Second opening hive problems-new beekeeper

[jester7891]

I opened the hives for the second time yesterday (new bee keeper).  I used a hive top feeder (Brushy Mountain) that seemed to work well the first time I opened the hives ~10 days ago (there were no dead bees in the sugar water).  In the first hive yesterday, I found approximately 500 drowned bees.  If you are familiar with this hive top feeder, the white plastic insert popped off on one end so that the bees had total access to the sugar water (thus causing the drowning).  Any idea of what happened and how it can be prevented in the future.  I was pretty sure that the pegs were in place when I replaced the sugar water last week.  If I got a 3 pound starter hive to begin with, how much have I lost with the death of these 500 poor bees?

In the second hive, I thought I saw a number of cells with more than 1 egg (five or six).  I understand that if the queen dies and the workers start laying, I will get two eggs within one cell.  I did also find larvae and capped cells so I am wondering if it was just the sunlight scattering within the cells.  If I understand correctly, worker's eggs can't progress to larvae - yes?

Seven of the 10 frames were being fill in both hives so I added the second chamber.  When I set up the hives, I leveled the ground and put wood chips down.  I plan on extending the area and placing more wood chips for about three more feet around each hive.  Would this confuse the bees?

Your thoughts and comments are as usual appreciated.

                                      Jester

[bassman1977]

I am not familiar with that particular type of hive top feeder but if you can put some sort of floaty in the syrup, that would do the trick.

In the second hive, I thought I saw a number of cells with more than 1 egg (five or six).  I understand that if the queen dies and the workers start laying, I will get two eggs within one cell.   

Probably a laying worker.  Check the forums on how you can get rid of it.  Make sure you're queenless though and if you do have a queen, maybe she's just a crappy queen.

I did also find larvae and capped cells so I am wondering if it was just the sunlight scattering within the cells.

Doubtful.

If I understand correctly, worker's eggs can't progress to larvae - yes?

You'll likely get drones.

Seven of the 10 frames were being fill in both hives so I added the second chamber.  When I set up the hives, I leveled the ground and put wood chips down.  I plan on extending the area and placing more wood chips for about three more feet around each hive.  Would this confuse the bees?

No.  They know where they live.  If you move the hive, then you can screw them up if you don't do it correctly.

[Robo]

In the second hive, I thought I saw a number of cells with more than 1 egg (five or six).  I understand that if the queen dies and the workers start laying, I will get two eggs within one cell.  I did also find larvae and capped cells so I am wondering if it was just the sunlight scattering within the cells.  If I understand correctly, worker's eggs can't progress to larvae - yes?

It is not uncommon for queens to lay multiple eggs in a cell after being released from confinement.  In fact you sometime see it in the Spring when queens start laying again.  I would give her another week or so and she will most likely settle down.

If it was a laying worker,  you would most likely see eggs stuck to the sides of the wall and not in the bottom of the cell.  Very different than a queen.

rob...

[bassman1977]

If it was a laying worker,  you would most likely see eggs stuck to the sides of the wall and not in the bottom of the cell.  Very different than a queen.

That's some good info.  I've never seen eggs on the sides of walls before.  I have seen multiples like Jester speaks of.  I suppose it could be pretty tricky to determine if it is a laying worker or not.  I have seen queens on numerous occasions lay lay two eggs in one cell but I have not seen more than that in a single cell.