A Tale of Two Hives - Combining a Strong Swarm with a Weak Hive

[@LizZorab]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing this with us, it was amazing how quickly the bees had chewed through the newspaper.

[@glennwilck5459]

Seems like letting the hive swarm in spring every couple years is a good idea to promote a new queen!

[@nancyross5030]

Thank you! I have to do this today!

[@janebotten2969]

That was amazing!

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Thank you, Jane.

[@galetimpone1712]

amazing...thank you for sharing this educational video. Bee keeping is fascinating but not something I would try, will leave that to the experts .

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Thanks for your comment. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@liziemmerson3786]

So interesting. Thank you very much. What happened with the old queen? Has she died?

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Yes we were hoping that nature would takes it course and the workers would supercede her, i.e. make a new Queen and replace her, but they didn't. So she failed and the hive became Queenless and we had to do somehting. The swarm turned up at just the right time.

[@liziemmerson3786]

@@PermacultureMagazine I am just starting learning about bees, hoping to have my own hives one day. Thank you very much for your videos. I find them very helpful :)

[@PermacultureMagazine]

You are so welcome! It is a subject we are passionate about. They are amazing creatures with much to teach us.

[@TheLizzietish]

Maddy and Tim, thank you for this episode. Are your bee boxes and frames handmade?

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Thank you. The top bar was made from scratch but the boxes and frames are from kits bought on eBay. Frames particularly are easier in kits. Boxes less complicated.

[@RaySarasin]

I requeen every 2 years because the queen slows down laying cheers

[@PermacultureMagazine]

Yes it’s an option. This Queen was brilliant for 4 years. Do you breed them?

[@RaySarasin]

@@PermacultureMagazine I hope to next year currently use swarm cells to split or buy a queen