convert an observation hive colony to a langstroth

GaryMinckler · August 06, 2010, 01:46:33 PM

I'd like to make this change but unsure how to successfuly get it done. I've pulled a full frame of capped honey and have two frames of capped brood with a little bit of stores left. Is it as simple as putting the three frames into a nuc box? My beeyard is about 50 yards from the observation hive. Will bees drift back?

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AllenF · August 06, 2010, 04:10:16 PM

I would just put them out there. Some will try to drift back, but that will not last long. Try to keep that new nuc from getting robbed out this time of the year.

specialkayme · August 06, 2010, 05:27:57 PM

Put them into a nuc, and plug it up for two days or so. Then open it up, putting a twig in front of the entrance. Between the confinement and the twig, the bees should re-orient to the new location.

Why not just overwinter them in the OH? Should be fun to watch.

GaryMinckler · August 06, 2010, 07:30:02 PM

I would like to leave them but in the fall I usually have the exterior of my house sprayed to eliminate houseflies. Last couple years the exterminator showed up unexpectedly. Just want to be sure to save this queen, after watching her I know she is an awesome laying "machine". That is an option I am trying to make happen if at all possible but, as I said. I do NOT want to lose this queen.

D Coates · August 07, 2010, 02:03:13 PM

Put them in a nuc. Put the nuc right by where the OB entrance is. Everyone will move into the hive. Once in the nuc wait until night, cork it and haul it at least 2 miles away. You'll get all your field bees.

Michael Bush · August 07, 2010, 11:19:30 PM

>in the fall I usually have the exterior of my house sprayed to eliminate houseflies.

Wow! You know it will also eleminate bees... and lady bugs... and preying mantis's and leaf cutter bees... and...

GaryMinckler · August 09, 2010, 07:01:36 AM

I have never noticed any bad effects to my own bees that are only 50 yards away...ladybugs are more of a nuisance to me than houseflies...I have NEVER SEEN a praying mantis...anf $^* is a leaf cutter!

Michael Bush · August 09, 2010, 07:32:54 AM

Leaf cutter bees are solitary bees that do a large amount of the pollination of our plants...

Scadsobees · August 09, 2010, 01:29:55 PM

Quote from: GaryMinckler on August 09, 2010, 07:01:36 AM
I have never noticed any bad effects to my own bees that are only 50 yards away...ladybugs are more of a nuisance to me than houseflies...I have NEVER SEEN a praying mantis...anf $^* is a leaf cutter!

As long as you keep the spraying to the house, it shouldn't be a big deal. Not too many leaf cutters and mantids on the house. And ladybugs are more often than not an annoying invasive species, even with as many aphids as they eat.

Could you post a big sign on the outside of obs. hive entrance that says "PLEASE DON"T SPRAY WITHIN __FEET!!!"?

Also, if you place the frames in a deep box and put that in the place of a full size hive, they will do awesome!

Rick

GaryMinckler · August 10, 2010, 08:30:09 AM

Rick... I like the idea of the sign since the bees don't really touch much of the house at all. Never seen them outside of a 1 square foot section around the entrance and I think the spray is a contact type pesticide.

GaryMinckler · August 13, 2010, 07:59:15 PM

Exterminator sprayed yesterday with no bad effects to the observation hive. Did everything but a small area around hive entrance.