I opened my hives today. #1 is doing good,and I found the Queen. Can't say when the last time was, I got so excited. It was like Christmas. I even got her marked. The second hive thats another story. Population is down,and lots of drones. It looks bleak. Can't get a hold of Bee Weaver They were suppose to send a queen last week, I ordered another from Honey Bee Genetics. I'll proably end up with more queen then I need.
Well, if you do end up with an extra queen, you could always split the stronger hive with her.
Beth
That is a good possibility beth, that is weird that they didnt send her though after a week. :?
Had a similar problem with a drone laying queen last week. Could not get a reasonably priced queen,then I called Draper Bee in Pennsyvania and they can ship a queen next day for $17.95 including shipping. No this is not meant to be an add just trying to help here.
I order from Draper a week ago last Tuesday. The queen was waiting for me at the post office at 7:30 the next morning!
-- Kris
Ok... and whats the latest report for the splits, the production... .the attitude in the bee yard... the learning curve of the beekeeper
Well just as I figured. Yesterday the post office delivered two queens.
I installed the one from Honey Bee Genetics.
Quote from: thegolfpsychoOk... and whats the latest report for the splits, the production... .the attitude in the bee yard... the learning curve of the beekeeper
Well, I went pulled the queen cage out of the hive last Sunday morning, and she'd been released. I decided not to dig into the boxes so as to let her start doing her work undisturbed. I figure either she's in there laying eggs, or another queen is doing her thing, because the hive is acting normal, busy foraging and bringing in pollen, etc. I plan to inspect tomorrow to find out if the queen I introduced is the one in there. That hive seems to be going strong.
The other split is strong, too, maybe stronger than the other. I went into it last Sunday. The bees were still drawing bad comb in the upper box, but not anywhere near as much as before. I'd neglected to duct tape my pant legs, and sure enough, got a sting behind my knee. The swelling was gone by Wednesday, though. :D Both splits are busy drawing out there second boxes, and perhaps I may be able to super one or both of them with supers full of drawn comb I have waiting to go on.
The two new colonies have dwindled, being only 4 weeks old, but new bees will be coming along soon and I expect the populations to grow again.
It's been a busy week, and I hadn't had time to do much with the bees other than feed them. Maybe I'll have something new to add tomorrow . . .
-- Kris
Another update: all the hives are doing well, queenright and increasing in size. Even my "problem" hive now has a plump queen -- not, unfortunately, the one I put in there, unless her paint job came off. :( Well, I viewed her as life insurance, insurance that the hive would have a chance to live.
The two splits had 60% and 75% of their second brood boxes drawn with brood in them, so I supered them both with drawn comb. The two new hives are growing again, with 25% and 50% of their second brood boxes drawn and with some brood. I'll keep feeding them.
Lunch is over. Now it's time to go stake the tomatoes and string up the peas.
-- Kris
That all sounds like it's worked out. That's good. :)
Beth
Yes, in spite of all my best efforts at help!
-- Kris