Mary
75 f
Sunny
At least she's consistent in her problems...
I took off the T-cover to look at the Hive Top Feeder. It was about a quarter full of crystallized sugar. All of that was dumped on the ground away from the hive. The ants & dogs will appreciate that. Though there were still some bees in the HTF working the candy. It will be put away for now. The nights are now in the 50's & 60's so the bees won't be clustering anymore.
Beneath the HTF was the brood nest in the deep hive box. The population looked great. Few of the bees stolen from Myrina are left. They still make their presence known during inspections by becoming hyper-defensive. The rest of the girls are Mary's. They have 4 full frames of capped brood right now. Unfortunately the brood pattern is spotty. Which is a sign the Queen is weak. I have already talked to a local queen breeder about buying one as soon as he has some. Mary was weak all last year. I didn't understand that until late Fall when it's too late to requeen. Now is the time for that.
Another sign of a weak queen is chalk brood. Which i found several cells worth in the middle of the nest. I knew it would happen. That's why I talked to that queen breeder 2 months ago. But I must say for a fading Queen Mary is doing better than expected. If she can keep it going for a little while longer she'll have done her part. After which with the new Queen the spotty brood & chalk brood will go away.
Speaking of which Queen Mary was found on frame 5 milling about. I meant to mark her today but forgot to borrow the marking pen from my neighbor; now a new beekeeper herself. I mark her next time.
I have been wondering how the bees will handle making drone cells on Plasticell. It's cell size is smaller than drone cell but not by much. Mary's girls made some drone cells on the bottom of 1 frame; not unusual. However, they half attached it to the imprinted Plasticell foundation & half on the wood frame. That way they could make it that little bit bigger that they needed. I've not yet found any drone cells in the middle of the frame. I'm thinking they won't but am waiting to find out.
Also on the bottom of the frames I found a few Queen cups. These differ from the queen cups in the New Hive due to their location on the frame. Queen cups on the bottom of the frame would become Swarm cells. When a Swarm cell hatches the OLD queen takes half the colony and leaves the hive for good. They then setup shop elsewhere as a new colony. The New queen from the swarm cell stays in the original hive to carry on the where the Old queen left off. Not enough space in the hive is one reason for a colony to swarm. This may be a indicator that this hive needs another deep hive box put on the hive. With extra room for brood the colony will be less likely to swarm. So I'll put another brood box on this hive this week, as soon as it's painted.
Finishing the inspection had a slight bump. Without the HTF i need to put the Inner Cover on. I don't have one I'd use. Mary's old one from fall was puled off when I moved her back outside. It was plastered with crystallized sugar & Nosema droppings. The leaking syrup also warped the cover. I'd rather burn it than use it. For now I'll leave the HTF on but with water in it. What rock sugar i couldn't knock out will sweeten the water. I'll make another IC this week and put it on next weekend.
To review:
Spotty brood & chalk brood.
She needs a DHB and a IC.
Oh...and a new Queen!
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Inspection 4/28/10
New Hive (Duchess)
71 f
Partly Sunny
They finished their first gallon of 1:1 medicated syrup the previous day. I added another 1/2 gallon of unmedicated then, yesterday evening. There were a handful of drowned bees in the HTF then but none today. I check each day now to see how fast they're taking it.
Once the HTF was off I was able to see that the bees were working in frames 4 through 7. I pulled the cage frame and saw the Queen had been released. They had not built too much comb around the cage. It came out with only a small tug. The rest of the frame had been mostly drawn out & somewhat filled with pollen & syrup or nectar.
Frames 4 through 7 were close to being completely drawn out. Beautiful white wax. They had also capped a small patch of syrup on frame 4. The frames were a mix of new wax & old wax. The bees used the old wax from the rewaxing effort to build the comb down on the lower half of the frames.
Frames 5 & 6 is where the eggs were at. Closer to the top of the frames mostly. There was also pollen & syrup on the ends. The bees obscured the view but I'll say half of the typical brood nest area had eggs on each frame. The Queen was on frame 5. Busily laying eggs. She looks OK and the workers are taking care of her.
Frame 7 is the Drone frame. It has been partially drawn out but the queen has not got to it yet. In the meantime the bees are storing some syrup on it. I'd love to use these drone frames in the honey suppers. The cells are much bigger than normal brood cells. So more space would be dedicated to honey than comb wall.
On frame 6 there was 2 Queen cups. At first I thought they were Supercedure cells. Since then I have learned that they are only 'Cups'. The bees regularly construct Queen cups. So if something happens to the Queen they can quickly form a emergency Queen cell. As much as they are always making these they are also tearing them down. So there should always be some somewhere in the hive. I mentioned this to one of the Bee club leaders. They thought the stress of being shipped was enough to cause the bees to make these so soon. As of now it doesn't seem to mean anything is wrong with the colony. I'll be watching for any other signs though.
The colony is looking good. They are building up the comb & population. They may need another hive body in the next week or two. She doesn't have a name yet because it's too early to know what she's like. It'll be 45 days, or so, until all the bees are daughters of the Queen. Then I can get a good idea of what the colonies personality is going to be like. I'd settle for calm & productive, but who wouldn't.
71 f
Partly Sunny
They finished their first gallon of 1:1 medicated syrup the previous day. I added another 1/2 gallon of unmedicated then, yesterday evening. There were a handful of drowned bees in the HTF then but none today. I check each day now to see how fast they're taking it.
Once the HTF was off I was able to see that the bees were working in frames 4 through 7. I pulled the cage frame and saw the Queen had been released. They had not built too much comb around the cage. It came out with only a small tug. The rest of the frame had been mostly drawn out & somewhat filled with pollen & syrup or nectar.
Bees working 4 through 7
(click to enlarge)
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Almost capped syrup at the top
Frames 4 through 7 were close to being completely drawn out. Beautiful white wax. They had also capped a small patch of syrup on frame 4. The frames were a mix of new wax & old wax. The bees used the old wax from the rewaxing effort to build the comb down on the lower half of the frames.
Frames 5 & 6 is where the eggs were at. Closer to the top of the frames mostly. There was also pollen & syrup on the ends. The bees obscured the view but I'll say half of the typical brood nest area had eggs on each frame. The Queen was on frame 5. Busily laying eggs. She looks OK and the workers are taking care of her.
Queen & eggs
Frame 7 is the Drone frame. It has been partially drawn out but the queen has not got to it yet. In the meantime the bees are storing some syrup on it. I'd love to use these drone frames in the honey suppers. The cells are much bigger than normal brood cells. So more space would be dedicated to honey than comb wall.
On frame 6 there was 2 Queen cups. At first I thought they were Supercedure cells. Since then I have learned that they are only 'Cups'. The bees regularly construct Queen cups. So if something happens to the Queen they can quickly form a emergency Queen cell. As much as they are always making these they are also tearing them down. So there should always be some somewhere in the hive. I mentioned this to one of the Bee club leaders. They thought the stress of being shipped was enough to cause the bees to make these so soon. As of now it doesn't seem to mean anything is wrong with the colony. I'll be watching for any other signs though.
Queen cup. Currently filled with pollen
The colony is looking good. They are building up the comb & population. They may need another hive body in the next week or two. She doesn't have a name yet because it's too early to know what she's like. It'll be 45 days, or so, until all the bees are daughters of the Queen. Then I can get a good idea of what the colonies personality is going to be like. I'd settle for calm & productive, but who wouldn't.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Package & Installation
The Queen cage is a small cage containing the Queen and sometimes several attendants. It is used to ship the Queen either individually or as part of a 'Package'.
Typically, there is a small hole at the end of the queen-cage for the queen to exit by. It is plugged with a cork on the outside. It leads into a larger hole filled with a bee candy stopper (corn syrup & sugar). The queen is trapped in a compartment on the other side of the bee candy.
To release the queen I remove the cork exposing the candy. Then set the queen cage into the hive between 2 frames. After which the bees are added separately. The bees eat through the candy. Which in turn releases the queen.
While the queen is waiting to be released the bees feed her through the screen. This process gives the bees time to acclimate to the presence of their future queen. Otherwise they could reject her.
Once removed the queen can be inspected. There may be attendants with the queen or not. In this case there is a handful but 2 are dead. At this point the beek removes the cork covering the 'bee candy'. The apiary these bees came from uses the tin disk that holds the queen cage in place instead. So off comes the disk.
Now I punch a small hole through the bee candy. This tells the bees they can free the queen by eating through the candy. Some queen cages come with a nail attached. My Wife lent me one of her sewing needles for this task. Be careful not to stab any bees!
To hang the cage on a frame, again, use a thumbtack or office staple. Remember candy end UP!. the candy side is the exit out. If it is facing the bottom and an attendant dies she will block the exit. Then the queen will be trapped. Also make sure the screen is in a direction that will have better access to the other bees. Perpendicular to the frames will do it.
When the bees slowly crawl up the frames toward the queen is a good sign. If they quickly ball up around her is a sign of rejection. This looks good.
After which I replace the outside frames and move all the frames back into the centered position. Slowly! Then I add the Hive Top Feeder filled with 1:1 sugar syrup medicated with Fumagilin. I put on the inner cover & the telescoping cover. Then reduce the size of the entrance.
That's how I hived my 2010 Package!
Typically, there is a small hole at the end of the queen-cage for the queen to exit by. It is plugged with a cork on the outside. It leads into a larger hole filled with a bee candy stopper (corn syrup & sugar). The queen is trapped in a compartment on the other side of the bee candy.
To release the queen I remove the cork exposing the candy. Then set the queen cage into the hive between 2 frames. After which the bees are added separately. The bees eat through the candy. Which in turn releases the queen.
While the queen is waiting to be released the bees feed her through the screen. This process gives the bees time to acclimate to the presence of their future queen. Otherwise they could reject her.
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This is the shipping box for the bees. The large can is filled with sugar syrup to feed the bees while they are in the box. The small silver circle is a flange which is connected to the queen cage. Before I remove either one, I spray the bees with a 1:1 sugar syrup. I also spray all of the frames with the same 1:1 sugar syrup solution. Then I tap the cage to knock the bees down to the bottom of the box. After which I remove the queen cage and cover up the hole with the wooden plank.
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Now orient the cage so the top is up. The top being the end with the bee candy. Then attach a strip of wire or paper board to the side of the cage. Paper board is what they make cereal boxes out of and just about everything else in a store that isn't wrapped in plastic (**Update** - use tin or plastic strips, or wire. These bees chewed the paper board apart). Make it an inch thick since the bees will be chewing on it. Secure it to the cage with either a thumbtack or office staple.
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Now take the syrup can out of the big box and shake the bees into the hive directly over the queen cage. Roll the box from side to side to get the bees out. Then place the box by the front entrance so the few remaining bees can walk into the hive.
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That's how I hived my 2010 Package!
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
DUCHESS'S CHRONICLE
November 20, 10 - (Combined with Mary 11, 20, 10)
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests =SHB (4 found)
November 13, 10
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = ?
November 1, 10
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
October 24, 10
(post link)
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, (spotty), n/a
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
October 21, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
October 14, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
October 4, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
September 27, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
September 20, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
September 13, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
September 6, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, IC, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
May 31, 10
(post link)
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests =Ants
May 25, 10
(post link)
SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundation
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Current Pests = Ants
May 16, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
May 14, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Frames with Brood = 6/10, didn't look
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
May 2, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
April 28, 10
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 2/10, didn't look
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
April 27, 10
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = yes, no, (didn't look)
Brood Present= yes, no, (didn't look)
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 0/10, (didn't look)
Drone Cells = yes, no, (didn't look)
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
April 20, 10
(post link)
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 0/10
Drone Cells = yes, (no)
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Frames = 0/10
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundationBrood Frames = 0/10
Queen spotted = yes, (no), didn't lookBrood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests =SHB (4 found)
- End of Duchess
- Combined DHB2 with Mary
- All extra bees shook into Mary
- Removed SBB, DHB1, IC, VB, T-cover
- All DHB1 frames into freezer
- SHB Found in DHB1
November 13, 10
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Frames = 0/10
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundationBrood Frames = 0/10
Queen spotted = yes, (no), didn't lookBrood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = ?
- Possibly Queenless (post link)
- Add Apistan Treatment
- Remove HTF
- Add IC
- Insulate VB
November 1, 10
(post link)
r-SBB(c), DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Mite Count (24 hour drop/sticky board) = 103
October 24, 10
(post link)
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Frames = 1/10
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundationBrood Frames = 5/10
Queen spotted = yes, (no), didn't lookBrood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, (spotty), n/a
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- Clean out SBB
- Clean off Stand
- Cleaned off frame rests
- Remove block reducer
- Add Shim reducer
- Add 1qt warm water to crystallized syrup in HTF
- Close beneath SBB with luan board
October 21, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 'Fumagilin' 2:1 syrup - 1tbs ACV/gal
October 14, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 2:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
October 4, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 2:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
September 27, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 1:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
September 20, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 1:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
September 13, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, T-cover
- Add 1 gal of 1:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
September 6, 10
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, IC, VB, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Frames = ?/10
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundationBrood Frames = ?/10
Queen spotted = yes, no, (didn't look)Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, moderate, (good), high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- Remove Entrance Feeder (EF)
- Add HTF
- Remove IC
- Add 1 gal of 1:1 syrup - one Tbs apple cider vinegar/gal
- Remove Drone frame in DHB1
- Add CW frame in DHB1
May 31, 10
(post link)
r-SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
Brood Frames = 6/10
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundationBrood Frames = 2/10
Queen spotted = (yes), no, didn't lookBrood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests =Ants
- Queen on frame # 7, DHB1 (Drone Frame)
- Remove HTF
- Add Entrance Feeder (EF) , 1 qt
- Remove shim reducer
- Add block reducer
- Remove ant nest
May 25, 10
(post link)
SBB, DHB1, DHB2, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
DHB1 = 10 frames, Plasticell foundation
DHB2 = 10 frames, Crimped-wire foundation
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Current Pests = Ants
- Clean dead ants from syrup in HTF
- Found green mold on T-cover
- Waxed mold spot on T-cover
- Frames 5 & 6 in DHB2 drawn out
May 16, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
- Add 1 Deep Hive Body (DHB2)
- Add 10 crimped-wire wax foundation frames
- Sprayed frames with sugar syrup
May 14, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = (solid), spotty, n/a
Frames with Brood = 6/10, didn't look
Drone Cells = (yes), no, didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- All but 3 frames drawn out (1,9,10)
- Some capped drone cells on Drone frame
- Add 1 gallon of 1:1 syrup to HTF
- Hatching workers on frame 5
May 2, 10
SBB, DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
- Add 1 gallon of 1:1 syrup
- Open bottom of SBB
April 28, 10
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Present= (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 2/10, didn't look
Drone Cells = yes, (no), didn't look
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- Bees clustered on frames 4 - 7
- Frames 4 - 7 mostly drawn out
- Queen Released
- Queen on frame 5
- Eggs on frame 5 & 6
- Drone frame partially drawn & filled with honey
- Some capped honey on frame 4
- Queen cage removed
- 2 Supercedure cells on frame 6
April 27, 10
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = yes, no, (didn't look)
Brood Present= yes, no, (didn't look)
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 0/10, (didn't look)
Drone Cells = yes, no, (didn't look)
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- Gallon of medicated 1:1 syrup gone
- Add 1/2 gallon regular 1:1 syrup to HTF
April 20, 10
(post link)
SBB(c), DHB1, HTF, VB, IC, T-cover
Frames per box = 10
DHB1 Foundation = Plasticell
Queen spotted = (yes), no, didn't look
Brood Present= yes, (no), didn't look
Brood Pattern = solid, spotty, (n/a)
Frames with Brood = 0/10
Drone Cells = yes, (no)
Population = critical, low, (moderate), good, high
Condensation = (none), minor, major
Current Pests = None
- Installed 3lb package from Wilbanks Apiary, Georgia
- Queen marked blue at Wilbanks
- All Equipment new
- 9 frames rewaxed Plasticell
- Add one Pierco Drone frame
- SBB closed on bottom
- Feed with 1:1 syrup with Fumagilin & ACV, 1 gal
- Hive on new stand
- Entrance reduced
Day One for this Colony
Hived the Package Today
We started out this morning by hiving my neighbor's package in her Bee yard. We did everything that was shown to us at the club demo. Her bees look good and all seems well.
Afterward I got ready to repeat the task over in my yard. The new package (Duchess) was a good impetus for making a new hive stand. I put it in a new spot too. The placement of the first 2 hives was poor. This new spot has lots more Sun and is better drained. The stand is 8 feet long and is 20 inches tall and will hold all 3 hives. The package will be the first colony on it. I'll move the other 2 over to it in the next month. It has room for a fourth hive too. Maybe I'll catch a swarm or start a queen nuc or something. Once all 3 hives are on the new stand I get rid of farmer Bob's old rickety stand.
It was great to put all the new hive parts together on the new stand. It's clean with fresh paint. The newest house on the block. I'm still updating Mary's & Myrina's equipment. Frames are the slowest to update. I can only take so many in a season.
Once all the equipment was down by the new hive I opened up the package. The Queen cage was missing it's cork over the candy but no big deal. This hole was covered by a piece of metal anyway. There was some wax being built up on the cage & syrup can but very minor. The Queen looked good but 2 of her 5 attendants had died. I attached her between the 2 middle frames and poured in the bees.
The bees clumped out quickly and many took to flying around the hive. The rest slowly crawled up the foundation toward the queen. They seem to like her as there was no balling. I put the hive back together and added a gallon of 1:1 syrup, with Fumagilin and apple cider vinegar, into the hive top feeder. Once closed up the bees stayed close to the reduced entrance. After an hour I checked on them and saw what looked like Orientation flights by many of the bees. Lots of good signs.
For this hive I built the Screened Bottom Board, Vent box, & Telescoping Cover. The Deep Hive body & Inner Cover were purchased from Dadant. The only prep that was done for the package was rewaxing the frames & spraying then with sugar syrup.
I don't have a name for this colony yet. As soon as she exhibits some of her personality she'll get one. For now I call her the 2010 package.
Afterward I got ready to repeat the task over in my yard. The new package (Duchess) was a good impetus for making a new hive stand. I put it in a new spot too. The placement of the first 2 hives was poor. This new spot has lots more Sun and is better drained. The stand is 8 feet long and is 20 inches tall and will hold all 3 hives. The package will be the first colony on it. I'll move the other 2 over to it in the next month. It has room for a fourth hive too. Maybe I'll catch a swarm or start a queen nuc or something. Once all 3 hives are on the new stand I get rid of farmer Bob's old rickety stand.
Myrina on the Old Stand in the background
It was great to put all the new hive parts together on the new stand. It's clean with fresh paint. The newest house on the block. I'm still updating Mary's & Myrina's equipment. Frames are the slowest to update. I can only take so many in a season.
I'm trying the Drone frames this year
Once all the equipment was down by the new hive I opened up the package. The Queen cage was missing it's cork over the candy but no big deal. This hole was covered by a piece of metal anyway. There was some wax being built up on the cage & syrup can but very minor. The Queen looked good but 2 of her 5 attendants had died. I attached her between the 2 middle frames and poured in the bees.
Queen (soon to be named)
The bees clumped out quickly and many took to flying around the hive. The rest slowly crawled up the foundation toward the queen. They seem to like her as there was no balling. I put the hive back together and added a gallon of 1:1 syrup, with Fumagilin and apple cider vinegar, into the hive top feeder. Once closed up the bees stayed close to the reduced entrance. After an hour I checked on them and saw what looked like Orientation flights by many of the bees. Lots of good signs.
Before
-
After
For this hive I built the Screened Bottom Board, Vent box, & Telescoping Cover. The Deep Hive body & Inner Cover were purchased from Dadant. The only prep that was done for the package was rewaxing the frames & spraying then with sugar syrup.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
The Package has Arrived!
Here is one Saturday morning errand I don't mind,
3lbs. of tired & confused bees
These came in today from Wilbanks Apiaries in Georgia. They were packaged on Friday so we're looking at hiving them on Tuesday. They will be sitting in the basement until then. I'll spray them with 1:1 sugar water (w/ ACV) every couple of hours. I hope the cat doesn't get to curious!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Inspection 4/15/10
Myrina
75 f
Sunny
***A special Thanks to Sherry who found the queen for marking and is planing to hive her first package of bees next week. A round of applause for my awesome neighbor and new beekeeper***
Upon taking off the cover I found a colony of small black ants on the inner cover. There were different sized ants & a winged one or two.
They didn't like me letting the light in and they really didn't like me dumping them on the ground. I'm sure they were attracted to the sugar in the HTF; it has crystallized. So I removed the HTF. I'll clean it and have it ready to use for the package that arrives on Saturday.
Looking through the frames was alright. 5 frames in the top box have brood, 3 in the bottom box. Queen Myrina was on frame 5. The brood patterns look spotty right now. The forum people say reversing the brood boxes was stressful to the bees. They also say wait a week or two and the pattern should be back in good order. So Ill be watching that and reading up on reversing brood boxes.
The marking went quickly & easily. I used the little plunger tool Dadant sells. Worked great. When I put it over her she climbed up into it. Then the plunger immobilized her while I marked her with the pen. It only took a few seconds. A light touch of the tip to her back and a small drop plopped out. Yet more paint came out than I wanted; a single drop goes a long way apparently.
Myrina Unmarked
-
75 f
Sunny
***A special Thanks to Sherry who found the queen for marking and is planing to hive her first package of bees next week. A round of applause for my awesome neighbor and new beekeeper***
_ _ _ _ _ _
3 reasons for going into Myrina today:- To mark the queen
- To check the drone frame
- To look for swarm cells
- Current top box = Old frames with old, dark, natural comb
- Current bottom box = Newer Plasticell frames, mostly drawn out
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Upon taking off the cover I found a colony of small black ants on the inner cover. There were different sized ants & a winged one or two.
HEY! we're zoned for a single family home. No duplexes!
They didn't like me letting the light in and they really didn't like me dumping them on the ground. I'm sure they were attracted to the sugar in the HTF; it has crystallized. So I removed the HTF. I'll clean it and have it ready to use for the package that arrives on Saturday.
Looking through the frames was alright. 5 frames in the top box have brood, 3 in the bottom box. Queen Myrina was on frame 5. The brood patterns look spotty right now. The forum people say reversing the brood boxes was stressful to the bees. They also say wait a week or two and the pattern should be back in good order. So Ill be watching that and reading up on reversing brood boxes.
The marking went quickly & easily. I used the little plunger tool Dadant sells. Worked great. When I put it over her she climbed up into it. Then the plunger immobilized her while I marked her with the pen. It only took a few seconds. A light touch of the tip to her back and a small drop plopped out. Yet more paint came out than I wanted; a single drop goes a long way apparently.
-The image below shows how a very small drop can cover the Queen's entire back-
Myrina Unmarked
-
It's light blue when there's no Sun glare
Ideally Myrina should be requeened later this year. This will make it much easier to find her when that time comes.
The president of our bee club recently lost a queen to marking paint. He used an older pen. He said when he marked her a pool of paint came out and completely covered her. The blob of paint killed her quickly. Heeding his warning I was as careful as possible.
Ideally Myrina should be requeened later this year. This will make it much easier to find her when that time comes.
-
Checking the drone frame was easy too. They hadn't touched it. It had been placed on the edge of the brood nest before I reversed the boxes. Since then the bees have moved back up into the new top box. The brood in the now lower box are hatching out but the queen isn't laying down there. So the drone frame hasn't had any attention placed on it.
I replace it with another drone frame that had been rewaxed. I didn't think about it at the time but I should have put the new frame next to the active brood nest. Instead I put it back where the old one was. The queen is laying plenty of drones in the bottom corners of the frames in the top box.
I have yet to find any drone cells made on the Plasticell frames. So far they're all in the natural comb frames. I'm curious to see if they will do that or not.
Fortunately I didn't see any in this inspection. If they do make some I'll toss them in the nuc. I can use them to requeen Myrina and maybe the other colonies too later this year. It was a very hard Winter so populations are down. I feel it will be awhile before swarm cells pop up. We see...
-
I really don't want to see any swarm cells right now. I have one good colony, Myrina, one weak colony, Mary, and a package on the way. Which means Myrina is the only colony that can make surplus honey for me this year. If she swarms there won't be any honey for us.Fortunately I didn't see any in this inspection. If they do make some I'll toss them in the nuc. I can use them to requeen Myrina and maybe the other colonies too later this year. It was a very hard Winter so populations are down. I feel it will be awhile before swarm cells pop up. We see...
-
Hive-wise I'm still trying to change out the old frames with new ones. Last year was a bust since the bees weren't making much comb. I removed 2 old frames from the sides of the top box & added 2 new rewaxed Plasticell frames. I also replaced an undrawn Plasticell frame, from last year, with a new rewaxed Plasticell frame in the bottom box.Thursday, April 1, 2010
Inspection 4/1/10
Mary
81 f
Sunny
Long Live the Queen...She pulled it off! Mary lives for another season!
I opened up Mary today to see how she's doing. They have taken about half of the medicated syrup. It has begun to crystallize on the surface. Pulling off the HTF showed the still messy frames from where the Nosema caused problems. The bees where testy and did not like the intrusion. Many are from Myrina who is normally defensive. It is really a sign of how stressed they are having such a weak Queen. I used my smoker a lot.
I went through all the frames in the single deep hive. 1 through 3 were mostly honey, some old pollen, & emptied cells. Frame 4 was the same on the outside. The inside was half capped brood & fresh maple pollen. There was also a good showing of eggs and larva. Frame 5 was also half capped brood & fresh pollen but on both sides. I found Mary herself slowly walking around on the outside of 5. She was looking for a cell to lay in. I watched for a moment hoping to see her lay an egg. But then gave up thinking I may be hindering her. Frames 6 through 10 were again mostly honey, some old pollen, & emptied cells.
So, the brood nest is small. Oddly the pollen was being stored beneath the brood on the frames. I believe that is a result of the colder 30's & 40's night time temps. Again she is only in a single deep right now. However the temperatures here have finally broke. Night time temps are now in the 50's and up. The bees are now free to go anywhere they want in the hive. The brood pattern was beautiful; almost complete with very few holes.
I removed the SBB so to clean the dried sugar off it. It was replace with an unused BB that was meant for the new hive for the up-coming package. Inspection of the wood beneath the SBB showed the Nosema has gone away. It has been in place for 10 days. I saw no stain from the Nosema. The Fumagilin did it's job. I'll leave the HTF on for another week or two. Myrina's bees (they get all the credit) have done a great job cleaning up the cells. Rotten pollen, Chalkbrood mummies, & wax moth debris had been pulled from the frames. Now I hope they can start making some new wax.
The hive body itself was in terrible shape. It was very dirty from the Nosema & the dry sugar. I will consider whether to replace the wooden ware or not. Two frames did need replacing now. The top bar had split from the side rails. Frame 3 & 5. 5 has brood so it will stay in the hive for now. Frame 3 came out. Replaced by another honey filled deep frame. It was salvaged from Mary's second deep body removed in November due to Wax Moth. All of the frames in this deep came assembled from Dadant. They apparently didn't use glue. I was surprised to see the side staple pull out. Something else I'll need to fix.
About the brood. I did not see any Drone cells. I did see them when Myrina had only a little brood. All the frames are Plasticell. I don't know how much of an effect that will have. The cell size is standard not small cell. Curious to be sure. Mary, though, may not yet be in the mood to make drones yet. I'll check again next weekend.
She's still in the temporary location. I'm second guessing where to place ALL my hives. Wherever they end up will be decided soon. Before the package arrives.
I'm sorry for not taking any pictures this time. I was in a hurry.
81 f
Sunny
Long Live the Queen...She pulled it off! Mary lives for another season!
I opened up Mary today to see how she's doing. They have taken about half of the medicated syrup. It has begun to crystallize on the surface. Pulling off the HTF showed the still messy frames from where the Nosema caused problems. The bees where testy and did not like the intrusion. Many are from Myrina who is normally defensive. It is really a sign of how stressed they are having such a weak Queen. I used my smoker a lot.
I went through all the frames in the single deep hive. 1 through 3 were mostly honey, some old pollen, & emptied cells. Frame 4 was the same on the outside. The inside was half capped brood & fresh maple pollen. There was also a good showing of eggs and larva. Frame 5 was also half capped brood & fresh pollen but on both sides. I found Mary herself slowly walking around on the outside of 5. She was looking for a cell to lay in. I watched for a moment hoping to see her lay an egg. But then gave up thinking I may be hindering her. Frames 6 through 10 were again mostly honey, some old pollen, & emptied cells.
So, the brood nest is small. Oddly the pollen was being stored beneath the brood on the frames. I believe that is a result of the colder 30's & 40's night time temps. Again she is only in a single deep right now. However the temperatures here have finally broke. Night time temps are now in the 50's and up. The bees are now free to go anywhere they want in the hive. The brood pattern was beautiful; almost complete with very few holes.
I removed the SBB so to clean the dried sugar off it. It was replace with an unused BB that was meant for the new hive for the up-coming package. Inspection of the wood beneath the SBB showed the Nosema has gone away. It has been in place for 10 days. I saw no stain from the Nosema. The Fumagilin did it's job. I'll leave the HTF on for another week or two. Myrina's bees (they get all the credit) have done a great job cleaning up the cells. Rotten pollen, Chalkbrood mummies, & wax moth debris had been pulled from the frames. Now I hope they can start making some new wax.
The hive body itself was in terrible shape. It was very dirty from the Nosema & the dry sugar. I will consider whether to replace the wooden ware or not. Two frames did need replacing now. The top bar had split from the side rails. Frame 3 & 5. 5 has brood so it will stay in the hive for now. Frame 3 came out. Replaced by another honey filled deep frame. It was salvaged from Mary's second deep body removed in November due to Wax Moth. All of the frames in this deep came assembled from Dadant. They apparently didn't use glue. I was surprised to see the side staple pull out. Something else I'll need to fix.
About the brood. I did not see any Drone cells. I did see them when Myrina had only a little brood. All the frames are Plasticell. I don't know how much of an effect that will have. The cell size is standard not small cell. Curious to be sure. Mary, though, may not yet be in the mood to make drones yet. I'll check again next weekend.
She's still in the temporary location. I'm second guessing where to place ALL my hives. Wherever they end up will be decided soon. Before the package arrives.
I'm sorry for not taking any pictures this time. I was in a hurry.
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