another clumsy new beekeeper

meade kampe · May 15, 2010, 10:53:38 PM

I hived my first bees two days ago. Half of my bees are in the hive, the other half have formed a large "blob" of nothing but bees in the hollow of the cement block I have under the hive! Why aren't they going into the hive? I had trouble putting the queen in the hive. She actually flew off but returned, and I put her in the bottom of the hive (I thought). Could the queen bee in that mass? Now what do I do?

Kathyp · May 15, 2010, 10:58:40 PM

did you release her already? yes, she might be in that blob. there might also be another queen there. it happens sometimes with packages. they might just be confused and will move into the hive as the queen scent reaches them.....if she was in the package long enough for them to recognize her as their queen.

there is no harm in leaving the queen caged. better that they let her out. all you have lost is a few days of laying. better than losing a queen.

you can take the hive off the block. open it. put the block on top and see if those bees will enter the hive. then pick it all up and put it back together.

meade kampe · May 15, 2010, 11:10:06 PM

Thank-you for your response! I didn't mean to let the queen out so early, but I had trouble removing the cork. Next thing I knew, cork, candy and queen were gone! When she came back, I tried to put her back in the cage (ha,ha) and wound up dropping her into the hive. My husband and I just looked at each other and quickly closed the hive.

Another thing, when I had to close the hive up quickly, some of the bees were still in the package so I just laid it on its side and let them exit on their own. Today, they were all out of the package, but had settled in the hive and in the cement block.

Kathyp · May 15, 2010, 11:16:26 PM

she's probably in there. you'll have to decide about the ones in the block. you can wait and see, or you can try to get them in the hive. if you get that block over the frames, they will probably march right in.

if you can put your location in your profile? that way we'll have an idea on weather and stuff that might impact your bees.

meade kampe · May 15, 2010, 11:24:32 PM

Thank-you, again. I am in NW Ohio, by the way..... I'll uppdate my profile.

riverrat · May 15, 2010, 11:53:13 PM

i have had bees get under a hive inside of a cinder block it will happen if the queen is in there and it will happen when bees get up under the screened bottom board they will not usually move up into the hive unless you move them. usually if there is a queen in there from my experience they will start pulling comb in the cinder block

fish_stix · May 16, 2010, 12:19:46 AM

Method 1:Move the hive lid back to give an entrance large enough for bees to enter. Set the block on top with the hollow vertical and overhanging the front of the hive. Smoke them a little from the top. Method 2: Remove hive lid. Set the block on top of frames. Spray the wad of bees with sugar syrup. Push them out with a gloved hand or a bee brush. Be careful and try not to squash bees or queen!

meade kampe · May 19, 2010, 02:06:11 AM

Thanks everyone for your help! My girls have been re-hived and doing great. Apparently the hive is much more comfortable than the cinder block, as long as the queen is in the hive with them-LOL :lol: