I'm just sick (and pretty stupid)

[Rachel]

I am new at this! 
I've been away, so haven't checked my bees.  Yesterday I went to see how they were doing, and I don't know what possessed me to take a frame from the middle, but I did.  The bees had built the comb so thick on one part, that I scraped away a few of the capped brood.....ack!!! (are you cringing???)  I propbably hurt some bees inthe process, and now I freaking out hoping that the queen wasn't there too!  What If I killed her?  I really don't know why I did that.  Now what am I looking for to make sure I didn't kill her?
Also, I am waiting for two hive bodies (to put on my two hives)...all of the bee companies are delayed, and I don't know how long it will be...I have a shallow and a medium here, with frames and foundation ready to go.  Should I wait for the deeps (I still have to paint them and put them together) or should I put on the medium and shallow?
I'm clueless (and sooo mad at myself!)...thanks!

[JP]

Rachel, first off: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjnvSQuv-H4

Go back in and check your hive and try and find the queen, you prob didn't kill her is my guess, queens have a way of moving onto another frame if we're really intruding like you were.

Make sure your frames are tight together so they can respect proper beespace.

The rule with adding supers is when 8 of 10 frames have been drawn out, add another.

don't worry, be happy!


...JP

[Cindi]

Oh Rachel.  Don't be too hard on yourself.  We were all beginning with the bees once upon a time, we were all learning and we are all still learning.  Remember next time to take out a frame on the very end, or one that is the third frame in.  That will give you room to look around.  I know that there has been talk about removing the third frame first instead of the last frame near the wall, it helps to prevent bees being crushed against the outside wall. 

I have made so many mistakes with beekeeping that it would make your head swim.  Too many to begin to even account.  This will not be your last folly, it goes with the territory.  You will find that your queen is probably just fine.  In a few days either check for that queen, or just look for eggs.  If there are eggs, you can be pretty sure that the queen is present.  The brood stays as an egg for three days before transitioning to the larvae.  That is a pretty good indication that the queen was present at least 3 days ago.  So, girl, take it easy, it is a lot to learn about beekeeping, just take your time, when you make a mistake you hopefully won't make that same mistake too many more times.  Mistakes are the strongest part of the learning curve.  Keep on keepin' on and have that beautiful and most wonderful day, Cindi

[Michael Bush]

Odds are everything is fine.  If you're really that worried, then go back in four days and remove an outside frame first and then look for eggs.  If you have eggs four days after then you didn't kill the queen.

I would decide what to do with torn up comb.  Is it just some burr or is it all mangled now?  If it's all mangled they will reattach it and you'll have two combs built together.  This will need to be corrected eventually.  I'd move the two glued together either up a box above an excluder or at least away from the brood nest enough that they will not lay more brood in it.  Then when the brood has emerged (24 days or so) pull it out and put a good frame of comb or foundation in instead.

[Rachel]

Thanks guys.  JP~  I don't think i'd ever be able to find the queen!  I'm going to look though.  (Thanks for the video!  ;)  )
Michael, the comb is not really too torn up, it's just one spot that got really thick.  I really do need to make sure that everything is spaced better.  I don't have my deeps to move those frames to....I only have the shallow and medium....should I put one of those on, or wait for the deeps?  One hive has about 8 frames pulled and one might be less.  I don't think I'll get the box until the end of next week or maybe later.

[Michael Bush]

The point is to move it to where they won't refill it with brood so you can remove it.  That is assuming it's messed up too much to correct it.  The outside edges usually don't have brood in them (but sometimes they do).