Nathan (L) and I suiting up,
inactive hive box after step 1
just to my right in the back-
ground
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I then poured the sugar-water into a new spray bottle purchased for the purpose, and then put the bottle in the refrigerator to bring its contents back to approximately room temperature. We also prepared two hive boxes, which involved applying beeswax to 16 top bars, 8 for each box, and placing the top bars in the boxes. Other equipment we took to the apiary included a hive tool and a bee brush, the former for separating the existing boxes from the floor, and the latter for gently moving the bees about without agitating them. With our preparations in order, and bee suits on, we made our way down to the hive.
At step 3, calming the bees
with the sugar-water mist
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1) Remove roof, quilt and top bars from the inactive hive; we will use the hive box as a rest for the active hive boxes while placing the two new hive boxes on the floor of the active hive (unlike the Langstroth hive, new boxes are placed beneath existing boxes in a Warré hive)
2) Remove the roof from the active hive; this is no problem, because the quilt is still between us and the bees. I simply remove it because it adds unnecessary weight to the lift that will need to be performed, and because it would make the assembly of two boxes (and the bees, comb, brood and honey within them), the quilt, and the roof, top-heavy and more difficult to handle.
3) Lightly spray sugar-water onto the bees at the entrance, emphasis on lightly. Bees do not like to be wet. They will be occupied by cleaning themselves of the sugar-water, or at least that's the theory behind the method!
4) Carefully remove the two boxes (plus quilt), as an assembly, from the floor, and set aside on the exposed box of the inactive hive
Step 4, setting aside the active hive boxes and
quilt; based on how far the bees had progressed in building comb, I would say these boxes were being added just-in-time |
6) Reinstall the two active hive boxes and quilt on top of the two new hive boxes on the floor, again using the bee brush and the sugar-water spray to calm the bees and move them out of the way as necessary
7) Reinstall the roof on the hive; addition of hive boxes is then complete
The process of adding the boxes went more smoothly than I probably had any right to expect; it was executed without incident.
I had planned to buy another package of bees for the now-inactive hive, but the delivery date of the packages was delayed one week and that caused an unavoidable conflict for Geri and I. Still, I will investigate to establish that we can still expect success if we install another package this late in the year.
Step 6, reinstalling the two active hive boxes
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Laying down cardboard for
vegetation suppression
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-- John, 18 June 2014
Before and after weed suppression by cardboard sheet mulch and wood chips |