the bees didn't enjoy being out of the hive that much. One found a way into my beesuit and buzzed on the inside of my veil. I was able to remain calm enough since the bee decided it wanted out rather than sting me in the face. We interrupted our work on the hive to release the bee, more to prevent it from stinging me than for the bees wellbeing but hey... FREEDOM!!
Bob Out
Today it was rather cloudy, temperatures were up to 15°C, there was almost no activity near the hive, no orientation going on, and only single bees departing for flights.
Color of pollen being brought in, didn't see much, but what I saw was yellow.
I used the Buzzbox app @12:48, it told me the hive was healthy.
On a side note, I helped out a fellow beekeeper today moving frames from his 6-frame nucleus to a 10 frame hive. Since the weather wasn't that great the bees didn't enjoy being out of the hive that much. One found a way into my beesuit and buzzed on the inside of my veil. I was able to remain calm enough since the bee decided it wanted out rather than sting me in the face. We interrupted our work on the hive to release the bee, more to prevent it from stinging me than for the bees wellbeing but hey... FREEDOM!!
Bob Out
Wednesday 11 April 2018
Wednesday 11 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were around 17°C maximum, no rain.
The activity near the hive was good, at least when I went in to check around midday 14:00-ish.
Color of pollen being brought in were still orange and yellow.
The BuzzBox app got used again around 14:25 and gave a healthy result.
I witnessed today how at least 2 sets of frames are already stuck together with comb due to my 'cutout' attempt from sunday
Bob Out
Temperatures today were around 17°C maximum, no rain.
The activity near the hive was good, at least when I went in to check around midday 14:00-ish.
Color of pollen being brought in were still orange and yellow.
The BuzzBox app got used again around 14:25 and gave a healthy result.
I witnessed today how at least 2 sets of frames are already stuck together with comb due to my 'cutout' attempt from sunday
Bob Out
Tuesday 10 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were peeking at 20°C, although there was a forecast of some small showers it was dry during the day until 18:00. The hive was very busy. I saw pollen being brought in, mostly orange and some yellow. I did notice some bees and larvae being dragged out of the hive. Probably still cleaning up from my cutout last sunday... I filmed one bee that drgged another out of the hive, don't know why although the bee on the right in the video does look 'white' and soft. I'm not sure if it's a newborn or if something is wrong.
The BuzzBox App was used around 15:35 and shows the bees are healthy.
If you know what is happening, please let me know!
Bob Out
Temperatures today were peeking at 20°C, although there was a forecast of some small showers it was dry during the day until 18:00. The hive was very busy. I saw pollen being brought in, mostly orange and some yellow. I did notice some bees and larvae being dragged out of the hive. Probably still cleaning up from my cutout last sunday... I filmed one bee that drgged another out of the hive, don't know why although the bee on the right in the video does look 'white' and soft. I'm not sure if it's a newborn or if something is wrong.
The BuzzBox App was used around 15:35 and shows the bees are healthy.
If you know what is happening, please let me know!
Bob Out
Monday 9 April 2018
Monday 09 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Out working today with temperatures towards 16°C. As I was at work I didn't get to check on the bees at al.
Bob Out
Out working today with temperatures towards 16°C. As I was at work I didn't get to check on the bees at al.
Bob Out
Sunday 08 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 19°C again. The morning brought some rain, but in the afternoon it cleared up. I took it upon me to do the cutouts since it was nice outside. A video of the cutout will be available on YouTube on may 1st 2018.
Color of pollen being brought in Yellow and Orange:
Th activity near the hive was good, even during my work on the cut out. I didn't have to disturb the bees much since they were not in the second box yet.
The BuzzBox App tells me around 15:00 that all's well.
What a messy business was that! I don't think I'll do a cut out again soon. It works, sure, but I did make some poor choices.
First off, I tried to hang the comb into my frames using kitchen string. This cuts through the comb as soon as you turn the frame upright. After putting the frame with cutout into the hive box it started tipping over and out of the frame.
I said in the video I might regret doing the cutout since opening the hive to extract frames is going to be almost impossible to pull off. Well not impossible, but a pain that's not really worth it.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 19°C again. The morning brought some rain, but in the afternoon it cleared up. I took it upon me to do the cutouts since it was nice outside. A video of the cutout will be available on YouTube on may 1st 2018.
Color of pollen being brought in Yellow and Orange:
Th activity near the hive was good, even during my work on the cut out. I didn't have to disturb the bees much since they were not in the second box yet.
The BuzzBox App tells me around 15:00 that all's well.
What a messy business was that! I don't think I'll do a cut out again soon. It works, sure, but I did make some poor choices.
First off, I tried to hang the comb into my frames using kitchen string. This cuts through the comb as soon as you turn the frame upright. After putting the frame with cutout into the hive box it started tipping over and out of the frame.
I said in the video I might regret doing the cutout since opening the hive to extract frames is going to be almost impossible to pull off. Well not impossible, but a pain that's not really worth it.
Saturday 07 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were very nice, above 20°C! Very good activity near the hive even early in the morning!
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and orange.
The BuzzBox app shows a healthy hive @10:30
I received some brood today on Dadant frames. The length of the ears on the frames fit mine, but the frames themselves were a bit longer so they didn't fit in my boxes. I had to make a split decision since I had to leave shortly after receiving the brood in the 6-frame polystyrene nucleus. The nuc itself fitted nice on my hives apart from it being 3 frames to narrow. I put it on top of my open hive and covered the exposed bit with some plastic and sealed it of with a tile.
I tried calling the beekeeper that gave them to me but he didn't answer his phone.
Later in the day I decided I'd try to do cut-outs to fit the comb into my frames...
Want to know how that went? Stay tuned, a small report will come up next. For now you'll have to make do with a small bit of video:
Bob Out
Temperatures today were very nice, above 20°C! Very good activity near the hive even early in the morning!
Color of pollen being brought in yellow and orange.
The BuzzBox app shows a healthy hive @10:30
I received some brood today on Dadant frames. The length of the ears on the frames fit mine, but the frames themselves were a bit longer so they didn't fit in my boxes. I had to make a split decision since I had to leave shortly after receiving the brood in the 6-frame polystyrene nucleus. The nuc itself fitted nice on my hives apart from it being 3 frames to narrow. I put it on top of my open hive and covered the exposed bit with some plastic and sealed it of with a tile.
I tried calling the beekeeper that gave them to me but he didn't answer his phone.
Later in the day I decided I'd try to do cut-outs to fit the comb into my frames...
Want to know how that went? Stay tuned, a small report will come up next. For now you'll have to make do with a small bit of video:
Bob Out
Friday 6 April 2018
Friday 06 apr 2018
Hello readers,
A beautiful day! Is spring finally here?!
16°C out, or so the forecast tells me, cause I'l inside, hard at work to earn some money.
Bob out
Thursday 05 apr 2018
Hello readers,
A colder day today, 10°C at Max. Showers and the temperatures kept the bees inside the hive today.
Bees came and went every 10 seconds one by one. But the returning bees didn't bring any pollen that I saw.
Bob out.
Wednesday 4 April 2018
Wednesday 04 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 15°C outside, with clear periods in the cloudy sky. At one point we had a hailstorm, but after 10 minutes it cleared up again.
Near the hive I could spot some new bees making orientation flights again and foragers bringing in pollen of bright yellow and orange-brown pollen. Inside the hive I noticed bees on the bottom of the window, who I think were likking up condensation
I've put up another video checking my bees:
I also took a picture of where my project hive is now set up. I removed the top cover and am happy to report the inside was dry in spite of the weather and there still being some water on top of the roof.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 15°C outside, with clear periods in the cloudy sky. At one point we had a hailstorm, but after 10 minutes it cleared up again.
Near the hive I could spot some new bees making orientation flights again and foragers bringing in pollen of bright yellow and orange-brown pollen. Inside the hive I noticed bees on the bottom of the window, who I think were likking up condensation
I've put up another video checking my bees:
I also took a picture of where my project hive is now set up. I removed the top cover and am happy to report the inside was dry in spite of the weather and there still being some water on top of the roof.
Bob Out
Did Preparing work?
Hello readers,
I already put up my log details for today, but I'm back for a quick look over the shoulder to how I prepped for moving the bees and how I executed it. Lets go over the steps again:
Step one: Finish the outer cover of my hive project.
I put on an outer cover on the hive. Not sure if it'll last but time will tell.
CHECK
Step two: Move the uninhabited hives out of the way so I can place the long hive.
Did that!
CHECK
Step three: Place the long hive.
I got my daughter out to help on this one, since manouvering with that big bastard of a hive is a pain in the *.
CHECK
Step four: get your tools ready:
Regardless of whether I used them.
Hive tools CHECK
Smoker CHECK
goose feather CHECK
6 top bars CHECK
Straps to fix the simplex frames on the top bars CHECK
bee-suit and gloves CHECK
knife and foodpacks CHECK
Queen clip CHECK
camera gear to film the experience CHECK
Populated Beehive (simplex nucleus) CHECK
Something to close off the nucleus with (piece of foam) CHECK
Unpopulated beehive (3 boxes with at least 24 frames ready to go) I only prepared 14 frames in total
Take your frame-plan CHECK even though nerves got the best of me.
Step Five: Set up the Camera
Well, wait till 24th of april and you'll see for yourself!
CHECK
Step Six: move the populated beehive away from it's current location and replace it with the bottom box (empty frames close by). Keep the populated hive withing working distance.
CHECK
Step Seven: open up the unpopulated Hive and get ready to fix the top bars onto the simplex frames.
I didn't spot the extra frame that was in there... mistake number 1
CHECK
Step Eight: Open up the populated Hive after smoking the enterance a bit and smoke over the top of the box.
Smoke was everywhere! It doesn't show on the video that well, but flames came out of the nozzle at first. And the smoke came out abundantly at times.
Rookie mistake number 2 - but no harm done!
CHECK
Step Nine: Once the bees are down scrape off burr comb of the top of the simplex frames.
This went rather fast without the bees coming after me! I was surprised somewhat!
CHECK
Step ten: check if you can get all 6 frames loose but don't remove them yet.
I did spot the one frame was built against the wall, at least near the top end of the bar, but I cut it loose.
CHECK
Step eleven: fix the top bars onto the simplex frames without removing the frames from the box entirely - should this not work move them as soon as they're fixed into the new box.
I had to go with option 2 and move them one by one. Here is where the nerves got me and not spotting the extra frame in my box made me change around the order of the frames.
First I removed frame S3 (Simplex 3) and put it in B6 - it should've gone in B5 but there was a ZFE there!
Second I removed frame S4 and put it in B7
Third I took S3 and put it in B9 - I then spotted the extra frame in my Zander Box. Removed B8 but ended up putting an empty frame with no starter strip whatsoever back in there. There was foundation on there at first, but that frame I moved to B1, then I took out B5, also a ZFE. (are you still following? I'll put the hive combination in my Zander box down after this listing)
Fourth frame I took out was S5 and put it into B5.
Fift frame I took out was S6 and put it into B4
Last one was S1 and that went into B2
So my Zanderbox now looks like:
B1: ZFE foundation strip (1/2)
B2: SFC (only comb)
B3: ZFE foundation strip (1/4)
B4: SFF Nectar (capped)
B5: SFB Brood (no food)
B6 SFB Brood with a bit of nectar (capped)
B7: SFB Brood with a bit of nectar (Capped)
B8: ZFE no foundation
B9: SFB Brood (no food)
B10: ZFE foundation strip (1/4)
S1-10: ZFE full foundation
So I moved the brood to one side of the hive, where it should've been more in the middle. I can only hope the bees correct it.
CHECK
Step twelve: If it does work start with taking the second frame from one side and check it. Note what you see and hang it in the unpopulated hive. What to look for?
I did look at the frames but I didn't see any of the things I aimed to look for. All I could recognize were closed cells of brood and capped honey cells. I didn't see eggs, I didn't see uncapped brood, I didn't see the queen, I didn't see if there were drones there...
NO CHECK
Step fourteen: dump any leftover bees remaining from the simplex nucleus (populated hive) into the top box (be it the bottom one or the super) then close up the hive ASAP.
I did not notice the bees in front of the hive (the ones you see on camera on the outside of the hive)
I might have only shaken it once if I did.
CHECK
Step Fifteen: remove the now unpopulated simplex and close it up so no bees can get in.
Since I didn't get them all out I moved the simplex in front of the Zander hive. I only closed it up later that day
NO REAL CHECK But shouldn't have been. I got this wrong!
Step Sixteen: if the bees are still calm then put the apiary in order: place the empty hive boxes where they should be in the future if populated. (as to not confuse the bees too much with changing enviroments. If you are stung like a pincushion best to leave the apiary and wait an hour or so before coming back to fix this.
I did clean up and let the video run. Al I saw so far on there was some bees fanning on the new hive to draw in the bees that were looking for the hive.
No the bees did not go wild, I used a lot of smoke though, more to put myself at ease than calm the bees I guess. But it worked.
2) You kill the queen.
I don't think I did, the fanning bees should support that.
3) I spot a disease.
I didn't spot much of anything out of the ordinary. Sheesh, it was my first time looking at the inside of a hive (not counting YouTube video's)
4) I spot swarmcells
I did not see swarmcells!
What did go 'wrong' is I did not think of the plastic ends of the zip lock strips. They hindered closing off the box. I tried to solve it by putting another box on top, but even in that box some frames got pushed aside.
I also need to look up how to kill my smoker. Now I dumped the contents out in the dirt and stamped it out.
My nerves got the better of me and I forgot to really look at the frames. But then again, I wanted to move the bees in the Zander hive ASAP so I wanted that to be over with.
Bob Out
I already put up my log details for today, but I'm back for a quick look over the shoulder to how I prepped for moving the bees and how I executed it. Lets go over the steps again:
Step one: Finish the outer cover of my hive project.
I put on an outer cover on the hive. Not sure if it'll last but time will tell.
CHECK
Step two: Move the uninhabited hives out of the way so I can place the long hive.
Did that!
CHECK
Step three: Place the long hive.
I got my daughter out to help on this one, since manouvering with that big bastard of a hive is a pain in the *.
CHECK
Step four: get your tools ready:
Regardless of whether I used them.
Hive tools CHECK
Smoker CHECK
goose feather CHECK
6 top bars CHECK
Straps to fix the simplex frames on the top bars CHECK
bee-suit and gloves CHECK
knife and foodpacks CHECK
Queen clip CHECK
camera gear to film the experience CHECK
Populated Beehive (simplex nucleus) CHECK
Something to close off the nucleus with (piece of foam) CHECK
Unpopulated beehive (3 boxes with at least 24 frames ready to go) I only prepared 14 frames in total
Take your frame-plan CHECK even though nerves got the best of me.
Step Five: Set up the Camera
Well, wait till 24th of april and you'll see for yourself!
CHECK
Step Six: move the populated beehive away from it's current location and replace it with the bottom box (empty frames close by). Keep the populated hive withing working distance.
CHECK
Step Seven: open up the unpopulated Hive and get ready to fix the top bars onto the simplex frames.
I didn't spot the extra frame that was in there... mistake number 1
CHECK
Step Eight: Open up the populated Hive after smoking the enterance a bit and smoke over the top of the box.
Smoke was everywhere! It doesn't show on the video that well, but flames came out of the nozzle at first. And the smoke came out abundantly at times.
Rookie mistake number 2 - but no harm done!
CHECK
Step Nine: Once the bees are down scrape off burr comb of the top of the simplex frames.
This went rather fast without the bees coming after me! I was surprised somewhat!
CHECK
Step ten: check if you can get all 6 frames loose but don't remove them yet.
I did spot the one frame was built against the wall, at least near the top end of the bar, but I cut it loose.
CHECK
Step eleven: fix the top bars onto the simplex frames without removing the frames from the box entirely - should this not work move them as soon as they're fixed into the new box.
I had to go with option 2 and move them one by one. Here is where the nerves got me and not spotting the extra frame in my box made me change around the order of the frames.
First I removed frame S3 (Simplex 3) and put it in B6 - it should've gone in B5 but there was a ZFE there!
Second I removed frame S4 and put it in B7
Third I took S3 and put it in B9 - I then spotted the extra frame in my Zander Box. Removed B8 but ended up putting an empty frame with no starter strip whatsoever back in there. There was foundation on there at first, but that frame I moved to B1, then I took out B5, also a ZFE. (are you still following? I'll put the hive combination in my Zander box down after this listing)
Fourth frame I took out was S5 and put it into B5.
Fift frame I took out was S6 and put it into B4
Last one was S1 and that went into B2
So my Zanderbox now looks like:
B1: ZFE foundation strip (1/2)
B2: SFC (only comb)
B3: ZFE foundation strip (1/4)
B4: SFF Nectar (capped)
B5: SFB Brood (no food)
B6 SFB Brood with a bit of nectar (capped)
B7: SFB Brood with a bit of nectar (Capped)
B8: ZFE no foundation
B9: SFB Brood (no food)
B10: ZFE foundation strip (1/4)
S1-10: ZFE full foundation
So I moved the brood to one side of the hive, where it should've been more in the middle. I can only hope the bees correct it.
CHECK
Step twelve: If it does work start with taking the second frame from one side and check it. Note what you see and hang it in the unpopulated hive. What to look for?
I did look at the frames but I didn't see any of the things I aimed to look for. All I could recognize were closed cells of brood and capped honey cells. I didn't see eggs, I didn't see uncapped brood, I didn't see the queen, I didn't see if there were drones there...
NO CHECK
Step fourteen: dump any leftover bees remaining from the simplex nucleus (populated hive) into the top box (be it the bottom one or the super) then close up the hive ASAP.
I did not notice the bees in front of the hive (the ones you see on camera on the outside of the hive)
I might have only shaken it once if I did.
CHECK
Step Fifteen: remove the now unpopulated simplex and close it up so no bees can get in.
Since I didn't get them all out I moved the simplex in front of the Zander hive. I only closed it up later that day
NO REAL CHECK But shouldn't have been. I got this wrong!
Step Sixteen: if the bees are still calm then put the apiary in order: place the empty hive boxes where they should be in the future if populated. (as to not confuse the bees too much with changing enviroments. If you are stung like a pincushion best to leave the apiary and wait an hour or so before coming back to fix this.
I did clean up and let the video run. Al I saw so far on there was some bees fanning on the new hive to draw in the bees that were looking for the hive.
What went wrong?
1) Bees go wild.No the bees did not go wild, I used a lot of smoke though, more to put myself at ease than calm the bees I guess. But it worked.
2) You kill the queen.
I don't think I did, the fanning bees should support that.
3) I spot a disease.
I didn't spot much of anything out of the ordinary. Sheesh, it was my first time looking at the inside of a hive (not counting YouTube video's)
4) I spot swarmcells
I did not see swarmcells!
What did go 'wrong' is I did not think of the plastic ends of the zip lock strips. They hindered closing off the box. I tried to solve it by putting another box on top, but even in that box some frames got pushed aside.
I also need to look up how to kill my smoker. Now I dumped the contents out in the dirt and stamped it out.
My nerves got the better of me and I forgot to really look at the frames. But then again, I wanted to move the bees in the Zander hive ASAP so I wanted that to be over with.
Bob Out
Tuesday 03 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today rose up to 15°C. It was supposed to rain all day, but close to midday it started clearing up. I checked the forecast and it promissed to stay very well till 16:00 - 16:30-ish.
The activity near the hive was wonderful and I experienced it first hand. I moved my bees into the Zander hive! I filmed the whole shebang, but since the video is supposed to be part of a series, I figured I'd better start with episode 1.
A rather boring episode where I drive my car and explain what I'm going to do in the series.
I already recorded episodes 2, 3 and 4 where I show the Zander Hives (2), I show a nucleus I got (3) and how I moved the bees today (4).
The video's are going to be released every week form now on, untill I run out. I don't expect to do a full hive inspection every week so from may forward it may take me longer to put up a YouTube video.
As for the conclusion on my preparation... sit tight, I'm putting it up in moments...
Hope you enjoyed it, and see you tomorrow on my blog!
Bob Out
P.S. The video's will be available on the blog past their release date.
Temperatures today rose up to 15°C. It was supposed to rain all day, but close to midday it started clearing up. I checked the forecast and it promissed to stay very well till 16:00 - 16:30-ish.
The activity near the hive was wonderful and I experienced it first hand. I moved my bees into the Zander hive! I filmed the whole shebang, but since the video is supposed to be part of a series, I figured I'd better start with episode 1.
A rather boring episode where I drive my car and explain what I'm going to do in the series.
I already recorded episodes 2, 3 and 4 where I show the Zander Hives (2), I show a nucleus I got (3) and how I moved the bees today (4).
The video's are going to be released every week form now on, untill I run out. I don't expect to do a full hive inspection every week so from may forward it may take me longer to put up a YouTube video.
As for the conclusion on my preparation... sit tight, I'm putting it up in moments...
Hope you enjoyed it, and see you tomorrow on my blog!
Bob Out
P.S. The video's will be available on the blog past their release date.
Monday 2 April 2018
Preparation time
Hello readers,
No classic input this time with temperatures, activity near the hive or info about pollen color being brought in. No app recording, no video.
Today I'm setting up a step by step guide for moving the bees into my hive.
Before I move the bees into a wider hive I'll need to install my hive project first into place, hence:
Step one: Finish the outer cover of my hive project.
Step two: Move the uninhabited hives out of the way so I can place the long hive.
Step three: Place the long hive.
There, three steps I need to do before starting on the actual move.
Step four: get your tools ready:
That's it for now, might come back and change this document a bit untill I actually do it.
Bob Out
No classic input this time with temperatures, activity near the hive or info about pollen color being brought in. No app recording, no video.
Today I'm setting up a step by step guide for moving the bees into my hive.
The Plan:
Before I move the bees into a wider hive I'll need to install my hive project first into place, hence:
Step one: Finish the outer cover of my hive project.
Step two: Move the uninhabited hives out of the way so I can place the long hive.
Step three: Place the long hive.
There, three steps I need to do before starting on the actual move.
Step four: get your tools ready:
- Hive tools
- Smoker
- goose feather
- 6 top bars
- Straps to fix the simplex frames on the top bars
- bee-suit and gloves
- knife and foodpacks
- Queen clip
- camera gear to film the experience
- Populated Beehive (simplex nucleus)
- Something to close off the nucleus with (piece of foam)
- Unpopulated beehive (3 boxes with at least 24 frames ready to go)
- Take your frame-plan (it's in my head really but I wanted to put it up here so... My frame plan is how I want to put the simplex frames (SF with E for empty - don't expect that - F for Nectar and pollen but no brood - B for brood - C for only comb - don't expect this either) into my hive mixed up with my Empty Zander Frame (ZFE).
The plan looks a little like this:
B1 : ZFE
B2 : SFF
B3: ZFE
B4: SFB
B5: SFB
B6: SFB
B7: SFB
B8: ZFE
B9: SFF
B10: ZFE
Of course I can't be sure there will be 4 frames of brood and 2 frames of food, but this is the basic plan. On a side note: 3 of my ZFE's already have a starterstrip of wax foundation in them. The fourth has nothing, I hope they don't get wild in the wax building. - B1 through B10 stand for 'Bottombox places 1 through 10 starting from the left as you would read)
Step Five: Set up the Camera
Step Six: With the tools at hand and the hive stand (a pallet) cleared move the populated beehive away from it's current location and replace it with the bottom box (empty frames close by). Keep the populated hive withing working distance.
Step Seven: open up the unpopulated Hive and get ready to fix the top bars onto the simplex frames.
Step Eight: Open up the populated Hive after smoking the enterance a bit and smoke over the top of the box.
Step Nine: Once the bees are down scrape off burr comb of the top of the simplex frames.
Step ten: check if you can get all 6 frames loose but don't remove them yet.
Step eleven: fix the top bars onto the simplex frames without removing the frames from the box entirely - should this not work move them as soon as they're fixed into the new box.
Step twelve: If it does work start with taking the second frame from one side and check it. Note what you see and hang it in the unpopulated hive. What to look for?
- What is in the frame: eggs, open brood, closed brood, nectar, pollen, a mixture, varroa, anything else you see?
- What is on the frame: Nurse bees? The queen? Drones? Varroa? Anything else?
- What is happening on the frame? Are the bees calm and staying on it / did they not enjoy being moved?
- General thoughts afterwards.
Do this and move the frames into the unpopulated hive with the frame plan in mind.
Step thirteen: Suppose the frames were packed and you have at least 3 frames of food, (B7 would be SFF instead of SFB) Then we substitute the planned B6 SFB with a ZFE and move the planned SFB on B6 to B7. The third SFF then goes into the super we put on top of the bottom box. This super is filled with ZFE's appart from S6 (Super frame space 6) where you hang the third frame of food. The boxes should look like this:
B1 : ZFE S1: ZFE
B2 : SFF S2: ZFE
B3: ZFE S3: ZFE
B4: SFB S4: ZFE
B5: SFB S5: ZFE
B6: ZFE S6: SFF
B7: SFB S7: ZFE
B8: ZFE S8: ZFE
B9: SFF S9: ZFE
B10: ZFE S10: ZFE
Step fourteen: dump any leftover bees remaining from the simplex nucleus (populated hive) into the top box (be it the bottom one or the super) then close up the hive ASAP.
Step Fifteen: remove the now unpopulated simplex and close it up so no bees can get in.
Step Sixteen: if the bees are still calm then put the apiary in order: place the empty hive boxes where they should be in the future if populated. (as to not confuse the bees too much with changing enviroments. If you are stung like a pincushion best to leave the apiary and wait an hour or so before coming back to fix this.
You're done.
What can go wrong?
1) Bees go wild.
First a general tip: if needed smoke over the hive in between, stay calm and work fast. If the bees still go wild and you don't trust it. Close up the hive 'as is' as good as you can and leave if you need to.
2) You kill the queen.
Hopefully you still have some 1 day old larvae and eggs in there to allow the bees to make a new queen. -> this needs to be looked at! If that doesn't work, merge a second colonie or put in a new queen whatever you can get ASAP.
3) I spot a disease.
You know what it is: close the hive and prep to do whatever you deem is needed.
You don't know what it is: report your findings to the club, have somebody come in to take a look. Do some research based on your findings.
You don't know what it is: report your findings to the club, have somebody come in to take a look. Do some research based on your findings.
4) I spot swarmcells
Do your utmost best to find the queen and cage her. Fill the planned bottom box with ZFE's except 2 in places B5 and B7. Put one SFF with closed brood only or food into the hive MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT HAVE ANY QUEEN CELLS ON THERE and release the queen in that hive. Put an excluder with feeding hole on that box open a food pack an put it on top of the hole. Close it with a super.
Now move the other frames from the nucleus in a new bottom, At least 2 frames of brood next to eachother in B5 and B6, ZFE's in B2, B4 B7 and B9, remaining SF's in B3 and B8. I'll leave it up to you if you put filler frames in B1 and 10 or ZFE's. Close of with a foodpack like above and a super.
If you cannot locate the queen close up and try again in an hour.
If you cannot locate the queen close up and try again in an hour.
That's it for now, might come back and change this document a bit untill I actually do it.
Bob Out
Monday 02 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 15°C, the weather was nice and so the activity near the hive was also good. New bees coming out to see where the hive is located, foragers coming and going.
After the BuzzBox app went live, I used it again today, it tells me @13:40 the hive is healthy.
Color of pollen being brought in, you guessed it, dark yellow.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 15°C, the weather was nice and so the activity near the hive was also good. New bees coming out to see where the hive is located, foragers coming and going.
After the BuzzBox app went live, I used it again today, it tells me @13:40 the hive is healthy.
Color of pollen being brought in, you guessed it, dark yellow.
Bob Out
Sunday 1 April 2018
Sunday 01 apr 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 10°C,
There was normal activity near the hive. Again the vast majority of pollen being brought in were a dark yellow.
Since it was easter I had other places to visit outside of my apiary and didn't do much observation at all.
I contacted Jane from beespoke.info hoping I could put up a translation for some local beekepers here in Belgium. I would've made a Flemish post for that on my blog, but sadly she was somewhat reluctant for me to reuse her pictures and first reffered me to google translate to help my fellow beekeepers out. I didn't push the issue and upon trying to revisit her webpage today to put up a link in this post I get an error message... has she shut out my IP-adres or Belgium in it's entirety? Or is it simply what it says it is? An error...
Anyhow, I would like to thank her as I have now got some insight into how I can use a Jenter - Kit for queen breeding. Not that I'm ready for that kind of thing yet.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 10°C,
There was normal activity near the hive. Again the vast majority of pollen being brought in were a dark yellow.
Since it was easter I had other places to visit outside of my apiary and didn't do much observation at all.
I contacted Jane from beespoke.info hoping I could put up a translation for some local beekepers here in Belgium. I would've made a Flemish post for that on my blog, but sadly she was somewhat reluctant for me to reuse her pictures and first reffered me to google translate to help my fellow beekeepers out. I didn't push the issue and upon trying to revisit her webpage today to put up a link in this post I get an error message... has she shut out my IP-adres or Belgium in it's entirety? Or is it simply what it says it is? An error...
Anyhow, I would like to thank her as I have now got some insight into how I can use a Jenter - Kit for queen breeding. Not that I'm ready for that kind of thing yet.
Bob Out
Saturday 31 mar 2018
Hello readers,
Temperatures today were up to 10°C shortly after midday, the clouds were pregnant with waterdroplets and showed signs of giving birth momentarily. As a result the activity near the hive was less than on a sunny day with the same temperatures. I did not see any pollen being brought in, but then again, I didn't hang around the hive very long.
Today I tested a method of melting foundation into frames. The garage across my place gave me an old car battery and I put it on a trickle charger last night. I have now tinkered a bit with electric wiring, clips and tape. Hooked up the clips to the battery on one end and a frame with foundation resting on top on the other end so the current passes through the foundation wiring and heats up.
It worked beautifully! As I was charging my phone I didn't take any pictures. Might do so in the future since I only used one sheet of foundation to complete my testrun. I cut it into 2 pieces for my first try and the remaining half got devided by 2 again for run 2 and 3. The result was good enough for me. We'll have to see if the bees like it or not. I did hang the 3 frames with starter strips in the brood box I'll be moving my bees in.
Bob Out
Temperatures today were up to 10°C shortly after midday, the clouds were pregnant with waterdroplets and showed signs of giving birth momentarily. As a result the activity near the hive was less than on a sunny day with the same temperatures. I did not see any pollen being brought in, but then again, I didn't hang around the hive very long.
Today I tested a method of melting foundation into frames. The garage across my place gave me an old car battery and I put it on a trickle charger last night. I have now tinkered a bit with electric wiring, clips and tape. Hooked up the clips to the battery on one end and a frame with foundation resting on top on the other end so the current passes through the foundation wiring and heats up.
It worked beautifully! As I was charging my phone I didn't take any pictures. Might do so in the future since I only used one sheet of foundation to complete my testrun. I cut it into 2 pieces for my first try and the remaining half got devided by 2 again for run 2 and 3. The result was good enough for me. We'll have to see if the bees like it or not. I did hang the 3 frames with starter strips in the brood box I'll be moving my bees in.
Bob Out
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