Bees doing just what they do: foraging and returning with nectar and pollen, pollen of all colors--tan, yellow, red, blue! Yesterday a group was buzzing around the front of the hive orienting themselves. Continue to feed 1:1 cane sugar syrup. They are using about two quarts every two-three days.
Opening the hive was easy--bees still gentle although more flew around me after I removed the first frame. It was almost fully drawn to the edges with good brood pattern as well as pollen and nectar cells on the outer side. Since it was looking good and I prefer not to disturb the hive anymore than necessary, I went no further.
There is no comb at all on the frames in the second deep which I added at 3 week hive check--thinking now that was too early because they have to navigate through it to the feeder above it. Since there is no comb in that box I'm wondering about replacing it with a medium super which I see some beekeepers do for the second box which is usually brood. Will look online and check with local beekeepers--too bad I missed meeting Tuesday.
So in the end, I made no changes, added syrup and closed the hive.
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Sunday, June 9, 2019
3 week hive check - June 9, 2019
Wow! Not only is this the most mild tempered bee colony I have experienced, they are also quite industrious. All frames have beautiful white comb drawn and closely packed capped brood cells throughout the center of the hive. No queen cells seen. Pictures below show outermost frame and center frame. The queen obviously is viable which is good news in that she may go for the usual three years, perhaps more. Of course, I'll check each year to ascertain her laying pattern. Here's a site as a reminder of the bee life cycle: http://blogs.evergreen.edu/terroir-zack/life-cycle-of-the-honey-bee/
Friend and neighbor, Christie, took photos of both sides of each frame. I went to frame six and decided that was sufficient, wanting to close the hive to retain warmth. Did not see the queen but know she is healthy and extremely capable. Because all frames had drawn comb and most were 3/4 full, I added the next regular super for the bees to begin comb building and a second box for brood and honey. Will continue to feed the 50/50 cane sugar/water syrup as long as they take it and are building comb. Next hive check in two weeks to see how they are handling the second box.
Friend and neighbor, Christie, took photos of both sides of each frame. I went to frame six and decided that was sufficient, wanting to close the hive to retain warmth. Did not see the queen but know she is healthy and extremely capable. Because all frames had drawn comb and most were 3/4 full, I added the next regular super for the bees to begin comb building and a second box for brood and honey. Will continue to feed the 50/50 cane sugar/water syrup as long as they take it and are building comb. Next hive check in two weeks to see how they are handling the second box.
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| First side/ first frame |
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| First side/ sixth frame |
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| Second side/ sixth frame |
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