Well the course is nearly over just one more week to go and then a couple of practical sessions in a few weeks time when the bees are active, speaking of which the bad winter seems to have put the bee clock back a bit, won't got my nuc of bees until end of May earliest:(. Has anybody seen any bees flying about, I haven't.
This week all about the process of opening the hive (did you know bees make noise in the hive and just putting your ear to the hive can tell you what mood they are in! If they are really roaring then the Queen is dead and they aren't to impressed). Think I will need a few practice runs on opening up the hive, 2-3 puffs from smoker in entrance then wait 2mins, take off roof, lift crown board 1/2" and then 3 more puffs and wait 2mins, theory has it should then be able to get stuck in to checking out the bees. Useful to know is to wash bee suit every 2weeks as the bees will sting it and if they smell a build up if stings they could attack in numbers, that should be fun!
Had a quick session on Queen rearing which was quite interesting, pretty sure won't need to try this year but might be fun to try next year and in process end up with another hive. He did warn us that this bee thing is addictive and one or two hives won't bee enough! Hmm time will tell.
Oh forgot, have an extra session next Tuesday when we meet the Bee Inspector.
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