GrandmaB's Notes

Beginning backyard beekeeping in the Willamette Valley of Oregon, USA, using top bar hives. This is a blog of my experience starting up a top bar hive in my backyard in Independence, Oregon. Hopefully it will help others who are just beginning beekeeping in our local area with some of their basic questions about backyard beekeeping with top bar hives. Why GrandmaB...not related to bees as you might think; I've been GrandmaB since 1999 when the first of our wonderful grandchildren arrived.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

February 10, 2021 Hive Check

Hmmm, bright sunny day, 49 degrees, no breeze...so I opened the long hive and see no activity and top of frames feels cool, not cold though. I looked at three end frames and found the one closest in to be full of honey on both sides, the second out was 2/3 full and the third or last had about 5" of semi-circular empty comb. I didn't want to go into the core of the hive so put attic wool cover back and closed it up. I am hopeful all is well--we shall see come spring. No mold, no unusual activity by other insects.

The entrance of the Langstroth hive is sealed by the bees themselves, except for two small holes which were there last fall. I'm attaching a photo. No activity and it's quite complicated to open the hive with the winter insulation and covering.