Installing new bees

from JoeUser Forums

So last year I started beekeeping. I got 3 bee hives. 1 died off and the other two survived the Winter. One of the two has egg laying workers which means the hive is probably doomed.

Yesterday we got 4 boxes of bees to install into new hives. Now, we're talking 2 to 3 pounds of bees per box (mostly 3 pounds each).

So how do you get the bees out of the box? You shake them out. Which, of course, means there are bees all over the place.

Here are some pictures.

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Alex helping with the bees

 

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I was covered with bees. Here's one hanging out behind my ear.

 

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I dropped the queen box into a hive accidentally and had to grab it.

 

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I typically had on me around 50 to 100 bees.

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So you shake the bees into the hive and then some of them in front of the hive and let them walk into the hive (the queen is in the hive and her pheromones attract the others). Then I put the box next to it and hope for the best.

I only got stung 3 times. :)

8,932 views 9 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Ok, that bee behind the ear pic really freaked me out....

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
Bees dont bother me. Wasps do!

Hope Alex did not get too many stings.
Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top

Alex didn't get stung at all. The bees preferred me as their pin cushion! :)

Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
I've only been stung twice in my life.

You can keep the ear bees, though...I hate bugs around my ear. I always think they're going to crawl in and get stuck.

~Zoo
Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
Alex didn't get stung at all. The bees preferred me as their pin cushion!
End of quote


There is no greater love than for a father to get stung for his son. ;)
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm allergic to bee stings so we'll have to leave this important job to you.  BTW, I wondered if you are an organic bee raiser.  I read that they organic bees are not having the hive collapse problems. 

Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
organic bee raiser.
End of quote


How does a bee become "inorganic?" Steroids?

~Zoo
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top

I'm allergic to bee stings so we'll have to leave this important job to you. BTW, I wondered if you are an organic bee raiser. I read that they organic bees are not having the hive collapse problems.
End of quote

I don't tend to believe int he whole colony collapse thing and neither do most beekeepers. Bees sometimes abscond. Just usually not with journalists around. :)

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
Bees sometimes abscond. Just usually not with journalists around.
End of quote


Damn! No film at eleven! ;)