Checked my hives today. What do you think?

[annette]

Well we had weather today in the low 50's and I decided it is time to check the food supply on my two hives. So opened the first one and found such a large crowd of bees on top of the super eating the honey. I smoked them and started to remove the frames one at a time and found that they really have been munching up a storm. They went through about a little less than half of the honey in the top super.

One the next hive, which sits right next to it, when I opened it up I did not see any bees at all. When I started to remove frames of honey then I saw the bees just below. They have hardly touched the honey in this top super. When I started to remove the frames of honey, then they came up to investigate.

Well, I decided that I should switch out some of these heavy frames of honey into the other hive that is eating away at their supply. I switched out 2 heavy frames of honey.

Then closed both hives back up. Well they must have thought they were being robbed because they really put up a stink and I was covered with bees. The bees came out of both hives and covered the front of the hives.

It took about 1/2 hour before they would go back in again.

So, what do you all think?  I guess I will need to check back every few weeks to see how the supply is doing. We start to warm up lots in February so I will need to stay on top of this.

Annette

[Brian D. Bray]

Well, I decided that I should switch out some of these heavy frames of honey into the other hive that is eating away at their supply. I switched out 2 heavy frames of honey.

Then closed both hives back up. Well they must have thought they were being robbed because they really put up a stink and I was covered with bees. The bees came out of both hives and covered the front of the hives.

Call the Police!  Theif!! Robber!! Come back her with that!

[annette]

Ha! Ha! Ha!.

[Cindi]

Annette, I think that you made a wise choice to switch the frames.  Very obviously the more stronger hive will need more food supplies, and vise versa.  See, you are doing well!!!!  Have a great and wonderful day, Cindi

[annette]

Thank you Cindi for the encouragement. I can feel that as we approach Spring, I am getting a bit nervous on how to go about taking care of them. I am probably going to purchase some pollen patties from Mann Lake and slap those on the hives.

Next I will have to keep on top of the honey supply in the stronger hive, which means every few weeks when it is warmer, need to check under the hood if they have enough left.

After that, would be checking the brood next to open it up and prevent swarming.

Thanks again for the encouragement.
Annette

[tig]

i hope you shook out the adhering bees from the frames you switched.

[annette]

I am feeling very guilty right now. Ordinarily I would do that and I did shake most of the bees off, but I tried to brush the remaining bees off and could not easily get them off. Probably about 2-3 bees left on each frame when I placed them back into the hives. I know they were killed right off, but I had to make a snap decision on whether to spend the time keeping the hives open in the cooler weather (it was only low 50's) and perhaps doing more damage to the brood down below.

Annette

[rdy-b]

when its cold i switch frames of brood around all the time- always want as many adhering bees as possible this is how i equalize and make increase so my hives all make the same grade for pollination-of course this wont have the same effect in the spring and sumer months -anybody that says the bees will have problems -probably has not equalized a colony of bees weather it is food stores or frames of brood-in the winter months all is well -RDY-B

[annette]

This is very interesting. So they will not kill the strange bees coming into their hives??? Only because it is winter???

[tig]

the bees left on the frames once you've given them a good shake or two, are usually the young nurse bees and they get accepted into the other hive easily.  they cling on for dear life LOL.

[Cindi]

Oh Annette, don't feel guilty about killing a few bees, you are doing it in the best interest of the colony, hee, hee.  YOu know that you will inadvertently kill many bees over the course of your beekeeping years, that is a given, and don't worry about.  You are welcome for any words of encouragement I give.  That is an important part of support, encouragement and praise.  You are doing well.   Just wait, in no time you will be a pro.  You will find every month it is easier with the bees, the more you understand the more you will feel good.  Keep asking questions here on our forum.  I learn by your questions and the answers, and so do many people.  So keep those questions comin' on, they are all good things.

Good, you listen and learn.  The pollen patty is a safeguard, you have figured that out, yea!!!!  Spring buildup is the most important part of beekeeping, and I truly believe this.  And ensuring that there is adequate pollen is the most important part that a beekeeper can do for their bees, again, fat bees, skinny bees, what is the choice?  Have a wonderful day, and go, girl, go!!!!  Cindi

[rdy-b]

This is very interesting. So they will not kill the strange bees coming into their hives??? Only because it is winter???

Something like that  :-D bees react to enviormental changes they are the most pasive in the winter months -try thinking like a bee :-D -RDY-B