I'm the guy that had the bees from the sprinkler box making the plume the day after I hived them. Asking around local beeks, they are maybe Italians. Did a knock-knock test the other day by rapping on the side of the hive, didn't rile them in the least. Hope they keep this gentle demeanor. I'll know more tomorrow upon inspection. They
have been in the hive since the evening of the 29th of may.
Should I move the frames they're working to the center? I think they are working frames toward a side board.
Also, what kind of nectar flow should I expect here in So. Cal. from "town" bees?
lots of things are still in bloom.
Thanx in advance....JOHN
I wouldn't be too quick to move the frames around. After they have built up a bit, you can move one frame at a time into the center to be drawn. Keep feeding.
Quote from: Ross on June 07, 2008, 09:56:12 AM
I wouldn't be too quick to move the frames around. After they have built up a bit, you can move one frame at a time into the center to be drawn. Keep feeding.
Yes, don't disturb them, they are setting up shop by establishing a good foundation(brood nest) you don't want to weaken them, keep them strong and on a long leash.
...JP
Bees often take to one side of the box over the other and some even prefer the back, others the front. I've had hives that drew out the back half of the frames all the way across and lef the front half pretty much foundation.
Bee hate a empty cavity so in the case of the frames drawn out on the back side I just rotated the frames 180 and they then drew out the front half that had become the back half with the rotation.
If the bees prefer one side of the box over the other just move the outer frame over 1 frame at a time and the bees will draw the frames out. The outer drawn frames are always storage frames so putting an empty frame on the inside of that storage frame means the bees will build brood comb.
Hi Hivehead,
I have a nice flow going on now where I am at filling a frame a day. The city is a bit different than the country. I always have something. there are many gardens and plants and lots of water.
Cheers,
Patrick