tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post5276749967536414885..comments2024-03-26T12:17:40.771-04:00Comments on Linda's Bees: Let's Consider the Package of BeesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-52684290682228718052010-05-17T21:40:14.058-04:002010-05-17T21:40:14.058-04:00If you put on a box before they have built out 80%...If you put on a box before they have built out 80% of the box below it, then the bees are likely to build straight up the middle of the boxes and never use the outer frames. I was sort of joking because I installed my first nuc and put two boxes on the hive. Then when I found out that was a mistake, I quickly and with a red face removed the extra boxes until 8 frames were built out!Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-29597196360540823822010-05-17T21:37:17.854-04:002010-05-17T21:37:17.854-04:00Hi Linda,
I love your blog. We are all learning ...Hi Linda,<br /><br />I love your blog. We are all learning from your experiences - thank you.<br /><br />Question: You say "and while you can make mistakes with the nuc (such as enthusiastically putting too many boxes on before the bees have built out their first box..." What will putting too many boxes on do? I recently put another box on a new hive that hadn't quite filled out the 10 frames in their first box. Should I remove the additional box?<br /><br />Lastly, I have 4 hives that have all been with packages, basic foundation, no comb. I've not yet had the pleasure of nuc-land. All installs were done and then i left them for a few weeks - all successful. I'm thinking you don't have to worry and they may be your strongest hive yet.Wendynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-63261519318491204152010-05-01T17:49:49.710-04:002010-05-01T17:49:49.710-04:00This is my third year keeping bees and I've al...This is my third year keeping bees and I've always used packages and foundationless frames. I've never had trouble with the bees failing to draw comb, in fact, I'm always quite astonished at how quickly they fill the empty boxes. From my experience, I don't think you have anything to worry about in the wax building department by using a package of bees.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-82799529691991893112010-04-30T18:59:16.354-04:002010-04-30T18:59:16.354-04:00I installed a package in my top bar hive 12 days a...I installed a package in my top bar hive 12 days ago and they have 7 bars drawn out half way. (They don't seem to want to draw out the other half, but I figure they'll get there when the need the space.) I hope your hives are doing just as well. Have you seen the video of how to chop a nuc frame so that it fits in a top bar hive? http://vimeo.com/5614348Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-60660992846724234572010-04-30T16:38:36.334-04:002010-04-30T16:38:36.334-04:00Deamiter, thanks for that perspective. I know tha...Deamiter, thanks for that perspective. I know that bees (older ones) can switch jobs easily back to making wax, but my point was that the bees in a swarm don't have to make that switch - they are already there. And the research shows that 70% of bees in a swarm are less than 10 days old. But your words are reassuring and I appreciate your taking the time to comment.Linda Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08089537760868691562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-903743075327731082010-04-30T15:46:24.476-04:002010-04-30T15:46:24.476-04:00You might note that there is no biological "d...You might note that there is no biological "developmental stage" beyond egg, larvae, pupae and adult. True, there is a significant age polyethism (different jobs at different ages) that seems to be related to hormone levels, but bees will very readily switch jobs based on what the hive needs. Also, up to 2/3 of bees in hive leave in a swarm, and they're not primarily younger bees.<br /><br />As far as I know, there is no age at which bees lose the ability to draw out wax, nor do all the hive's bees need to be drawing out wax in order to quickly build comb for brood and food storage.<br /><br />So no, you do not need to worry about a new package drawing out comb -- foundation helps them to draw it out in a convenient way, but it doesn't significantly reduce the amount of wax they actually have to produce.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07019051872455976850noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-86488999418257037262010-04-30T14:38:22.825-04:002010-04-30T14:38:22.825-04:00Good points. I will be involved with 3 packages, ...Good points. I will be involved with 3 packages, and one Nuc this year. this is my first year in beekeeping, so it will be interesting to see how these 4 hives develop.Brent Humphreyshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17042257289770983246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27329001.post-61566888052652378162010-04-30T13:15:45.641-04:002010-04-30T13:15:45.641-04:00Your blog is SO helpful. I have wondered about the...Your blog is SO helpful. I have wondered about the clingers, and now I know. Thanks!HBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00457255992295971802noreply@blogger.com