Well, on Sunday I opened the hive for the first time since installing the package last Tuesday. Everything looks great! They seemed like they could care less that I was there. They have already drawn 2 frames fully, and 2 more are about half way. They seem to be a very prolific bunch. I could clearly see pollen stored (some white, yellow and almost a rust-colored pollen), as well as some of the sugar water. The queen was out, I saw her marching around on the frame near the cage she came in. No eggs yet though. The only problem, and a minor one at that, is that I have carpenter ants in the top cover over the feeder. What's the best way to repel/eliminate them from there without harming the bees? I've read about Cinnamon, as well as borax, etc, but with those, I'd be worried about it washing away when it rains, and as the hive is not in my backyard, it'd be a bit of a burden to have to drive out there every time it rains. I'm planning on looking in on them again on Saturday. I'll update again after then, and maybe take some pictures too (if I can figure out how to get the pictures off of my camera without the USB cable that I lost...). All in all, I'm hooked! :-D
carpenter ant are the very large black one that love and eat wet wood. I'm sure you have some kind of sweet ant not carpenters. Alot of people use borax. I personally dont worry about them.
I know a certain amount of ants can coexist with the bees and I do not worry about them either as long as I know my hive is strong. But if they are becoming a big nuisance, then I guess you have to do something.
I use the cinnamon, but we do not get rain here. Some more beeks will come forth with the answer for you.
Annette
1 part jelly, 1 part borax and 1 part water mixed together works well as ant bait/killer. I generally ignore the ants.
Thanks for the tips. Turns out though, I don't really need to worry about the ants...not sure why, but they seem to have disappeared. The bees are doing great though, I took a peek in on Saturday. Two weeks today, and they have 5 frames both sides full of eggs, pollen and nectar/sugar syrup. Saw the queen too, it was an amazing sight. I'm officially addicted to this hobby. :-D