Did my two week inspection today. Found mostly what I expected, with a couple surprises to make it interesting.
Installed 10 packages on medium pf120's on 4/6. Used baggie feeders on top bars with feeding spacers that were too tall and had to cut out some comb from some lids last week.
Today was moving along finding 3-5 frames drawn and 2-3 frames of capped brood when I began finding some combs drawn off of the faces of the frames. They would draw a pillar 1/4in out then build comb parralell to the frames. I scraped those off and will let them try it again. That happened in 4 of the hives but they should be fine as they still have what I think is plenty of brood.
Found 1 hive with very little comb/brood but, that was expected as it was the colony that I had to cut 6 almost full length comb from top last week. But they did manage to get 2 frames about drawn out and have about 1/4 frame of capped brood. In a couple weeks I may give them a brood frame from a stronger hive.
Big surprise was the last one I opened. 6 frames drawn 4 frames of capped brood and by far the most bees. BUT, they have still not taken hardly any of the syrup I put in at install. I doubt if they have even taken a quart yet. We are going to have some chilly day this week and they haven't capped any stores yet so I left the feed in.
Next weekend is supposed to be scattered rain and I know all queens are laying so next week I will probably just pop top to check feed and make sure none need another box added.
PS: I saw all 10 queens but not patting myself on back as jet black carni queens with light gray bees on new comb made that kind of easy.:D
This sound about normal to you?
Quote from: oblib on April 22, 2012, 10:51:42 PM
Installed 10 packages on medium pf120's on 4/6.
Learning something new here...what's pf120's on 4/6?
As for the double hung comb, are your frames tight together? Or did they do that and forgo drawing comb on the facing foundation? When you cut the comb off the lids, did you reattach it to a frame?
Since they definately need food, I would say they have found a source they like better than your sugar syrup. I wouldn't worry. They will take it if/when they need it and if you are expecting rain, leaving it in is a good idea.
Congrats on finding all ten queens! I found both of ours this weekend and was so proud of myself. Big gorgeous Italian queens.
It's always exciting to find the queens. I found one that had been eluding us since the cut out we did. She was very pretty and I was so tickled that I found her before the husband did.
pf 120's are mannlake medium plastic frames and 4/6 was the date I installed, april 6th.