[riseholmebees] Re: queen introduction

  • From: "Ben Crabb" <bcrabb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <riseholmebees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Tue, 27 Jul 2010 09:28:32 +0100

Hi Vanessa,
 
Just been reading everyones emails from the past week or so, everything getting 
exciting now then lol !! Glad your all seeing the wonderful complicated (and 
somethimes expensive as Harvey has seen, hope the finger nails grow back 
soon!!) of the bee hive.  I hope my wife does not catch me on here as I am on 
hliday and not meant to be checking my emails, but never mind eh??
The drop in stores could be the lateness of what is known as the 'june gap' 
when there is a distinctive drop off in the ammount of nectar coming into the 
hives, this results in the bees using all their own stores as it is not 
possible to forage for nectar. At this time if there does not appear to much 
stores, or nectar coming in, it is advisable to put some feed onto the bees in 
order to maintain their numbers, the queens eggying rate and prevent starving. 
If nectar sources are found, you will notice that the bes will hardly touch the 
feed, if however on the other hand there is no nectar available, the feed will 
go down quiet quickly. It is always best to make feed available if you notice a 
dramatic drop in stores in the hive. Bees can strip a sfull super of 20lbs of 
honey in 48 hours if they are starving!!.
Hope this is of help, sorry that I could not have helped you earlier Harvey.
 
I am planning on putting a talk on in Sept / Oct about the bee farming and 
management out here in Cyprus, its been an interesting week so far (looking at 
bees and talking to beekepers!) Lukily the wifes parents live out here so she 
is happy with me doing this while her and Isable spend time with the grand 
parents!!
 
Speak soon
 
Ben

________________________________

From: riseholmebees-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx on behalf of VANESSA HUGHES
Sent: Tue 27/07/2010 9:15 AM
To: riseholmebees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [riseholmebees] Re: queen introduction


hello Harvey,
 
so pleased to hear it all seems to be going well. Fingers crossed and you will 
have 2 colonies to contend with next year! Which seems to be essential doesn't 
it when you read some of the things that need doing when it all gets 
interesting! I have been a little worried about my large hive this week as 
their stores seem to have gone down alarmingly-nothing in the brood box at all, 
but they are still so busy working, lots of willowherb near by, that I hope 
they will sort things out themselves without me having to intervene.
I hope all goes well with your treatment today, if there is anything I can do 
let me know. It would me nice sometime to have a look at how things are going 
with your hives, we could compare notes!
 
Vanessa

--- On Tue, 27/7/10, HARVEY HOWSON <harvey.howson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:



        From: HARVEY HOWSON <harvey.howson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
        Subject: [riseholmebees] queen introduction
        To: riseholmebees@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
        Date: Tuesday, 27 July, 2010, 7:32
        
        
        HI all
        I checked on the hive yesterday to which I introduced a new queen. The 
queen had been released from the cage and their was 1/2 off eggs present in the 
hive so up to now it seems to have worked. The nuc I have removed the frame 
feeder and replaced it with 2 new frames with foundation and stopped feeding as 
the 3 frames already in their are crammed with honey so by putting in the 2 
frames I hope will encorage them to draw them out and also give the new queen 
providing she mates sucsessfully somwhere to lay if. mating is not sucessful 
then I will transfer the frames of stores back to the original hive.
        All going well up to now.
        Harvey

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