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Playing With Bees

21/7/2014

2 Comments

 

On Saturday I had a quick peek at the bees to see how they were doing.  They were doing well;unfortunately they were doing well in the wrong direction. They had managed to get around a space in between one of the 'bars' from the original nuc and one of our top bars. They were building comb between the top bars and the roof of the hive. It was a complete mess. Well, it was a complete mess from my perspective. I am sure the bees didn't think so as they had masses of lovely comb all filled with fresh honey and some brood started. At least we know there is ample pollen and nectar sources for them

So yesterday I starched a cloth and last night we tackled the mess or tried too. Things didn't go well. Proof positive that you should not work with bees when you are tired and cranky. Bees require you to be calm and present.

We did did manage to scrape the newly built comb and it's contents off the roof. We had planned to remove the comb from the top bars and hopefully get rid of the old 'bars' from the nuc altogether. I had a good idea that the plastic frames from the nuc were the ones that were causing the issue, and as I recalled they had been mostly used when we put them, with just some brood left in the comb.

Unfortunately, by the time we removed the comb from the roof the bees were really worked up, and I was distracted and even more cranky than when I had started. I also had 6 stings to remind me that it doesn't pay to work with bees when you are cranky.

So we scraped as much of the top bars as we could, and removed both of the old plastic frames bars. We also removed the follower board to give the bees the full half length of the hive.

I laid the cloth and we closed everything up for the night. So, this evening after everyone settles down, I will open up the hive and make sure all the bars are still flush and the bees have no access to the roof cavity. Hopefully I won't have to move anything around and I won't get stung again!
Have a good day everyone!
Picture
We didn't take photos last night, so you can enjoy this picture I took a couple of weeks ago of a bumblebee foraging Trust me he was a lot happier than my bees last night!
2 Comments
Amanda
22/7/2014 04:52:11 am

Hi, I found your site a couple of weeks ago and I am ejoying following your farm. I was wondering if you will be offering any workshops soon?

Reply
Shelli Killen
22/7/2014 05:32:43 am

Hello Amanda. I'm pleased you like the site. We do not have the infrastructure here (yet), to host any workshops this year. Matthew and I have been talking about making a video series of our workshop material. We may be starting that soon as we have been getting a lot of requests for different courses.

The only exception to the above is the soap making course. I am trying to find a venue close by where I can hold a soap making/ enviro cleaners course. You didn't say where you were from, but if you had a group of people who were interested we have done presentations and courses for groups away from the farm. If you think this is something you might be intetested in email me and we can talk about putting it together. Thanks for you comments!

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    A  4-H Family
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    Hi! I'm Shelli Killen,
    a homesteading, homeschooling, wife and mother of five. 

    I am a student  herbalist with a passion for learning and a  habit of bringing home strays.

    I love music, and the power of creating things with my hands.
     
    I tend to do best when life around me is organized chaos
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