Hello Beepeeple!

[Happy Chooks]

Nice. You are much braver than me. Are you feeding them too? I didn't smoke mine on inspection today either, but with the population high, I probably should have. Too many bees were in my way!

 

[Latestarter]

I have the double feeder inside on top of the inner cover, surrounded by an empty deep box covered by the outer cover. I also put the can of syrup in there 1/2 over the inner cover hole. It didn't look like they had taken much of either, but there were live bees hanging on to the bottom of both when I moved them out so I could get inside. The can felt about the same weight as when I put it in there on Saturday.

 

[Maggiesdad]

I've read the syrup can's pinholes are sized to ooze during the jostling of transit, that they really don't do much sitting still.

Otherwise the bouncing would inundate the girls during travel.

 

[Maggiesdad]

@Happy Chooks - he's going to cross those ladies one day... and they'll school him in Prudence 101!

 

[Happy Chooks]

@Happy Chooks - he's going to cross those ladies one day... and they'll school him in Prudence 101!

Yep, and I'm betting it happens when he messes with them and their colony is built up and it's hot. They get testy when it's hot out.

I'm not even brave enough to go bare handed. Even through thin rubber work gloves, it freaks me out feeling a bee buzzing under my finger. Makes me think I'm going to squish her.

I got the empty frames from the outside placed on the inside of the brood chamber now. I used smoke today so all those bees wouldn't be in my way. It was too hard yesterday without smoke - every time I tried to move a frame, they were in my dang way! They were fine temperament wise, but the smoke helped today. I counted 4 queen cups on the bottom, not built down like a peanut yet, just open cups that are empty. I'll check on them in 10 days and see how they are doing. Meanwhile, I'll be purchasing another hive to be ready to split them in a moments notice!

 

[Maggiesdad]

Wow! That's exciting! Do keep us posted.

 

[Maggiesdad]

So.... I checked the hives today, and the one that had such a rough go is dwindling. It's been 35 days since the install. They capped some syrup and brought in pollen, but never set any brood. I'm so glad I started with several hives instead of just one - it really is helpful to compare the hives against each other. At least the comb won't go to waste, they are nice and straight. If I catch a swarm in one of my bait hives, I'll give it to them to help give 'em a kickstart. I saw my first scout bee this week, checking out the siding on my mom's house.

The blackberries are budding, so the flow is just around the corner.

 

[Happy Chooks]

So.... I checked the hives today, and the one that had such a rough go is dwindling. It's been 35 days since the install. They capped some syrup and brought in pollen, but never set any brood. I'm so glad I started with several hives instead of just one - it really is helpful to compare the hives against each other. At least the comb won't go to waste, they are nice and straight. If I catch a swarm in one of my bait hives, I'll give it to them to help give 'em a kickstart. I saw my first scout bee this week, checking out the siding on my mom's house.

The blackberries are budding, so the flow is just around the corner.

Sounds like they lost the queen. (or killed her) Can you get another queen to add to the hive? My package install, they killed my queen and I reinstalled a week later with a new queen and everything was fine after that.

 

[Maggiesdad]

No queens available around these parts...

I need to start me a bee business!

 

[Happy Chooks]

No queens available around these parts...

I need to start me a bee business!

What about taking some eggs from the other hive for them to raise their own queen?