I started my package hives 21 days ago. I checked my queens 3 days after and they were released. 14 days I checked (I got mixed up and thought it was 3 weeks) and this forum said it looked good. Do I do a 21 day inspection? I'm teaching myself with this forum and books but I can't really find a pattern when to check my hives.
Last inspection they looked like this:
http://beekeeper.flexmedia.tv/
Thanks!
Art
Go ahead and check on them. If your worried about how soon it is, just pull a few frames. If all looks normal, put it back together. Can't learn much by not checking on them.
I yanked an outside frame to make some cut comb for a visiting relative a couple days after tearing into the hive. I didn't have a frame handy to replace it and by the next week when I checked them again there was a full size comb drawn on the inner cover with some eggs in it. So yes checking on them can slow them down, but it's not a hard and fast rule.
Ps. I wish they would draw my frames out that fast!
Hey flex, I went to the link and here's a couple of answers to some questions;
Why dark? - Pollen
Why clear? - nectar/sugar water
What's this clump? Not a good picture but I have a couple of guesses. Drawn comb with nothing in it, or no drawn comb, or brood. Just couldn't tell.
Check 'em. You're new (right?) looking helps but I wouldn't do it every couple of days.
Psparr,
Thanks, it's the only way I learn I guess. I hope they will be patient for better pictures so I can post them.
GFS,
I kinda figured and I am new. One hive seems like it's doing better than the other. I think she's holding out on me for a more lucrative contract!
Go ahead and check on them. Only way to learn is hands on. Like Psparr said you don't have to pull every frame when you do an inspection. If fact sometimes you don't need to pull any frames when your just checking on how much room they have left.
Good point...thanks!
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Looking pretty good - are there eggs or larvae in those uncapped brood cells? I wouldn't take all the frames out of the hive like that personally. Just take one out, and then slide them over one frame at a time while inspecting. It's less invasive, and what if your queen is on one of those outside frames? She could fall into the grass or fly off.
When I was first starting and the weather was good I went into the hive weekly to learn - they didn't seem to mind!
PhilK,
Ya! somebody else told me a probably should just do one at a time. After I had them all out, I was like...what are you doing??? Who knew, huh? I couldn't see any eggs without my glasses. I have a jewelry magnifying headset but I was too nervous to use it. I did see larvae tho.