Question regarding sawdust? in cardboard nuc

[Dmrauch]

Question: What is this sawdusty looking stuff in the cardboard nuc?
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Background:  Today I picked up my very first ever bees.  They came in a cardboard nuc which I purchased from a local beekeeper with queens supplied by another local queen breeder.  The queens had been laying for at least two weeks and I was assured the nuc was extremely full.  It was raining cats and dogs when I picked it up at an outdoor site.  I installed it about three hours later during a break in the rain (I was so excited, like a child, and couldn't wait).
The nuc was indeed very full of bees, five frames totally covered on both sides with so many bees I couldn't see a speck of the comb.  But the comb was very thick (wide) so I assume it was drawn out.  But the nuc had this sawdusty stuff on top of the frames and all over the bottom.  Since the bottom is eaten, I am hoping that is the source of the sawdusty stuff???


Question:  Can I go back in the hive tomorrow to put in a pollen patty?  Or leave it totally alone for a few days?  A Week?

Background: The gentleman recommended feeding them syrup since I have no honey, and I put in an in hive frame feeder with 1 gallon of 1:1 syrup.  He also recommended pollen patty which I totally forgot to set in the hive.  My smoker mostly quit after I moved the first frame.  Was going to beat the band before I opened things up.  I think more videos on smokers and more practice.

My second (and last) nuc comes next Saturday and hopefully I will be better with practice.  I truly appreciate the patience every on this board displays toward newbees, answering questions so politely.

Dena

[Jim134]

Welcome to beemaster and beekeeping. I'm very glad you put your location in. Yes you can put pollen patties in tomorrow. I would suggest you put one in about the size of a small hamburger. The saw like material seeing is leftover wax. If you pick it up and rub it between your fingers most likely you will feel wax. Was there any honey at all in the nuc you transfer ??a

[Dmrauch]

Picking up the blob of sawdusty stuff in the photo, it has no feel of wax at all.  Feels like very soft sawdust. Very fine.  Very soft.  Squishes but does not stick into a cohesive blob like a waxy component would.

All five frames were totally drawn out but so covered I couldnt see what was in the cells, brood, honey, ???  I will look closer tomorrow. 

Which brings up another question.  They are in an 8 frame deep, so one frame taken up with feeder, five full from nuc and two empty new ones.  Is it time already to add a second box?  I had planned on a second deep since they were 8 frames.

[OldMech]

Pollen perhaps?
   Since you got a nuc, I wouldnt be woried about going back in to put the pollen patty on.. A Package is a different animal... Going in too soon I have seen the queen that was JUST accepted get balled, so i try to leave packages alone as long as possible..

  And, so you know, the SMOKER is designed to go out ONLY when you need it most!!!    Not really..  Whatever you use for fuel, make sure it is going well and has a good start/ meaning the coals are glowing nice and red..
   I use cedar chips, just because I can enjoy the smell..  I put a handful in, light one chip, and toss it in, and puff gently on the bellows until there is a good roaring flame each time I puff... then I add more and puff until thats smoking really well, then go ahead and fill it.. I can usually refill it as needed and it never goes out..

[Acebird]

Jim must be psychotic, I have no clue what your location is.
Dmrouch, you can do what ever you want.  They are your bees.  I would leave them alone.  But that doesn't work for everyone.

[iddee]

Since the second line under her name says Emmett, Idaho, I would guess she is somewhere near the state of Idaho,wouldn't you?

I think the sawdust is just cardboard dust where the bees chewed, trying to get out.

[Dallasbeek]

Jim must be psychotic, I have no clue what your location is.
Dmrouch, you can do what ever you want.  They are your bees.  I would leave them alone.  But that doesn't work for everyone.

Jim may well be psychotic, but he didn't have to be psychic to know that.  Jim, are you psychotic?  Better see a shrink, man.

Dmrouch, I agree you should leav them alone a while.  The worst mistake newbees make is bothering the bees too often.  Go into the hive every few days and they'll start looking for a new home.

[cao]

My guess on the sawdusty stuff is that it is chewed up cardboard.  They were trying to make their nuc bigger.

As far as the pollen patty, I haven't used them.  If you have enough stuff blooming then I wouldn't worry about it.  They may not want it anyways. 

Is it time already to add a second box?  Definitely not.  I would wait until the other two frames are mostly drawn out. 

OldMech gave you good advice about the smoker.  The one thing that I would add is to light it before you start to mess with you bees.  I usually light mine then get the rest of my bee stuff ready.  Stopping several times to check on the smoker.  That way when you are ready to get into the hive you know that it is working properly.  And yes practice anytime you can until you get good at it.

Hope this helps.

[Dmrauch]

With the smoker, I had it lit for about 30 minutes, going strong, making lots of smoke, plenty of fuel left.  Then I needed it.  I thought half an hour of testing to make sure it was going strong was enough.  I didn't take into account, the rule of: when you need it . . . It won't be there

I have lots of fuel and can practice tomorrow without going into the hive.  I don't want them to get annoyed and leave me.

Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny then rainy for a week. 

Yes, I think it must be just cardboard chewings

Emmett is indeed in the state of Idaho, which is not the same as Ohio or Indiana, but much further west.  Psychotics know where we are.  We attract them.

Dena

[Jim134]

Jim must be psychotic, I have no clue what your location is.
Dmrouch, you can do what ever you want.  They are your bees.  I would leave them alone.  But that doesn't work for everyone.

   Maybe it's time to see an optometrist? Just a thought. 


                 BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

[GSF]

That sawdust stuff in the bottom of the box may in fact be - sawdust. They knew a new beek was going to pick them up in a few days and they had to do something to throw you off.

Seriously, bees - for what ever reason, will at times collect sawdust. On the smoker; It's been said on here before - the best way to put a smoker out is to set it by a hive. I've started adding little chunks of wood such as broken twigs, or broken up year old pine cones. In my thinking it creates a small bed of coal.

[Dallasbeek]

A big bag (2 cubic feet?) of hardwood mulch costs about $2.50 at HD.  That should last a while in a smoker.  I stay away from the ones with color added, like red or green.  Who knows what they use to color that stuff?  But shredded trees?  That should be okay.  I cut down and shredded an apple tree for a friend years ago.  That smells good to me and I still have about 10 pounds left.

[ggileau]

I personally like pine needles. If I'm going to be awhile I also layer wood pellets with the pine needles. I have to remember to try the pine cone trick, for some reason I always forget.

[Dmrauch]

I was using wood pellets plus pine cones, but shredded instead of whole.  They were shredded because I was putting them on the huckleberries.  Huckleberries are the outwest equivalent of blueberries, so wanting acid soil.  I have pine cones but no pine needles.

I am getting much better at getting the smoker lit and keeping it lit.  Of course I am certain it is because I am not going near the hive with it.  Later today I am going to look into the hive and put the pollen patty in.  It has done nothing but drizzle and blow all week since I got them, except for the one suuny day  They aren't coming out of the hive but I imagine 40 mph winds would explain that.

Since they haven't been able to get out to get food, I am going to check the syrup level and put in the patty.  And say hi.  Maybe I should talk to them.  They say it works for plants.

Dena

[ggileau]

 "And say hi.  Maybe I should talk to them.  They say it works for plants."


I talk to them all the time, mostly "I'm sorry"

[OldMech]

"And say hi.  Maybe I should talk to them.  They say it works for plants."


I talk to them all the time, mostly "I'm sorry"

   LOL!!!!!!!!!   Been there, done that!