A couple of weeks in the past I moved my two little colonies in nuc containers to a brand new location nearer to house. I might by no means needed to transfer bees earlier than, so requested different beekeepers for suggestions beforehand and as luck would have it the BBKA Information that landed by way of my door that day had an article all about shifting bees.
The primary factor with shifting bees is be certain that the bees cannot get out.
Earlier within the day I had put ventilated journey screens on high of each nucs, then left their roofs resting on them simply in case it rained (it did not). Round 9pm, because the darkness of night was drawing in, I returned and turned the dial at their entrance to the air flow solely setting. Very fast and simple. I had a form helper with strapping the containers collectively and shifting them as much as the automotive.
I have not been driving that lengthy, and by no means with bees, so was a bit of nervous, notably going over bumpy nation lanes. I hadn’t anticipated the sound of the bees hitting the journey display as they repeatedly flew up.
The roads I used to be driving down have been very quiet at the moment of evening, a lot in order that for in regards to the first fifteen minutes I solely handed a few different automobiles. Was good to have the ability to take it slowly with out worrying about different drivers.
Not one of the bees obtained out, and they’re now settled in properly. One not too long ago hatched queen is now laying and the opposite colony seems to be queenless, so I am planning to mix them this week. I might want to consider a brand new Cornish title for the queen, a protracted darkish magnificence. Any ideas?
As I used to be inspecting over the weekend I heard a sudden thud and one thing landed on the bottom subsequent to the hive. Once I appeared extra intently, it was a child chook, hairless and nonetheless. A child blackbird maybe. Its big eyes have been now completely closed. I abruptly considered my very own youngsters at a day outdated, so susceptible and delicate. By the subsequent day, its skeleton had been stripped to the bone. Someway, life retains going, and the remaining blackbirds preserve flying.
