The need for an increase in bee colonies in an apiary exists almost always. The reasons for this may be different. Very often, for example, layering of bees is done to expand the apiary itself. Also, it is often necessary to increase the number of families in the spring due to the death of insects. Form new hives and those beekeepers who are engaged in tribal work.
Definition and basic techniques
Actually layering is called the choice of brood and bees from existing hives in order to artificially form new families. This procedure can be performed using several technologies. Often beekeepers group layering into separate hives. Sometimes a less costly method can be used. The bee layer is simply separated from the old family as part of a multi-hive hive or sunbed. In the first case, the stern layer is usually the “separator”, in the second - the diaphragm.
Beekeepers can take bees and brood for breeding both from one family and from several. Both of these techniques are used quite often. However, the latter method is usually used to reduce the likelihood of weakening families before a bribe. In the first case, layering will be called individual, in the second - collective.
New families can be formed with both the fetal and the infertile uterus. In the first case, layering is organized approximately 1-1.5 months before the honey collection, in the second - 1.5-2 months. Sometimes a new family is formed using a mature uterus.
Also, all layering can be classified by the age of the selected bees. In this regard, there are three main types of them:
on a young bee;
to the old one;
of different ages.
When carrying out breeding work, bee layers are supposed to be created only from the most powerful families. You can also take individuals from the weak. But in this case, they should definitely plant a very good uterus.
Formation Instruction: Basic Steps
Actually the organization of the layering includes the following steps:
choosing the most favorable time for creating a new family;
hives are prepared and new mother liquors are created;
the layering with new bees is actually formed;
mother liquors are heard in layering.
Next, we will deal with the technologies for performing each step individually.
Recommended Formation Time
It is impossible to create new families at air temperatures below 25 ° C. If it is colder outside, the uterus simply will not fly out of the hives. Also, the beekeeper, who decided to form a layering of bees in the spring, should wait for the moment when the insects completely depart after the winter. Families must gain full strength. It is not allowed to form layering even if there are no drones in the hives. Most often, the best time to create new families is mid-May. If the spring is warm, you can start work at the beginning of this month.
Previously, it is often advisable to make layering only with the use of fostered families. In this case, you can not be afraid to weaken the bees. Nascent families will not work on an early bribe anyway.
Thus, the answer to the question of when to make layering of bees is quite simple. Perform this procedure in the spring, after the establishment of warm weather. It is also impossible to delay too much with the creation of the required number of layering in the apiary. This work should be carried out with the expectation that the uterus should begin to lay eggs no later than 40 days before the main bribe. In this case, new families will have time to gain enough strength for honey collection. Layings created too late can subsequently turn out to be of high quality. However, in the fall, they are likely to still cause the beekeeper a lot of trouble.
How are the preparatory work
One of the main problems of any apiary is various kinds of bee diseases. Therefore, hives designed to create new families should first be thoroughly cleaned. Further, they must be disinfected. Old empty hives should be inspected before planting bees in them. If necessary, they are repaired.
Step Two: Standard Formation Technology
After a sufficient number of beehives or hulls with temporary bottoms have been prepared, they actually begin to carry out the bulk of the work to form a new family.
Previously, two honey frames with bee bread are placed in the compartment intended for beekeeping. At the same time, water is poured into the cells of the cells. For a good effect in this case, one glass is enough. They have honeycombs along the edges of the future bee nest. In the middle in the future there should be enough space for two brood frames.
At the next stage, the uterus is found in the selected family and covered with a cap. Next, for the new hive, you should choose the best honeycomb (2 pcs.) With brood, mature at the exit. In the prepared "well" they are placed with the bees. After that, a certain number of young insects are shaken off into the new hive (from 2-3 hundred).
You should not be afraid to place too many bees in the layers. All flying insects will soon return to their old family. Only young bees will remain in the layering (usually no more than three streets).
Distribution of mother liquors
This procedure is most often carried out by the evening of the same day on which layering was formed. By this time, the bees already usually have time to settle down in a new place and feel their orphanhood. And consequently, insects are most likely to perceive mother liquor well. In addition, old bees will fly away to their families by evening. Young people are usually distinguished by peace.
For mothers, experienced beekeepers recommend creating families in which 2-3 days are left before the release of the “queens”. During this time, the remains of old bees will fly away from the hives, and young ones will finally get used to it. Distribution of mother liquors can be done the day after the formation of layering. However, this procedure cannot be delayed for a longer period. After 2-4 days, the young bees will lay their own queen cells. Of course, they can be deleted. However, insects, even if there is an external mother liquor, will subsequently actively build their own. The grafted "queens" they will begin to kill.
Another way to create a complete family
Thus, the formation of layering of bees usually involves the use of queen cells. But some beekeepers also practice a slightly different method of creating new families. In this case, the uterus directly sits in the layers. The advantage of this method is, first of all, that in this case there is the possibility of evaluating the “queen” by morphological characteristics, weight and size. The disadvantages of this technique include a decrease in the probability of taking the uterus by the family. Use this method only if there is no open brood in the hive.
Instructions for the formation of layering in multihull hives
How to make layering of bees in the spring, so we figured out. According to the technology described above, new families are created in separate hives. Layers in multihulls form approximately the same. But in this case, the technology involves a few more steps.
In multi-hull structures, the formation of a new family begins only after the main will have at least 9 brood frames. In this case, food layers are first prepared. Empty cells (3-4) and 6-7 low-copper frames are placed in them.
Actually, under the expansion itself, they take another new building and nail the plywood bottom to it. Next, 2-3 frames with printed brood of different ages and bees sitting on honeycombs are transferred into it from the main family. Then, for reinforcement in layering, as in the first case, insects are shaken off from another 2-3 frames, making sure that the uterus remains in the old case.
At the next stage, 7-8 low-honeycombs are installed in the bee layers. The mother liquor or young uterus is placed in the body after 8 hours. Next, proceed to the assembly of a multi-tiered structure. Fodder hulls are located above the main family. They set formed layering. Top design is insulated with a pillow.
Formed in this way, the hive is not disturbed for 3-4 weeks. During this time, the old family will have time to build strength. The young one will bring out the vaccinated uterus. After this period, as necessary, you can begin to expand both families.
How to make layering of bees in a sunbed
The design of hives of this type involves the expansion of space not in the vertical, but in the horizontal plane. In this they differ from multihull hives. For the manufacture of layering in such a structure, the side part is first fenced off with a diaphragm. Then the bees are relocated and the mother liquor is placed in the resulting compartment. The formation technology in this case is practically no different from those described above.
How to make layering of bees without a uterus
Beekeepers also use this method of relocation quite often. It is used when it is impossible to purchase a pedigree uterus for the family or in the absence of time to grow a quality individual directly on the farm. In this case, the hive is preliminarily prepared, like two drops of water similar to the “house” of the selected family. Next, wait for the moment when the bees go to collect honey. After that, set the prepared hive next to the main one. Upon returning home, the bees will find two similar "dwellings", split into two parts and occupy both. So two families will turn out - one with a uterus, the other without it.
For a long time, such a layering of bees without a uterus, of course, will not remain. After 4 days, the insects will lay several queen cells. The beekeeper will only need to remove the defective, leaving about 4 pieces. On the 24th day, the new uterus will already have to make the first sowing. If it turns out to be of poor quality, the family will have to be combined with the main one. In this case, a new attempt at separation can be repeated no earlier than in a year.