So two weeks after my first inspection, I have completed my second. Everything seemed ok. The bees were very calm. There seemed to be more. I found the queen – which is just such a thrill. I still have no idea what to look for, and am having photos taken of each frame so I can do comparisons (like the 2 below). I’ve been reading up and learning about the differences to look for but as soon…
Yesterday as I sat on my chair, positioned just so to meditate on my bees, I witnessed something intriguing. There were a bunch of bees – lets say about 15 – all crowded in the one corner (the right) where they enter the hive. They were gathered around 2 dying or deceased bees, and slowly but surely over about 5 minutes they were pushing them out and off the hive. Each and every worker bee has a role to play…
The way the bees come in and out of the hive keeps reminding me of how the ships leave the platform in Star Wars (or any science fiction film where there are fast ships coming out of a hanger in the middle of no-where).
Today is the first day I have inspected the hive on my own. It’s now 5 days after my nuc was delivered. My mentor suggested I check the hive today to see if there was activity from the queen (was she laying) – as we are concerned that there are no drones in the nuc. I was nervous and excited. My family and I have been sitting on the step of our deck all week, watching the bees go…
Well my wonderful mentor from Orange, NSW has come and gone, and now I am officially a beekeeper. The excitement preceding his arrival was almost unbearable. He arrived with the five frame nuc, some wax foundation and bit and pieces of tools to help me. We set about inspecting my property around the house – a modest yard with a few options – in the end we found the perfect spot against a north facing wall that will get sun…
My mentor from Orange who is arriving in about an hour to drop off my bees texted me a photo of my queen last night, with the accompanying words – “your queen is in the lower left quarter just out of centre” I’ve done the hard work for you and pointed her out 😉
It’s Friday – and on Monday my nuc is arriving. Good chap from Orange in NSW is bringing my first nuc. Below is a pic of my repositioned flowhive – waiting for the bees – although I’m pretty sure it will be moved before they arrive. While I think it’s a good place I’m pretty sure it breaks a few rules – clear space around to be able to do bee maintaining, no obstruction (my mini corn field and strawberry farm…