Good luck Robin, I feel excited for you, I hived my first swarm last year and
it was not straightforward!
However, a kind fellow bee keeper assisted in the final housing. I learned from
her (wearing a veil and rubber gloves) to gently cup a handful of bees and pour
them onto the top of the ramp by the entrance - once there was a mass there,
they marched up like lambs.
Also if they have been in the box overnight, you will probably find a biscuit
or two of comb, I slipped this into my hive.
Good luck
Bridget
Sent from my iPhone
Bridget Tennent
On 4 May 2020, at 08:14, Robin Colyer <robin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
It’s been great to read the recent threads. I’ve got a second swarm waiting
in my garage, my thanks to the Fiddians who boxed it up for me last night.
It’s the cast from the same colony as my absconded prime swarm about 10 days
ago.
Since then I’ve removed dead bees, rubbed the inside of hive with propolis
(in addition to the beeswax and drops of lemongrass oil). Also spread some
old comb on the floor of the hive and there’s a tiny amount of new comb on
one of the top bars left by the first bunch. I’ve added more top bars and
this cast swarm is much smaller anyway so plenty of room. Currently 17 which
seems like too many to me but I’m going with the ‘mansion’ approach while
they establish.
I’ve also had a chance to look up the walking-in method instead of shaking
them in. Got my board and sheet ready with corners of the sheet pinned up to
funnel them a little towards the entrance.
So... Ithink that’s all the boxes ticked for better luck this time. Do people
agree? Planning to hive them about 4pm today.
Robin
--
Best wishes,
Robin
Robin Colyer
Joint Artistic Director
Flintlock Theatre
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