Splitsville

Temperature: 16C
Weather: Cloudy, windy, threatening rain.
Stings: None

A visit this week to finish off the swarm measures. The colony with the old queen was shifted along a bit and the other colony was moved to its other side. This means the flying bees will return to the colony with the old queen. And it further depletes the numbers in the colony raising the queen. I should have done this last week but the panic over the swarm meant I didn't have time.

When I next go I'll sort out the smaller colony and shrink it down to a few frames. If I had a nuc I would put it in that so they can get on with raising the queen and sorting themselves out. It'll mean I have brood comb with stores in to extract and will make it easier for them to raise a queen.

What I'll also do is sort out the flagstones I use as sites for the colonies. With three in place it'll be easier to do these kinds of swaps in the future.