An Incredible Event..to a Newbee

Started by EasternShore, March 24, 2009, 06:15:35 AM

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EasternShore

Due to a newspaper stroy about me doing a cutout in a historic house I got a call the other day to do one at an estate near by. VERY old, maybe 1700's brick place completely preserved. Turns out the bees were in the upper soffit and not in the interior yet.
Here's the good part..after clearing nearly 2 deeps of honey packed comb in perfect shape I had nothing but a few 100 bees left. Smoked the bejesus out of them and climbed down to smoke...as I was standing there...guess what flew by me...THE QUEEN!

I had been really bummed that I had'nt seen her till that point. Plucked her up..put her in the boxes and started jumping up and down. Maybe for you old timers this is not new, but for me it left me speechless! She was the color of Latte gold and very fat.

Now the troubleing part. It's cold here and I don't have many workers in there.

Suggestions?
Right now I've got a small heater hear the hive to keep temps above freezing and plan on adding a frame or two of Bee's from another hive. There was brood, but I doubt it survived the first cold night. I've got the hive closed up except for a 3/4 inch exit in a super on top. Syrup had been applied inside a deep.

Need advice...
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
We are the keepers, it is our duty to preserve life.

BjornBee

Great experience!

I think adding the couple frames will do the trick.

A shame you could not been gven more time to take them out in a month or so.  ;)

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tlynn

I had a hive on the way out in December and shrunk it to a nuc and requeened to try to save it.  It was getting really low on bees.  I think it was Brian who recommended a terrarium heater.  The one I bought was a Reptitherm Zoo Med 16W.  I think they even have a couple sizes bigger.  Got at petsmart.  I tested it out in 45 degree weather with an empty nuc and wireless thermometer and it got the temps inside the nuc into the mid 60s.  That size fit perfectly under the nuc (my nucs have SBB so I put the heater under and sat it on plywood). 

At least during our cold spells it took the edge off and may very well have saved what little brood was left at the time, because I don't think there were enough bees.  The hive's now back in a deep and growing quickly.

Tracy

EasternShore

I looked in the top today..a few workers still eating honey i set on the inner cover. Will add brood if it ever warms up..Heater on...they should be comfortable tonight..pray forthe girls..they will need it...
Smallest colony I've ever tried..soon as I give them a chance to settle down I will transfer to a nuc box..
These 2 deeps are full of comb..mostly honey..and a good bit of pollen.
Anything worth doing is worth doing well.
We are the keepers, it is our duty to preserve life.