Cross Comb Chaos: The Upside Down Beekeeping Experiment!

In this episode, Mark returns to the swarm that settled in the shed. Upon discovering they had formed cross comb, he implements a suggestion from a viewer and flips it upside down. Tune in to see the results!

Hello, dear readers! It's your favourite beekeeper here, and today I have quite the tale to share with you. It all started with a jug - yes, a jug - that I had forgotten to bring back. My wife had reminded me, but it slipped my mind in the chaos of my beekeeping adventures. I did eventually return it, albeit a tad late. If life were a Monopoly game, I'd be headed straight to jail without collecting $200 (or $20, considering my beekeeping earnings).

Now, onto the real adventure. I decided to check on our upside-down beehive. The idea was to see if the bees would move from their cross-comb formation if their world were turned topsy-turvy. But first, a little sugar syrup for our buzzing friends. Pro tip: Don't spill sugar in your wife's kitchen unless you're ready for an ant invasion!

Back to our experiment. The upside-down hive was a suggestion from a fan. The theory was that the bees would dislike their new orientation and move to a more organized formation. So, with high hopes, I ventured to see the results. And... well, let's just say the bees seemed perfectly content in their upside-down abode. They had honey, brood, and seemed to be living their best life, gravity be damned.

I even found Brood still hanging upside down! Our little bee friends seem more adaptable than we give them credit for. The question then arose - should I turn them back right side up? After some contemplation (and a few disgruntled bees), I decided to leave them be for now. We'll revisit them in the spring and see if we can organize them into a more traditional setup.

In conclusion, the upside-down experiment was a bit of a flop. But that's the beauty of beekeeping. Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn. And this was definitely a learning experience. So, dear readers, save yourself the trouble and keep your hives right side up!

If you enjoyed this tale of beekeeping misadventures, don't forget to like, subscribe, and share. And if you're ever curious about the mysteries of beekeeping, check out our Brood Box members area: https://thebushbeeman.com/members-sign-up

Until next time, keep buzzing and enjoy the sweet rewards of beekeeping! 🐝🍯