History: 3 lb package Jun 7th. New beek, central Alabama, (8 mi north of Slapout, Al)
I have 2 eight frame deeps and one medium. All on foundation. The two deeps are drawn out but the medium is about 1/3 to 1/2. One deep probably weighs 70 lbs, the other 50. The medium probably less than 15. I saw about 2 or 3 frames of brood, capped and larva. No visual on the queen. What concerns me is I saw almost every drawn out cell occupied with pollen, honey, or brood. We probably have at least 45 days before the lockdown (cluster) starts. Is there anything I should be concerned about with this description? I had been feeding hoping to help them draw out the medium on top but I've stopped. I intend to use these for brood adding supers later during a flow. I started another mite count yesterday. thanks all
Is it capped honey, or still liquid? If mostly liquid, I wouldn't worry. Four cells of nectar will go into one cell when capped. They still have time to make cluster space.
It's both. Probably more nectar than capped but still a lot of capped.
A couple of other things I remember on the way to work this morning, wall to wall bees, thick. Also drone cells present. No Q cells of any kind. And better yet - 0 SHBs.
Sounds like you are ready for winter.
Of course this is all new to me but I was really surprised how heavy an eight frame deep is when it's packed.
Sounds like they are doing fine. A deep frame weighs around 7 lbs. when full, so they do tend to get heavy :-D
gary, unless we have an unusual winter there won't be too many days where the bees don't break cluster between now and new years. by then you'll be looking at whether you need to feed them or not. everything sounds good to me.