Checked the hives today

[Shawn]

Yesterday was near 86 degrees here but I ran out of time to check the hives. Today is in the high 60s maybe low 70s so I decided I needed to get some pollen patties in the hive. I usually feed the same time I put the patties in but I cant find all my feeders and the ones I did find some how got broke during the winter.

Opened the first hive, last years strongest, and did not see any bees in the upper body. I did see they had about three full frames left of honey. I tried prying the top body off but the bees were getting so upset I decided to just put the patty in and go on.

Second hive has 1 deep and 2 mediums, due to I did not have enough frames for my other deep. The upper medium had two frames of honey left and the middle medium had about three or four. Good number of bees but not what I expected. This is last years second strongest.

Third hive, last years weakest well has always been the weakest hive, was bubbling with bees and had 2 frames left of honey.

I didnt take the time to look for the queens or look for eggs. Even with the smoker going, not a lot of smoke, the bees were buzzing pretty good. I didnt want to make them too mad or take any longer so they would settle down before school got out and kids start walking by. Once the new feeders come in Ill feed and look for production.  I had one bee that kept following me and then went and hid. Right after I took off my suit and started to clean things up her she came. She head butted me twice ebfore I could get to the doo. Once inside she stayed at the door and windows for about 10 minutes. I put my suit back on to finish cleaning up and she returned, not even close to the hive. I left her land on me and I stuck her i the shed for a time out. I went back after being done and she was gone. Not sure why but this year they seem a little hostile. I have noticed this when watering this year already. I cant get very close without being buzzed. They only have a couple more weeks and they are going to be moved out on the fields and I wont have to worry much more.

[Highlandsfreedom]

I'm in wheatridge and my girls are pissey too. LOL your story is so much like my story only I was in shorts and shortsleaves because that's all I needed last year. I couldn't get the 2 deeps separated  either so I just added another super for the dandelion flow that's about to start.  Its funny how the girls will stand guard at the door waiting for you to go back outside. 

Dave

[sarafina]

Last year I just had a jacket and somewhat baggy jeans and I had a girl hide on the back of my jacket all the way into the garage.  As soon as I bent over to set down my equipment and tools she took advantage of my jeans being close to my skin and crawled down and popped me on the butt!  What a hussy!  LOL

[luvin honey]

Mine, too! They were great until yesterday. Just while hanging out next to the hive, a bunch bombed me. Today, my 7-yo DD wanted to peek at the bees. We were approaching cautiously, and they got up her shirt, nose and then zapped her lip! Poor sweetie had an enormous face tonight :(

I've had 2 burrow into my hair. Thankfully it is so long that they were stuck and never made it to my scalp.

What makes them so nasty right now?

[Bee Happy]

I got zapped on the ear a good 150' from either hive, and then I remembered -  :roll: I had bananas just a little while before

[Two Bees]

I guess that's the reason I've never seen monkeys around my hives!   :-D

[Shawn]

Today is a little better but I still cant get close to fill their water bowls up. I bet the neighbors think Im going crazy because Im out throwing the hose up in the air hoping it falls into the bowl, actually getting quite good at it. Right after I posted yesterday I looked outside and saw the storngest hive now was doing orientation flights, quite a cloud of them. Im thinking the weak hive is about had it. When I go to feed Ill smoke the stripes right off them and go in for a look.

Ive started seeing more dandelions blooming but no bees on them. We just had our first trees, dont know what they are, but they have pretty big pink blooms on them, bloom so hopefully its giving them somewhere to go for now.

[Shawn]

Ok I tore apart the hives today to take a look. The strong hive from last year only has about a couple of hundred bees. I did see a very small area of worker brood and some extremely small larvae. I looked and looked for the queen but I could not find her. With so few bees I would think she would be easily seen but I was not able to locate her. With so few bees and a very small brood area is this hive doomed?

My second hive is busting at the seems. They wintered on 1 deep and 2 mediums. I need the mediums as supers so I threw my second deep on and put the supers on the top, due to the one medium and some brood and the seond had honey. I have noticed this hive is already doing orientation flights in the eraly afternoon.

Third hive had lots of bees at the top of the hive and were eating on the pollen patty I had put in.

[Shawn]

OOPS! I was thinking that the week hive should be all about gone so last night I went to open it up after catching a swarm. I poped the lid and got a veil full of bees. The hive was packed of bees, must have been late starters. I still have the entrance reducer on and never really saw the bees coming in or out. After watching the hive I found they were going and coming from the top at the rear of the hive.

Woke up today, afternoon due to working nights, and saw my ok hive was covered with bees, on the outside. I went out and saw the front, right side, and all teh way under the lid was covered in bees. Most areas were so think of bees they were clinging to each other in balls. I took out the entrance reducer and will put a super on when the bees get off from under the lid and sides.

Still have a few bees patrolling the yard pretty good and want nothing in the area. I had my suit on but no gloves. It didnt take her long before she bumped my hand. Good thing for my cat like reflexes. She continued after my hands until I made them like a turtle into the long sleeve. I tried to lure her into the shed to meet Mr. Flyswatter but she would have nothing to do with it.

Hopefully Sunday Ill get all but 1 hive out in the country where the Alfalfa is getting ready to bloom. It might make it a little easier to mow the yard and to stay in the garden.

[Kathyp]

sometimes bees thrive on abandonment  :evil: