Bees Installed Into Thermosolar Hives

Bees Installed Into Thermosolar Hives

I had two hives in the locations I was to put the Thermosolar Hives. It was simply a question of lifting out the frames and placing in the new hives.

Thermosolar Hive (Blue) With Bees
Thermosolar Hive (Blue) With Bees

Key points during the transfer:

  1. I had to cut plastic queen excluder so it fit the hive dimensions
  2. My guess of SSE facing for the original hives was 90 degrees incorrect, so I had to point the new hives in this new direction
  3. The brood boxes only take eight 14×12 frames (this is the equivalent to a national brood box) – so a super below is required (I’ll have to ask Thermosolar Hive team if this was the plan?)
  4. I had to plug the holes in the Thermosolar ceiling as bees could get in and out
  5. There was 200 dead and slow moving bees 2 hours later.  Not sure if this was the result of fighting (bees confused due to 90 degree hive rotation and trying to enter wrong hive) or due to hunger and confusion (could not find entrance and they ran out of energy trying to find it).  Thoughts please.
  6. That said majority of bees in the hive!
  7. Next day, a lot of bees flying about in confused manner around green hive

My blue hive appears queen-less, so planning to combine another colony onto this hive. Hive notes and plans can be found here: My Apiary.  Also planning some further combining to create stronger hives for the second nectar flow that will start in a week or two.  Grateful for any thoughts on my plans.

Read Thermosolar Hive Guide to find links to all things relevant to this new hive.

Thermosolar Hive (Green) With Bees
Thermosolar Hive (Green) With Bees

Author: Roger

regaining my sanity through beekeeping

3 thoughts on “Bees Installed Into Thermosolar Hives”

  1. Hi Roger. No comment. Just following you as always with great interest. Good luck with the Thermosolar hives. My bees from Logroño on Spanish mainland are still thriving. We have few flowers at this time of the year. Therefore, I have to feed them. I am on a cruise on the boat I work on at the moment but I am due to arrive home in approximately three weeks time. Pete of Mallorca.

  2. Hi Roger,

    just wondering if you have by now undertaken any Varroa checks and what the outcomes are for these hives – working /not working/volume Varroa etc?

    1. Hi Jane,
      I am just feeding at the moment – see My Apiary.
      And the weather has not been hot enough when I have been around – needs to be above 20C.
      So no – not done the Thermosolar Treatment yet. Will post as soon as I do.
      Roger

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