MillerThousand AnswersBeekeepingQuestions.pdf - BioBees

THOUSAND ANSWERS 159continued through the winter it is very likely there would bemore or less loss of queens. A safer plan would be to use wireclothinstead of a queen-excluder, so that there would be nocommunication between the bees below and above. Of course, anentrance to the outside would have to be allowed to each of thenuclei. If outdoors, these entrances should be very small, and theentrance to the lower colony would need be less than with noentrances above.Observation Hive.—Q. I have an observatory hive in which Iexpect to put bees this spring. How shall I get them started?A. There's no trick about it; merely start as you would in anyother hive, by putting in the comb of brood with bees and queen.To prevent the bees going back to the old home, set the hive in adark cellar about four days.Q. I have Italians and the "blacks," as I call them. I boughtan observation hive for one frame and I took out one frame ofcomb with brood and enough bees to cover the brood well, butthe next day the bees came out of the observation hive and intothe old hive, and there was not a single bee left. What was thetrouble ?A. There is nothing unusual in the case. Take a frame ofbrood with plenty of bees to cover it, and without any precautionsput it in a new hive, and the proper thing on the part ofthe bees is to go back to their old home. If you had fastenedthe bees in for about three days they would have staid. If yoifhad taken bees that had been queenless for three days or more,you would have had less trouble. If you had taken the queenwith them, returning her after two or three days, more of thebees would have staid. But you probably took them from a hivewith a good, strong queen, and they very properly resented suchtreatment. It is a good plan to remove the queen after a fewdays, as it gives you the opportunity of watching the rearing ofyoung queens by the bees.Q. Do the sides of an observation hive have to be coveredwith some opaque substance, or will the bees allow the light topenetrate their domicile at all times?A. It is usual to keep the hive darkened when not under observation,but not absolutely necessary. The bees will daubmore propolis on the glass if the light be continuous. They willalso worry more.Q What is the best location for an observation hive? Wouldan attic with a northern exposure be best, or what is the best?