Brand new to beekeeping here.
We got our first hive about 4 weeks ago. It was a single 10 frame deep with screened bottom. We let them settle for 2 weeks without disturbing them, and when we inspected, they had 8 frames full and were drawing comb on the outer 2 !!. We are fortunate in that Dadant has a warehouse about 5 miles from us so we obtained a 2nd 10 frame deep and a medium super. We will be inspecting the 2nd deep this coming weekend (2 weeks since putting it on) and based on the hive activity we are expecting it to be well drawn and populated. We are very excited that the hive is doing so well. When I was a kid there were bees everywhere but for the last decade or so I hardly ever saw them, then we started hearing about CCD once it made the news. We are out in a rural area with the Santa Fe river about 2 miles from us and several springs within 4-5 miles or so from our location.
I guess my only real concern here is whether or not to use the queen excluder between the upper deep and the super, still reading what others have to say about that and it seems to be quite a controversial issue.
I have been reading and watching as many videos as time allows and am very happy to have found beemaster and it's wealth of information and wonderful members. We have ordered a 2nd hive and hopefully it will be ready to pick in 2 weeks. It's a great feeling to know we are helping the bee situation and that we get to learn more about how fascinating they truly are. I don't know why I didn't do this sooner.
Joe
Welcome to the forum, Joe. Sounds like you and your bees are doing fine. If you haven't I would join your local bee club also. When you have question, just give them a post. It is a little controversial on to or not to use excluders. I have run them with and with out. Good luck with your bees
Joe
Hi !
Thanks for your reply ! This hive has now filled it's 2nd 10 frame deep. I was contemplating trying to do the medium we have or adding a 3rd deep brood box. They are again (last couple of nights) bearding by probably the thousands outside again now. We have a wifi cam on the hive as we didn't know what to expect. The last time they were crowding at night like this on the porch they had filled their first deep so we put on the 2nd. I'm very excited to see them thriving. We had not seen any honeybees for over a decade out here now everyone's gardens have bees in them. I'm feeling good.
Thanks !
Joe
Welcome to the board.
Hello and welcome
our bees are probably already acquainted as I'm on the Santa Fe, just on the edge of High Springs
Welcome to the forum
Welcome to the forum.
Sounds like your bees are doing very well.
Jim