Beehaus Tip #1: Installing Bees Into Your Beehaus

Option

Pros, Cons, Verdict

1. Install the standard frames
2. Place three 14×12 frames in front (ie.   entrance side) and dummy boards at the back and front to sandwich all the   frames
3. Shuffle the lot to the front of the beehive
4. As the colony grows (hopefully towards the   entrance rather than down the standard brood frames) keep installing the   14×12 frames on the entrance side of the hive
5. The aim is to keep the standard frames at the   back of the brood nest and when there is no brood remaining on them then get   rid of them (this may take a whole season, or earlier if there is the   opportunity)
6. It is better to have a strong colony, so do   not lose the standard frames until the bees have drawn out nine 14×12 frames

Pros: Relatively simple and less stressful for you and the bees

Cons: Could get messy; it will be difficult to inspect the standard frames for varroa during this period; need to be patient as work out the old frames

Verdict: Pretty good. This is my second favourite option.

1. Install the standard frames as above, plus put   an object (possibly made of cardboard) below these frames to take up the   space, so they cannot build wild comb
2. A standard brood frame is 14” x 8.5”, hence   the object below needs to be 3.5” (8.9cm) high, 14” (35.6cm) long and the 5   frames will be about 6.9” (17.5cm) wide
3. As with option A, the aim is to work out the   standard frames

Pros: As above plus, easier to inspect bees

Cons: The bees might eat the cardboard; you have to make a box to the dimensions opposite (even I can manage this)

Verdict: My favoured option.  This is what I am going to do.

1. Place one frame with queen on one side of beehaus and all the other frames on the other side
2. Note: The workers will build wild comb below the standard frame but it will only be one frame wide and it will be straight, hence not an issue
3. Use the hive divider board with Queen Excluder to separate the two halves of the beehaus
4. Queen side: install a 14×12 frame on each side of the standard frame
5. Push a dummy up against them
6. Also, push a dummy board up against the   standard frames on the other side of the hive
7. As the new bees emerge from the side with the   standard frames they will move to the side with the Queen and eventually the   National frames will empty of brood as the other side fills up with brood.
8. Remove the nationals on the non Queen side
9. Replace the Queen Excluder in the hive divider with the board so that all bees stay on Queen side
10. Work the remaining standard frame to the outside (see option 1) and then lose it when it has no brood

Pros: Within 21 days all the worker brood will have hatched and you will have all new brood on the 14×12 frames, easy to inspect bees

Cons: Risk that the bees might get cold and die (big con); more complex than options A and B above

Verdict: If you are going to attempt this method, then is it best done in a mild April/May, but I am not going to try this.

1. Add these extensions from Thorne to your standard frames, and they will become 14x12s

Pros: Instantly have 14×12 frames

Cons: Extra expense, complex manoeuvre

Verdict: As a novice beekeeper, I cannot imagine receiving a nuc of bees, adding extensions and installing into the beehaus in one fluid move