Hi Jon,
way to go!!!!! I am about to take delivery of a hive and expect my
first bees very soon. Any hints or tips would be much appreciated - i'm in
danger of annoying the 2 people i know who have bees wwith my incessant
questioning!

Happy bee-ing!
patrick

"Jon Rouse" wrote in message
...
Well, I finally got my bees!

Last Staurday evening, in the middle of a torrential downpour, I got a
call to say someone had a swarm for me. When we got there, we found two
copier-paper boxes buzzing away in the guy's greenhouse.

We took them home, tipped them out on a white sheet on a board leading
up to the front of the hive, and they sat there shivering, their teeth
chattering, huddling together for warmth. As it got dark I shook the
sheet to force them towards the entrance to the hive. By night-time,
there were big clumps of them clinging to the front of the hive.

In the morning, most of them had gone in, and I re-filled the feeder.
And that's the last we've seen of most of them this week. On the first
couple of days they did their orienteering, and then one or two went
foraging. Occasionally some venture out, take one look at the weather
and disappear back inside. I really ought to check the feeder again, but
by the time I get back from work its usually raining. I'm hope for at
least a few minutes break in the weather this weekend.

Jon
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