New Bee Knows Little, Learns Less

[cao]

Dena,
You typically work the hive from the side or back.  When you are looking at the frames you turn so that the sun it at your back and hold the frame so the sun shines into the bottom of the cells.  It natures flashlight so you can see the larva or eggs.  I looked at the pics.  It does look like there are queen cups/cells in the one pic.  What to do about it I couldn't say without seeing more.  I couldn't see in many of the cells because of all the bees.  If you need to look in the cells you can slowly use your hand to move a few of the bees out of the way. 

There has been a lot of good advice given already.  After a few more inspections you'll get more comfortable.  Remember you don't have to do a full frame by frame inspection everytime.  Even with my larger hives I may only pull a couple of frames.  Just to get an idea of how things are going.  If you find yourself getting anxious remember to stop and take a deep breath and slow down.  I still have to remind myself to slow down so I don't forget what I'm doing.

Remember:  slow down and breathe   
                   slow down and breathe 
                   slow down and breathe   

[OldMech]

Dana,
My eyes are bad so I don't see these queen cells.  I see a lot of empty cells so that tells me they aren't cells, maybe cups.  You are looking at all the frames and all the frames make a difference.  If all the frames are full of bees than give them more room, what are you waiting for?  If there are indeed queen cells then good news you just advanced to queen rearing so just split the hive.
I will caution you to wear protective clothing especially the face.  Nucs are placid.  Full size hives are more protective and as a newbie you may not see the warning signs as you are in trouble and don't know it.  The thing to remember is if you dig into a hive and you get attacked it is your fault not theirs.

   Well said, and in the fall they can become even more protective. I usually go without gear, but I have been getting stung for over 40 years and know it wont cause an allergic reaction..   There will also come a time, when a frame slips and hits the ground, or the hive... having no protection means that such times will be memorably painful....

[GSF]

what you are experiencing is information overload

I can relate to that. Before I first got goats I read and read and read - then I got them. I could name the disease/sickness, identify the symptoms and suggest a cure. Wouldn't you know it, after a short period of time I noticed every one of my goats had some symptoms of every disease I ever read about.

If you're that concerned, more likely than not you've done nothing wrong.

[Dmrauch]

Acebird -
  I am wearing protection, especially face protection.  But haven't put on the full suit I bought, only the bee jacket.  I do go from my normal attire of floor length skirt to jeans when out at the hive.  Haven't used the gloves yet at the hive because I don't like gloves, not for gardening or working the stock or painting the house.  But that is an issue between me and the gloves and has nothing to do with the bees.  I did purchase bee gloves.

  If I am just going to look at the hive and not open it up, I put on jeans instead of a skirt and take a hat with veil with me but no other protection.  Don't always put on the hat if I am standing more that 5 feet away, off to the side.  Probably should but I really like watching the little critters.

It is removing the frames that scares me and I am taking rwlar's advice of acclimating myself to the humming.  And then I do put on the veil and jacket.

The nuc was put in an 8 frame and has two empty frames.  The extra mediums arrived today and are ready to put on top of the deep.  Do you think they need another box already?  Or that it at least couldn't hurt?

I did not realize that I had several deeps and many mediums but they were a mix of 8 and 10 frame.  Yes I am so blonde.  I understand all the reasons for having all one size, either 8 or 10, and all one size, deep or mediums.  But this year is about keeping bees alive for 12 months.  Next year is for sorting through all that I know and making decisions about what size.

Dena

[Dmrauch]

cao
Finally an explanation that I understand perfectly.  While in the back, turn my back to the sun. 

I spent the first three months of the year taking meditation classes for medical issues.  You would think I could stay slowed down and breathing.  But I can practice that indoors.

So many little things I didn't know I needed to know.

I did the frame by frame because I didn't look at anything the day I transferred the frames from the nuc to the hive.  I thought if I took pics of each frame I could have the hive open a short while and yet be able to examine each frame in detail at my leisure.  It was my first and only frame by frame inspection.  Still think it was a good idea, even if the execution of it lacked.  As a famous man once said: I love it when a plan come together. 

GSF
  I remember having goats, and that reading and reading helped me see shadows every where.  Then we had tons and tons of chickens, some cows, some horses and a sheep.  More reading but these animals gave me the confidence that a city girl could raise animals.  Especially the chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys. That was when I learned that none of these animals can read.  Now I have alpaca.  They love eating the books.  The ducks don't listen when I tell them what the books say.
  I decided to get bees not having read anything. So I took a class and discovered I better start reading everything.  I think I have read myself into being scared that everything I do will be a mistake.  I remember it being 'easy' to raise bees when I was a child.  Now it seems Impossible.

I so appreciate all of the advice and encouragement.  It helps me to know that I am not the only one who has gone through this.  That it is 'normal'.  I will prevail.


Dena

[Acebird]

Dena,
I like blonds and I can assure you my wife is no ditz.  There is no book you can read that you can take as gospel and there is no person you can listen to and take them as gospel.  If I can have bees than any moron can have bees because for the most part I only get in their way.  Fear for the most part comes from inexperience so if you or anyone else has the guts to stick with it you will be a beekeeper.  You and several thousand people will kill bees but if you stick with it, learn what you do wrong and try to improve you will be responsible for bringing millions of bees to the planet.  It is a hobby you will cherish if you don't dwell on your past mistakes.

[yes2matt]

I've needed my gloves only twice.  But both times I was glad they were nearby. So were the girls, because I got their house put back together.

It's good you got two to start. 

[mtnb]

I only put in two pictures but I fought for hours to convince the forum to let me upload them.  Too big.  jpg allowed but not jpeg.  couldn't do it on the pad, finally went to the iMac.  And to think, once upon a time I was a systems design analyst.  I probably have something left over from the first thousand tries.

I was having the same problem. Very seldom can I upload a picture here. I just opened a free account under my screen name on photobucket.com and now I upload all my photos to it and then provide a link to it in my post here. It's so much less frustrating! lol

[Dmrauch]

Mt Bee Girl
Thank you so much for the clue re photo bucket.  I will check that out.  I like frustration free days.  Or doing things so they don't add to the frustration level of my days.

Dena

[rookie2531]

I agree with ace. Wear the gear, at least until you know what you are looking at and know why you are looking. Your goal should not be to be able to inspect in shorts and t-shirt. You will learn more if you feel protected. Jmo.