I went to see how the bees from the chimney are getting on today and although the weather wasn't especially nice or dry it wasn't tipping down with rain and the bees were flying well.

After being taken out of the chimney several weeks ago their honey comb was placed in two empty supers on a board above a brood box. The plywood board had four large hole drilled in it to give the bees access to the old comb. So they have a regular hive floor and brood box arrangement at the bottom and their old wax at the top.

They now need an entrance block and mouseguard and some feeding.

We will wait until next year before sorting out the old honey comb that came from inside the chimney pot. First we need to get bees to lead the queen out of their old comb and into one of our boxes. Once she starts to lay in a regular brood box we will be able to remove the old comb.

These bees are very small and very black.