Newly hived bee question ~ inactivity worry!

[Flygirl]

I hived two packages of bees this past Wednesday with the help of a friend who had bees last year.  We easily got the queen & bees into the deep box but my friend wanted to leave out 3 to 4 of the frames.  I wanted to install the bees, the queen & then put in the extra frames (so I wouldn't have to go into the deep box for a week)

One of the hives is doing well as I can see bees coming & going.  The other is quiet ~  I haven't seen any activity.

I'm feeling like I need to check on the inactive hive?  They both have frames of honey from last year & a feeder if they want it.  Should I just leave them alone for a bit longer or should I check & see what's happening with the quiet hive?

I'm anxious....& worried that they've died or the queen isn't in there for whatever reason?

Thanks for your input ~ Flygirl

[Scott Derrick]

Hi Flygirl,

In my opinion it's not unusual for them to be quite especially if the weather is erratic. I have had the same issue with packaged bees. I'd give them a quick check to make sure the queen was out of the cage and whether or not they are building comb. If they are see if she might have laid any eggs. If they haven't built any comb and if there isn't any nectar flow going on I'd give them some 1 to 1 sugar water to stimulate them a bit.

As I said I had the exact thing happen to me last year and after three week I had one colony that had filled 6 frames with eggs and capped brood and the slow hive only had 1 frame. I actually pulled two frames of capped brood with bees (making sure the queen wasn't on one of them), and placed them in the slow hive. When I came back two weeks later they were both doing very well.

Let us know how it goes.

[Flygirl]

I probably need to add that it's been cold!  The evening & night temperatures are down to the 20's / 30's & today's daytime temperature was probably only in the 40's ~ but sunny.

Maybe the one hive is cold?

[Flygirl]

Thanks Scott!  That makes me feel a bit better.  You were right about the weather ~ that could be part of the problem.  I'm going to check on them this weekend & put on the top  foam feeder.  Right now they have frames with honey & an inverted jar with sugar / water.