TreeHive Beehive …part two…swarming

Part two of what we now affectionately call the ‘Treehive Beehive’

Thumbs-up she has arrived safely at our quarantine apiary

…the Cardboard box is starting to flag – so need to get this TREEHIVE BEEHIVE in to a safer state.

Here are the steps Margaret followed;

Step One: place the new bottom-board or base board away from the cardbard box and start to set-up new boxes.

Note: 4 risers so that no entry can bee made from the bottom.

Add first box, Margaret has used a 3/4 hive box, it was necessary to allow for the drawn-out comb to bee able to fit without getting damaged.

Add the second hive-box with the two wood-ends cut-out. This is where the Bees will enter and leave the hive-boxes.

Adjust so all hive-boxes are aligned.

Go to the cardboard box and using the branch ends, lift high and then place in to the new hive boxes.

Remember to trim off excess little branches.

Make sure any comb on the branches has no brood in.

To help the colony – Margaret added a couple of frames with foundation (not drawn) just in case they want to build on.

Using the wood-end, cut-outs – place them over top of the branch ends, then Tape the cut-out wood ends in place – use a robust tape which is weather resistant.

Add an extra box above so that the colony have the ability to start moving up and use drawn frames from a ‘clean’ hive. At this time of the year they may choose to stay on their own comb on the branch.

Ensure that the areas of the added cut-outs are not accessible by robbers and wasps, the rear of the hive is closed-off completely.

By adding extra tape over the entrance it is hoped the guard bees can manage the entrance bette if the space is not too big.

The last move is to place the new hive boxes into the position of the cardboard box so the girls can start going back to their colony.

Fantastic……

Already the girls are returning and entering the new hive boxes…yay…

Those pesky wasps !!

Added more tape

….unfortunately the quarantine apiary has high wasp presence so the girls have to bee very strong to keep them out.

So what next for this TREEHIVE Beehive?

Our next steps are to inspect and look at treating…a bit of a challenge but we will figure something out.

Well because this is the first of its kind for us, we’ll bee looking at answering some questions..
1. How will we treat for varroa?
1a. How well will they cope with the wasp threat?
2. Will they survive Winter in this hive-box?
3. Are they diseased?
4. Is there a Queen?
5. Will they move into the frames above or the ones beelow?
5a. if they move into the lower frames with just wax, when will we see drawing out start?
6. How will we inspect?
7. Will we keep them in this manner or will we cut them out in to frames?

…to bee continued…

Thanks for reading and we hope you enjoy Margarets next update on this interesting and read about the challenges she will face as Spring starts to approach and what it will mean for the TREEHIVE Beehive.

…thanks for beeing part of the kiwimana buzz…