Today's accomplishments

klesage121 · July 10, 2008, 04:09:02 PM

Well I finally had a chance to go out to the hives and take another peak. My weak hive is not laying they are building comb and storing honey. I was able however on my previous visit remove all but a few of the larvae's it seems and what mess there was on the bottom board has been cleaned up. I have noticed that they are not using the super and since there isn't all that many bees I removed it leaving them the hive. I was all set to marry them together except a sudden storm decided to move in and cut my visit short (found myself surrounded by more and more angry bees). I'll have to try again on another day but I am proud of myself I had the nerve to attempt all my work with them today without any gloves and actually was quite comfortable with it I was going to try without a veil but just couldn't wrap my brain around it just yet. The other hive is very strong and I'm thinking that its getting quite crowding can you give me any suggestions about what to add to them to make it less crowded I'm seeing 3- 4 frames in the super completely covered and from what I could tell today looking down in the various frames that the hive frames are completely covered with bees, and they are hanging out on the front porch, and the bearding seems to get bigger and bigger everyday. I tried to smoke the bees and see up inside the super but I wasn't able to get a look.

Keith13 · July 10, 2008, 04:28:40 PM

could you maybe move some capped brood over into your weaker hive to try to build them up

Keith

klesage121 · July 10, 2008, 04:54:45 PM

They are queenless... So I would need a queen I think.

Bill W. · July 10, 2008, 08:47:02 PM

Even without a queen, if you give them brood, they will hatch it and the new bees will keep the hive going. If you give them eggs, they will raise a new queen. This early in the year, I'd try to give them the chance to raise a new queen. You can always combine them later if that fails.

Kathyp · July 10, 2008, 09:12:18 PM

i'm with bill w. give them a frame or two of brood. get a good frame with eggs and larvae, but make sure not to transfer the queen.

gloveless is ok, but don't take the risk of no veil. a sting in the eye or airway could land you in the hospital or morgue.

klesage121 · July 10, 2008, 09:52:54 PM

oh lord that means i gotta pry the super off that hive i'm a goin to be sweaten bullets tomorrow if its clear..... :-D

EasternShore · July 10, 2008, 10:08:52 PM

No worries...working on my first hive, trying to closely moniter them...was in the lower hive box at dusk here. Pre-smoked them and waited about 3 min;s..alittle more smoke after the top came off..not even a buzz by the head. My girls either really trust me or all the experts are right :-D ; move slow...be gentle and try not to crush them'~~~~~

They could have cared less about me...

Oh, and robbers took 100% of my upper deep honey, 3 frames, now only the brood are left. Not sure if my girls would have moved it all to the lowers. Did not disturb the lower completly..only a quick check to see if ANY honey was left...was several capped frames and 2 uncapped...did not go any further..queen is laying and did not want to distrub her.

klesage121 · July 12, 2008, 02:09:15 PM

Okay so today i took the super off and went into the hive and found 4 to 5 frames being used period. Not even any comb built on the other frames. There are bees working on the other frames possibly trying to build comb. So long story short didn't
steal anything for the weak hive. The weak hive has gotten there fight back like i said before they cleaned up the bottom board I noticed them tagging a little hive beetle and trying to drag it out robbers from the other hive trying to enter never the less to there death they went, so they are defending there stash. I'm thinking more and more about getting someone experienced close to me to come and give pointers and to help me with my hives to really look at them someone who is absolutely positive at what they are looking at.