Another O.Hive question

[David Moore]

I am in the process of constructing a three frame obersavation hive. My question is: if I place a frame or two with young larva, capped brood,pollen,honey and bees without the queen, of course, and moved them a few miles for a few days would this mess create their own queen? I can't locate half lb swarms like I could in the 70's.
Thanks for any responces or suggestions.

[power napper]

HiDavid--Yes that will work in the spring and summer timem make sure you have some eggs in frames helps .
If you keep the entrance blocked or screened for three days the bees will adjust to their new Observation Hive just as if you had moved them away a few miles for three days!
Hope this helps.

[David Moore]

Hey Napper,
Thanks for the help. Would one frame w/eggs and bees be enough? Or should I go with 2 or 3?
Thanks again

[BjornBee]

David, are you going to take these frames from a full size hive? If you are, I would suggest taking and installing the queen also. It is much harder to manipulate and correct any problems in a O.H. versus a standard hive.

Unless of course you intentions are to monitor the queen cell for education and/or pleasure.

[power napper]

Would one frame w/eggs and bees be enough? Or should I go with 2 or 3?

One frame of eggs and larva would be enough, I would suggest a frame of honey and pollen also as well as shaking several frames of young bees into the observation hive.
Hope this helps.

[David Moore]

Hey Bjorn and Napper,
Thanks for your input. These frames will come from my strongest hive in the spring. I wanted to watch the process of building and hatching of a queen cell. I also planned on moving the three frames ( when full) into a nuc or standard hive and maybe start the cycle over the following spring. Am I way off the mark?
Thanks alot

[BjornBee]

I personally would not be as interested if not for the overwintering part of keeping an Ob. hive. I learn alot through the breeding season, but seeing the queen shut down, the movement of stores, the egg laying in winter, etc., all make it a more complete experience if you overwinter them also. I would consider it.

Other than that, what ever you do as long as its fun, what more can be said? It is great to experiment and try new things.

[drobbins]

Bjorn has a good point
I'm overwintering a 5 medium frame o-hive for the first time
it's really neat to watch how they prepare for winter and behave day to day
and I'm assuming in the spring I'm going to see em build up, raise queen cells and prepare to swarm
at which time I'll swoop in and steal all the queen cells for splits smile.gif

Dave

oh yea, did I mention I also can now find the queen ;)

[David Moore]

Hey Bjorn,
Thanks for the advise. I assumed that the colony would swarm on me after the ob. hive became crowded. I'll get them started this spring and see how it goes. Thanks to you Dave for your post as well. You guys have given me alot to think about this winter.
David

[drobbins]

David

here's a few more pics to look at

http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/obs1.htm

I like the one about halfway down the page called

"An Outdoor Six-frame Hive"

that way you could see how they behave outside as opposed to my o-hive which never gets below about 55F

here's a few pics of mine

http://www.drobbins.net/bee's/oh/

Dave