Well, at last after attending courses and working with others at the Association Apiary I have taken the plunge and a queen with brood and stores on five frames has arrived from Capital Bees and been installed in the National hive I assembled last year. It was a really horrible cold day but that may have been a good thing as it encouraged he bees to stay in the hive and 're-set their sat-navs' from south to east London. I gave them thin sugar syrup in a feeder to help them get a good start.
I have been watching the foraging bees come and go and was relieved to see that on the second day some bees were bringing pollen into the hive which suggests that the nurse bees are feeding young ones. I have resisted the big temptation to open up the hive; first because the bees need to settle down and second because the weather is not very warm and I need to ensure the colony does not cool down. I did take the top off and check that they were feeding on the syrup, which they were. I also looked at the varroa board to see what was on it - general debris and one varroa mite. I shall have to keep an eye on this.
Yesterday I printed off a BBKA (British Beekeepers Association colony inspection checklist and filled it in. It is important to keep accurate records. I also registered with Beebase as I think it is important that all colonies are recorded and their health inspected so that other beekeepers can be notified of disease in local apiaries and take appropriate action.
Today I have been watching the bees come and go. About 10% of the returning bees are bringing in pollen. There are a small number of dead bees near the entrance which I am taking to be natural death because of age or the stress and strain of moving them or perhaps local bees who were trying to rob the hive. One bee hauled a dead bee out of the hive and then flew off with it over the fence. I was amazed at the strength it had. It is important that the bees keep the hive clean of dead bees and debris so that the health of the colony is not compromised. Looking our from a window I noticed a great tit hopping about near the hive. I have been encouraging birds with food and nest boxes for several years but I hope they do not think that my bees are a new generously provided food.
I have ordered another smock and veil for visitors to borrow or for a family member to wear if there is any heavy lifting in the future - hopefully of supers full of honey! I resisted the temptation to buy more bee related items. There is a never ending list of what one can buy but I will get advice from experienced fellow beekeepers a the Association before I spend more money. I am not beekeeping for profit which is probably just as well as my experiences to date demonstrate that it is an expensive interest.
I have been watching the foraging bees come and go and was relieved to see that on the second day some bees were bringing pollen into the hive which suggests that the nurse bees are feeding young ones. I have resisted the big temptation to open up the hive; first because the bees need to settle down and second because the weather is not very warm and I need to ensure the colony does not cool down. I did take the top off and check that they were feeding on the syrup, which they were. I also looked at the varroa board to see what was on it - general debris and one varroa mite. I shall have to keep an eye on this.
Yesterday I printed off a BBKA (British Beekeepers Association colony inspection checklist and filled it in. It is important to keep accurate records. I also registered with Beebase as I think it is important that all colonies are recorded and their health inspected so that other beekeepers can be notified of disease in local apiaries and take appropriate action.
Today I have been watching the bees come and go. About 10% of the returning bees are bringing in pollen. There are a small number of dead bees near the entrance which I am taking to be natural death because of age or the stress and strain of moving them or perhaps local bees who were trying to rob the hive. One bee hauled a dead bee out of the hive and then flew off with it over the fence. I was amazed at the strength it had. It is important that the bees keep the hive clean of dead bees and debris so that the health of the colony is not compromised. Looking our from a window I noticed a great tit hopping about near the hive. I have been encouraging birds with food and nest boxes for several years but I hope they do not think that my bees are a new generously provided food.
I have ordered another smock and veil for visitors to borrow or for a family member to wear if there is any heavy lifting in the future - hopefully of supers full of honey! I resisted the temptation to buy more bee related items. There is a never ending list of what one can buy but I will get advice from experienced fellow beekeepers a the Association before I spend more money. I am not beekeeping for profit which is probably just as well as my experiences to date demonstrate that it is an expensive interest.
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