Re-housing the bees

A couple of days ago I moved my bees from a 10 frame box into an 8 frame (brood) box and added a super.  More room will hopefully avert a swarm.  I got stung twice and apart from the initial shock, I did not have an adverse reaction. No swelling, in fact,  I swell up much more from mosquito bites.

I was grateful that the bees had overwintered well and that there was no brood disease, beetles or moths in the hive.  One thing that I probably have to admit, is that those full depth boxes and frames will be heavy when they are full of honey, so  I’m thinking that I might go for the “admit it you’re a girl” half depth boxes.  Either that or build up some serious muscle power.  I did taste some of the honey from the burr comb that the bees formed in the lid – eucalyptus.

Needless to say they were very confused with the new housing.  I think I did okay. I couldn’t see the queen so I hope that she survived.  My husband turned up after I’d finished the moving them and as I was just watching them trying to re-organise and also trying learn something of their behaviour.   He laughed when he saw me in the suit and thought I looked like someone from a space-exploration program.  Yeah, if only NASA was as cool as bees!