Hello Beepeeple!

[Happy Chooks]

Thanks for explaining, that helps a lot.

 

[Latestarter]

Since you've been in a nectar flow for several weeks at this point, you may want to keep a close eye on the bee population of your hive. Even though the lower box (now your upper) was empty, since you swapped them, if your Queen is actively laying and healthy, and now that she has "move up space" she can fill in with eggs, you could reasonably expect an explosion of bee population in ~ 2-3 weeks, followed by swarm inclinations... Kinda surprised that pop explosion hasn't already begun since you've had local food for them for weeks...

Here in our area, the instructor had been checking his hives and found active drones and drone brood in 4 separate apiaries/separate locations, indicating the build up to swarm season. That's why he is doing splits now. Trying to stop the swarm urge. Also, he lost a number of his hives due primarily to mite loads (he is completely organic and uses no chemicals whatsoever in his hives) so by splitting healthy hives that made it through the winter (despite mites, etc.) he's also trying to produce stronger bees from successful queen daughters/offspring.

 

[Happy Chooks]

I was looking at all the pollen they were bringing in yesterday. I planned on opening the hive today and taking a peek. A couple of weeks ago, the queen hadn't yet moved to the top box.

 

[Maggiesdad]

But if you get a cold snap after installation, the extra 3,333 bees will help keep her warm.

It got down to 16°... I have my doubts about whether I made a good call.

 

[Happy Chooks]

It got down to 16°... I have my doubts about whether I made a good call.

When it gets above 40*, feed them. I know my bees won't forage until it's 40*.

 

[Maggiesdad]

Three TBHs with pollen coming in and comb started... Looks like these ladies are going to make a go of it in spite of my heavy handed efforts to "help" them.

Things I've learned in the past week:

- don't dump a package on a baggie feeder... that's just a syrup disaster.
- baggie feeder is practically worthless in the cold, if they can't break cluster, there is no food in a new TBH.
-bucket feeder with leading edge touching the cluster is definitely the way to go.
- it's easier (and less stressful on the bees) to let the empty queencage down out of the bottom of the cluster, than to spread the topbars and pull it out the top.
-bees make a hysterical "wheeeee!!!" noise when they come out to take an orientation flight and get whisked away in 30mph gusts...

 

[Maggiesdad]

Three colors of pollen coming in today, bright yellow, yellow gray, and red.
Sunny 68° and 20mph winds all day. March was sposed to go out like a lamb...

 

[Happy Chooks]

I'm seeing 3-4 different colors of pollen too.

 

[Latestarter]

Not seeing any pollen yet... not till the end of the month

 

[Maggiesdad]

Hang in there, Latestarter! Here's some pics to tide you over -

orientation day

warm syrup is like hot cocoa to a cold bee

Never thought I could say "Look at the saddlebags on that girl" and get away with it! - And that drone? He's thinking "Dang it's cold here in VA!" and "Nobody's feeding me!"

Teh Maggie. My beekeeping buddy. That smile makes this all worthwhile.