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Members Blog

Reflections on the passing season

10/9/2019

 
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This is the first in a series of educationally-based articles written by Master Beekeeper Tricia Nelson from Quantock Division. 
​The end of one beekeeping season and the start of another; time to reflect on what happened this year and what you want to do next. What went well for your bees? What didn’t? What might be worth trying next year? So, what sticks out in my recollections of the year which might be of interest to you?
​Driving bees
​We have all learned that bees walk uphill into dark spaces. Hence smoking swarms up into skeps, tucking your trousers in your socks and covering your wrists so they don’t walk up your trousers and sleeves. Some of us have shaken a swarm out onto a sheet arranged over a sloping board leading up to a new hive and watched them slowly processing into the hive and how they surge up and in once the queen enters. However, seeing exactly the same behaviour in response to a rhythmic and persistent tapping on the sides of the skep with no smoke used at all was extraordinary. It was so quick, almost instantaneous. I hope you enjoy the videos and the photos.
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This skep has been kept inside a National hive in an empty brood box separated from a lower brood box by a crown board.
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David secured a second empty skep to the inverted one using irons
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David then rhythmically tapped the sides of the inverted skep( as shown in the video) and in a matter of seconds the bees started to run out of the comb up into the empty skep. No smoke was needed! [In the past there were competitions for who could drive their bees the fastest with extra points for spotting the queen!]
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David inverted the skep onto a honey bucket as show. (Can you see the comb inside?)
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The empty skep was secured at 45 degrees to the inverted skep with the irons, a cloth secured at the back to ensure a dark and ‘solid’ path for the bees to walk up
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The skep colony in its hive had been placed in the position where the newly hived bees were to live. This meant that all the flying bees returned to that hive during the demonstration. (Another behaviour well worth remembering when you have a tricky colony to examine). The newly driven bees were then shaken out in front of their hive (the hive that their skep had been contained in for the past few weeks). Mission accomplished except … the skep was found to be full of sealed stores. The colony had not only thrived inside the National hive but moved down below the crown board drawing comb in the lower box. This comb was full of brood, so this too had to be put into the new hive but this time in frames.
​Saving the brood comb
Equipment needed:
  • A flat surface eg a crown board
  • Natural gardeners’ twine and scissors
  • Suitable clean frames
  • A sharp knife
  • Patience!
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David demonstrated how to do this, successfully saving the bulk of the brood, even though the comb was very soft. NB. It is important to get everything ready before starting the process, which is very fiddly and cannot be rushed. He gently cut each vertical comb from the crown board supported it with his hand
PictureStringing the frame requires using enough string to wrap round both sides of the comb and secure at the top; three verticals and one horizontal. (This photo is simply using a wired frame) Each vertical string was secured on the bottom bar with half running up each side with enough length to allow for tying at the top after the comb has been positioned.

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“In the past I have used rubber bands for this task, but these can cut into the comb, the bees can’t get rid of them easily and they are rarely the right size.” So, the idea David demonstrated was to make a string support structure on the frame which will keep the comb vertical long enough for the bees to make the necessary adaptations and secure the brood. So, string the frames first! Because it is important to keep the comb as flat as possible, David demonstrated how best to do this by placing the strung frame on a flat surface. He swiftly placed the comb in the prepared frame and cut away the excess comb. The strings were then tied at the top of the frame and one horizontal string tied around the width of the frame. The completed frame was then carefully raised to vertical and placed in the colony.
​I thought this was an extremely useful technique to learn, very difficult in the hot conditions facing David during his demo, but particularly useful if you have do a cut out when retrieving a swarm, so perhaps it is worth keeping a few strung frames, a flat board and a knife on standby for just such occasions!

Swarms!

24/5/2019

 
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This swarm was at a perfect height for easy collection - one snip and it was under a cardboard box ready for removal that evening and hiving.
‘A swarm in May is worth a load of hay;
A swarm in June is worth a sliver spoon;
A swarm in July isn’t worth a fly.’

And a swarm at anytime needs to be collected! If you can't help, don't forget to direct inquiries to the BBKA website where there is a useful resource giving information about how to identify the bees  and find a swarm collector based on postcode.
​https://www.bbka.org.uk/swarm

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  • Home
    • Devon Apicultural Research Group (DARG)
  • About
    • About the SBKA
    • History
    • SBKA Board of Trustees
    • Who's Who
    • Support Us
    • Donate to SBKA
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Beginners Courses
    • Advanced Courses
    • Apiary Meetings
    • Honey Shows
    • Lectures & Workshops
  • Members
    • Getting Started >
      • Joining SBKA
      • Introduction to Beekeeping
      • Beginners Courses
      • Life In a Honeybee Colony
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Beekeeping Suppliers
    • Education >
      • How To Guides
      • Video Guides
      • Courses and Qualifications
      • Examinations
    • Useful Links
    • Membership >
      • Benefits
      • Get Involved
      • Vacancies
      • County Membership
    • Members Area >
      • SBKA CIO Documents (Google Drive)
      • Members Yearbook
      • Members Blog
      • Former Charity AGM Info
      • Former Charity Council Meetings
      • Financial Info
      • Lecture recordings
      • Policies >
        • Safeguarding Policy
    • Pests & Diseases >
      • Asian hornet
      • Hygiene
      • Reporting Foulbrood
    • SBKA Newsletters
    • Beekeeping Suppliers
    • Research
  • Branches
    • Find Nearest Branch
    • Burnham >
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