7/14/2023
After a blissful 6 hour nap, it’s time get the bees into their hive. Normally, we look forward to this event, but after last night we are not sure of the disposition of the bees.
It’s much cooler this morning and that helps. So we grab the smoker, some cutup burlap, and the lighter and head down to the apiary.
We could hear the bees buzzing from a good bit away, bit this sounds different – hard to explain. Anyway, I cut off the plastic bag – which I should have done last night – and find a bunch of bees on the lid. They just kind of sat there and looked at me. I take off the lid and a bunch of bees fly off. They are circling us, but not mobbing us as before.
I then start removing the frames and looking them over. I can’t believe the amount of comb the bees have drawn in less than 3 weeks.
Some of the comb is a little wonky, but that’s okay.
I keep pulling frames from the trap and place them in the hive. I’m looking for the queen in the last few frames, because that is the most likely place she will be.
The bees are pretty well behaved as I start to put the stragglers in the hive.
The stragglers.
There are always a few that refuse to go in the hive. These you have to let them have some time and to show them where the queen is.
I moved the trap to the opening in the hive and made a bridge – first out of wax and then a stick – for the last few to use.
We went back to the house and had some much needed coffee. I checked on them 30 minutes later and the trap was empty.
All in all a good start to the morning!
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