hedgehog66
House Bee
- Joined
- Oct 11, 2012
- Messages
- 260
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- preston
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- A lot of nationals & 5 TBH
hi everybody
i have been reading threads on the forum for several months now and find them most enlightening
i purchased 3 colonies on Sunday and set them up at home
i had a great shock when, what i thought would be a few bees coming out to do an orientation flight (dry,sunny,no wind, 11 degrees), appeared to be lava, pouring out of the front of each hive, and it didnt seem to stop.
Eventually, the bees circled round, pooing all over my lovely white beekeeping jacket (fresh out of its bag) and seemed to approve of their new purpose built apiary.
Yesterday, whilst it was warm and they were flying, I tried to remove the queen excluder, so the queen can get up to the super full of food, however, the bees had a different idea. Unfortunately, my smoker hasnt arrived yet, so i gave up and left them to it.
i have just set up a weather station in the apiary and it is reading 8 degrees, with mild drizzle, and they are still flying ......
They saw me approach with a screwdriver and decided they didnt want me doing DIY today, so i left them to it.
I cant wait to watch them over the next few months and then will look forward to some lovely honey in the autumn.
Anyway, preparing for my next beekeeping lesson with Preston Beekeepers - swarming......... i am hoping the bees haven't read about this, and decide to stay in the hive rather than looking for a new home.....
off to read some more threads now, thanks to everyone who has written, i really enjoy reading them
i have been reading threads on the forum for several months now and find them most enlightening
i purchased 3 colonies on Sunday and set them up at home
i had a great shock when, what i thought would be a few bees coming out to do an orientation flight (dry,sunny,no wind, 11 degrees), appeared to be lava, pouring out of the front of each hive, and it didnt seem to stop.
Eventually, the bees circled round, pooing all over my lovely white beekeeping jacket (fresh out of its bag) and seemed to approve of their new purpose built apiary.
Yesterday, whilst it was warm and they were flying, I tried to remove the queen excluder, so the queen can get up to the super full of food, however, the bees had a different idea. Unfortunately, my smoker hasnt arrived yet, so i gave up and left them to it.
i have just set up a weather station in the apiary and it is reading 8 degrees, with mild drizzle, and they are still flying ......
They saw me approach with a screwdriver and decided they didnt want me doing DIY today, so i left them to it.
I cant wait to watch them over the next few months and then will look forward to some lovely honey in the autumn.
Anyway, preparing for my next beekeeping lesson with Preston Beekeepers - swarming......... i am hoping the bees haven't read about this, and decide to stay in the hive rather than looking for a new home.....
off to read some more threads now, thanks to everyone who has written, i really enjoy reading them