That's certainly possible. They could have gotten into the main entrance but been chased under the divider board. Because there were dead bees in one of the (closed) entrances, it seems like they were looking for a way out.
@@SuburbanSodbuster That or robbers that got caught and killed. In the segment with you showing the dead bees in the corner, you could see a couple of guard bees actively fighting other bees on the bottom board. Looked like the WWF action I see with robbing behavior.
I wonder if the langstroth portion was put at the bottom of the conversion Hive rather than the top if the bees would have built comb on the layers frame further down earlier. Just a thought.
When these bees were packed in the nuc they were awfully defensive and I was worried about dealing with them. They're much more docile now with the space of the larger hive. To be honest, most of my colonies are pretty calm and may be spoiling me. On my last (pre-winter) inspections I forgot to smoke one and didn't realize it until I closed them up. I may not know how to deal if I end up with a chronically aggressive colony. ;)
Looking forward to the outcome of your conversion hive. Cutting up happy bees comb and rotating just seems counter intuative and unnecessarily destructive Hope you have success moving them over. We have bees in 2 langstrath hives and building 2 Layens hives to move them into.
We actually just fed a pollen patty and pro sweet to encourage more winter brood. Here in southwestern KY. We just stopped a (late) mite treatment that appeared to shut the queens down for a couple weeks.
Thankfully, this hive hasn't seemed to have problems producing brood. As I state in the video, my biggest concern is that they'll have enough honey stored up for winter. Maybe my concerns about the brood are unfounded and a result of too much study and too little experience; it'll be interesting to see how things turn out in the Spring.
So, did the Layens brood survive that winter? (New subscriber) Any refinements you’ve added I can use to migrate from Langstroth to Layens? Your design is very exciting to a 70yo bk.
Yes - the colony over-wintered successfully in the conversion hive. I inspected the hive on March 20 and posted a video of that, then posted another from later this year showing how the hive was doing. Recently, though, they're struggling with disease issues (which I documented in two more videos). The hive worked very well for migrating the bees, and then I harvested honey from the Langstroth frames which they'd back-filled with nectar.
The bees consider all the frames, no matter what size, as part of their hive. Don't count on them moving honey from one frame to another. They are counting on the Langstroth frames full of honey as their winter stores. They may store what they produce from feed in the Layens frames but I sincerely doubt they will move honey. If anything, they may make sure the Langstroth frames are wall to wall honey. I also think you will be waiting until harvest time to remove the Langstroth frames. It is a good sign to see they are still expanding downward in the Layens frames. I hoping they want to encourage the queen to lay lower in the frame so they can put honey and pollen above the winter cluster.
This is how I've been using the hive since this initial series a few years ago - just leave the Langstroth frames until harvest time and take those which are full. Sometimes I'll leave frames over winter; no rush. I've used it for additional colonies and it's worked well; no issues with building out the Layens frames and the bees prepare well for winter. The only problem is that the bees tend to attach the last Layens frame to the excluder, but that's a minor issue.
End of life forgers going to the end of hive and up on top to pass on to bee heaven...your end board needs to be tight on the bottom so the bees can't access that compartment. They will then die outside or directly below the frames...maybe easier for the housekeepers to remove.
This happened to my hives. Farmer next to me was to give me a days notice before spraying. I heard a tractor coming across the field, looked up and here came the sprayer. I only have two Layens hives. Next day I had piles of dead bees in front of each hive and a bowl full inside each hive. I went and talked with the farmers, they assured me what they were spraying should not harm the bees, but I told them all I know is I haven't had any problems till you sprayed. They were very apologetic and even offered to pay for the bees, and promised they would inform me before they spray again. I will close the hives the night before they spray. Bottom line, the dead bees in the bottom of the hive looked exactly like yours.
Do you think the tree hive that you removed could be the dead ones? Like they tried to combine and were rejected?
That's certainly possible. They could have gotten into the main entrance but been chased under the divider board. Because there were dead bees in one of the (closed) entrances, it seems like they were looking for a way out.
I'm betting that's what you're seeing!
@@SuburbanSodbuster That or robbers that got caught and killed. In the segment with you showing the dead bees in the corner, you could see a couple of guard bees actively fighting other bees on the bottom board. Looked like the WWF action I see with robbing behavior.
I wonder if the langstroth portion was put at the bottom of the conversion Hive rather than the top if the bees would have built comb on the layers frame further down earlier. Just a thought.
I like your Layens hive set up with your calm bees from a friend.
When these bees were packed in the nuc they were awfully defensive and I was worried about dealing with them. They're much more docile now with the space of the larger hive. To be honest, most of my colonies are pretty calm and may be spoiling me. On my last (pre-winter) inspections I forgot to smoke one and didn't realize it until I closed them up. I may not know how to deal if I end up with a chronically aggressive colony. ;)
DAMN SODBUSTERS
The days of the open range are over (except for bees).
@@SuburbanSodbuster I was hoping you wouldve picked up on that famous line from lonesome dove.
@@harleymays1736 I should've looked it up. I'm a big fan of westerns (especially Gunsmoke) but it's been a long time since I watched Lonesome Dove.
@@SuburbanSodbuster cheers dude
Looking forward to the outcome of your conversion hive. Cutting up happy bees comb and rotating just seems counter intuative and unnecessarily destructive Hope you have success moving them over. We have bees in 2 langstrath hives and building 2 Layens hives to move them into.
We actually just fed a pollen patty and pro sweet to encourage more winter brood. Here in southwestern KY. We just stopped a (late) mite treatment that appeared to shut the queens down for a couple weeks.
Thankfully, this hive hasn't seemed to have problems producing brood. As I state in the video, my biggest concern is that they'll have enough honey stored up for winter. Maybe my concerns about the brood are unfounded and a result of too much study and too little experience; it'll be interesting to see how things turn out in the Spring.
@@SuburbanSodbuster I think your bees will be just fine. Do you plan to top with dry sugar over winter as an insurance policy?
Scared me for a bit with the dead bees - I'm glad it turned out ok!!!!
Great video!
So, did the Layens brood survive that winter?
(New subscriber)
Any refinements you’ve added I can use to migrate from Langstroth to Layens?
Your design is very exciting to a 70yo bk.
Yes - the colony over-wintered successfully in the conversion hive. I inspected the hive on March 20 and posted a video of that, then posted another from later this year showing how the hive was doing. Recently, though, they're struggling with disease issues (which I documented in two more videos). The hive worked very well for migrating the bees, and then I harvested honey from the Langstroth frames which they'd back-filled with nectar.
Looks like they got into some pesticides and brought it back to the hive.
That was my thought.
The bees consider all the frames, no matter what size, as part of their hive. Don't count on them moving honey from one frame to another. They are counting on the Langstroth frames full of honey as their winter stores. They may store what they produce from feed in the Layens frames but I sincerely doubt they will move honey. If anything, they may make sure the Langstroth frames are wall to wall honey. I also think you will be waiting until harvest time to remove the Langstroth frames. It is a good sign to see they are still expanding downward in the Layens frames. I hoping they want to encourage the queen to lay lower in the frame so they can put honey and pollen above the winter cluster.
This is how I've been using the hive since this initial series a few years ago - just leave the Langstroth frames until harvest time and take those which are full. Sometimes I'll leave frames over winter; no rush. I've used it for additional colonies and it's worked well; no issues with building out the Layens frames and the bees prepare well for winter. The only problem is that the bees tend to attach the last Layens frame to the excluder, but that's a minor issue.
End of life forgers going to the end of hive and up on top to pass on to bee heaven...your end board needs to be tight on the bottom so the bees can't access that compartment. They will then die outside or directly below the frames...maybe easier for the housekeepers to remove.
ill take 3 buckets o chickn clnl !😄
Are you mocking me? Are we 'bout to have issues? Don't make me go all 11 herbs and spices on you! 😁
Maybe out foraging and got sprayed and died when they returned to the hive.
This happened to my hives. Farmer next to me was to give me a days notice before spraying. I heard a tractor coming across the field, looked up and here came the sprayer. I only have two Layens hives. Next day I had piles of dead bees in front of each hive and a bowl full inside each hive. I went and talked with the farmers, they assured me what they were spraying should not harm the bees, but I told them all I know is I haven't had any problems till you sprayed. They were very apologetic and even offered to pay for the bees, and promised they would inform me before they spray again. I will close the hives the night before they spray. Bottom line, the dead bees in the bottom of the hive looked exactly like yours.
تجربة خلية لينز تجربة مهمة ونتائجها طيبة
شكرا لك على ملاحظاتك