Checkin' out the package bee queens

[Cindi]

Last night I was doing some weeding up around the apiary, it was about 6:00 P.M., after supper, quite warm, no sunshine directly on the hive, but they were out flying about and not stressed out, probably happy because it wasn't raining tonight.  I kept thinking that I really should check and see if the queens were released from Saturday's hiving.  I know that they will be, but I should check anyways.  The weather has not been overly good for opening the hive.  I learned that lesson last year about opening the hive on a bad weather day.

So, I did not have my bee suit, smoker or any kind of protection and I was feeling rather brave.  So me and the blonde pittie headed into the apiary.  He put his nose up to each entrance too to see what I was doing, he must have been feeling brave too, what a cute little dude!!!  I went to each package and pulled out the grass that I had stuffed in to slow down their exit after I had hived them and then inserted an entrance reducer to help keep their home a little bit warmer.  No problems, the bees were not interested much in what I was doing.

I kept thinking that I should go and get a smoker, put on my veil at least, but my old tough, sometimes rebelious self won through.  I went to the end of the row, the colony that I call P4 (package 4).  I painted these numbers on the hives so I can keep a good track on whose who in my zoo.  I will post pictures whenever my husband gets rid of this darn cold/flu whatever it is that he has and can fix my laptop.  This big issue is holding up my life on the forum substantially, but I am patient, all good things take time.  You cannot appreciate the good unless you have experienced the bad (LOLL&L).

I opened up the hive, took off the inner cover and looked in.  The bees were busy and didn't mind me at all.  So I carefully took the queen cage out.  The bees were still to busy to bother with me.  The queen was not in there for surely, two dead little bees though.  I guess they worked so hard to get her out that they died in the process.  They know their business and surely do not give a hoot enough about their life, their queen is the number one and releasing this thing of beauty was their agenda.  Good, I closed the hive back up.

So still feeling brave, I went to the opposite end of the 4 colonies and thought I would do the same to package #1.

I don't think so.  I took off the outer cover, lifted the inner cover slightly and boy oh boy, I could feel the presence of the bees in the colony, not only just hear them.  Several came out to have a really good look at who was opening their dark, beautiful little kingdom roof.  I told them it was just me, but, I experienced that thing that we talked about before.

Bumping!!!!!  Yes, now I know what it means when the bees are bumping you.  I have never ever been privy to this weird little action of the bees.

I made really good and sure that when I placed the inner cover back down that I did it slowly enough to know that I did not crush a single bee.  That would have certainly been the worst, bee injury, then I know the bees would no longer be bumping me, you and I both know what they would be doing!!!!  And it wouldn't be nice.

So that was the end of my brave little trip to check out the queens.  Today the sun is shinin', I can see that in the light outside, the sun is not up, but it will shine.  I will bring a little bit of smoke to have on hand in case I need it.  But with my veil on I have more power to feel protected and I will see if these other three beautiful Kona Italian queens have also been released.

I will wait for a few more days to see if their are eggs.  I am in no hurry and I think it is best just to leave them to do their thing, without this person bugging their little lives.  Have a wonderful day, beautiful life, and great health wishes to all.  Cindi

Now, something I saw in this package is prompting me to make another topic, check it out!!!!

[ctsoth]

I checked my packages the othery day myself.  I did not smoke, removed the cover and removed one frame from the center of the cluster of each hive.  [This was first inspection]  I saw eggs, brood, lots or bees and even a queen!  I was happy to see the queen from pulling just one frame out of each hive.  Since the packages had only been installed for one week, I only did the single frame inspection to prevent causing them to much stress.  In another week or so I will be doing a more thorough inspection...

Good luck with your packages!

[Brian D. Bray]

I too hive my packages last Saturday.  Due to the weather I haven't been back into them other than to refill the feeders.  I'm hoping tomorrow will be sunny and clam enough to venture a look inside and remove the queen cages.  I'm a little disappointed in the Italians package, they are working nearly as hard as the other and have slowed way down on taking syrup.  A peak inside should shed some light.

[Cindi]

Brian, ya, I couldn't get in yet to check on the 3 queens, hopefully today weather will cooperate.

Wonder what is with the Italians at your place?  Let us know what is up.  Best day, great life, great health.  Cindi

[Brian D. Bray]

Well I did it, it was warmer about 1 pm after a morning with rain showers, the sun broke through so I said "I'm going in.  Everybody stay in the house and guard my rear." 

I got the smoker lit, all the other things I needed and I'm putting on my veil when it starts to sprinkle, the suns still shinning though.  Too late to backout I decide.  Just as I start to pop the top on the Golden Italians (GI) the rain stopped.  I check the GI's and am very disappointed, they haven't even taken the 1/2 gallon of syrup I gave them.  The have only an inch of comb built along the tops of 3 frames and little activity.  Oh-oh I think, maybe the queen didn't make it out.  Removed the cage and no queen inside.  She's in the mass of festooned bees somewhere.  The bees are all clusted together in the back corner of the hive.  I'll give them a few more days, then if still bogged down I'll reduce them to a Nuc.

Went to the Minnesota Hygenics (MH) 2 out of the 5 frames mostly drawn out and eggs laid on portions of 3 frames.  All the syrup has been used up, so I remove the feeder.  This is more like it, I think as I remove the empty queen cage.  Fairly active and cluster is in the center of the hive.  Had to cut out some burr comb.  I think I read here in the forum someplace that MH have a tendency to be burr builders.

The 2 NWC's have been working the hardest so I am anxious to see how they are doing.  Both hives are mirrors of each other, both have top entrances,  drawing comb well on 4 frames in each hive and eggs in the partially drawn comb on 3 of the 4 frames they are working.  Clusters are in the center of the box.  No burr comb.  I remove the queen cages and the feeders.   Both are drawing nice straight comb, no burr ball like tillie had.

I helped them a little by feeding, now it's time for them to be bees.  The GI's are looking a little anemic, as if they don't know what to do with 8 frames.  Maybe the don't understand starter strips.  They are the only ones I left a feeder on.   

[Cindi]

Brian, without question that is interesting about the Italians.  Gotta wonder eh?  But maybe, like you said, the starter strips have sent them into a funk.  That would be wierd though, because bees should draw comb regardless, that is their job, right?   Hmmm.  Can't change a job that has been going on for centuries.  I bet in another week they will be off to the races for sure.

I am getting my four nucs today, gonna drop off the boxes, the breeder is going to put the nucs in my boxes (of course I am going to help), then go back tonight when the bees have stoppped flying and bring them home.

I am pretty excited.  I still haven't had a chance to get in and see if the other three queens are released.  Hopefully today the sun will be shinin'.  If the queens have all been released, I will be able to kill two birds with one stone, because I can check for eggs now too.  It has been 7 days since I hived the package and surely there should be eggs seen, if they are queenright.  Well, off to the forum.  Good luck, Brian, keep us posted on how these Italians do.  You are doing some interesting stuff at your place.  Beautiful day, great day, good health wishes to all.  Cindi