Newbie beekeeper question

Rex · May 08, 2008, 10:31:27 PM

Hi, first-timer here with a basic question for you all.

I have started two hives in my backyard in Sacramento. I installed the packages last Saturday, the 3rd, and released the queens manually this past Monday the 5th. Everything seemed to go well, the bees have been taking sugar solution (about a quart every 3 days) and there is much activity as the bees are going in and out of the hive.

Today when I checked for eggs I saw very little evidence of them in either hive. The center most frames, where I would expect to see little curled up larvae seemed empty. There were some brownish cells spotted here and there that seemed to contain something, but not in a regular pattern and not what I was expecting to see at all.

Is this a sign that my queens are failed or gone? I couldn't spot the queens but my inexperience might be the problem here as well.

Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Greg Peck · May 08, 2008, 10:52:34 PM

I bet she has not started laying yet or started a day or two ago and you may not be seeing the eggs. They are tiny and in my experience depending on what kind of veil you are wearing it it very hard to see the eggs. So I just dont wear one most of the time.

The cells with brown stuff in them is probably pollen or possibly even some dark nectar.

About finding the queen if you dont smoke the bees I have found it to be easier to find her. Of course if the bees seem to be getting upset or if they are known to be easily upset I smoke them.

dart96 · May 08, 2008, 10:55:45 PM

I'm another newbee here, although on the opposite side of the country. My package of bees was hived on April 14th. I've checked them twice thus far, most recently this past Tuesday. Both times I wasn't able to see eggs, so I'm assuming that I just need to either get a magnifying glass or angle the frames differently -- But I was able to see larvae in all stages, so I'm certain the hive is buzzing along.

For you, only 3 days after the queen was released seems like it might not be enough time to see eggs. Were any of the frames drawn out yet? I'd just wait a week or so and then check them again.

I'm having a blast with this new hobby, so I hope you are too!!

Rex · May 08, 2008, 11:11:03 PM

Thanks for the replies. I'm having a blast with these bees so far :-D

I'm sure I'm just anxious to see some progress, and you're right...3 days has seemed like forever to me but it isn't all that long. They obviously do their thing on their own timetable, not mine.

sc-bee · May 09, 2008, 12:06:04 AM

3 Days Naaaa---not enough time ;)!!! Give her time to settle down.

Here's MB's Bee Math

Caste Hatch Cap Emerge
Queen 3½ days 8 days +-1 16 days +-1 Laying 28 days +-5
Worker 3½ days 9 days +-1 20 days +-1 Foraging 42 days +-7
Drone 3½ days 10 days +-1 24 days +-1 Flying to DCA 38 days +-5

Also here's his site if you haven't found it :)!

http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

Kathyp · May 09, 2008, 12:06:20 AM

take your camera out and take pictures of your frames as you inspect them. when you upload them, you'll see all kinds of things that you didn't see when you were in the hive. it's also fun to keep a visual record of your hives.

sc-bee · May 09, 2008, 12:27:11 AM

Just curious you installed packages 5 Days ago --- you a newbee and you had drawn foundation --- or did you use new foundation???

Rex · May 09, 2008, 12:56:45 AM

Quote from: sc-bee on May 09, 2008, 12:27:11 AM
Just curious you installed packages 5 Days ago --- you a newbee and you had drawn foundation --- or did you use new foundation???

It was new waxed foundation. In both hives, it seems they've drawn out about 4 frames fully on both sides, less so as it goes outward from the center.

sarafina · May 09, 2008, 01:25:24 AM

Sounds like your girls are doing fine so far. I couldn't find eggs at one week, but found capped larvae the following week.

This is my first year and I only have one hive, but I am having a blast!

poka-bee · May 09, 2008, 01:45:54 AM

Welcome! I'm new at this too, never have seen eggs or the queen, it's hard to see through the veil..BUT was sooo excited to see larva & now capped brood for the last 2 weeks. I think it just takes time & practice looking for em, a learning curve like any other new thing we do! I love my bees! It's sooo hard to wait, a few days seems like forever when you want to see what's going on. I get all riled up with every new piece of comb, burr comb, frames drawn, nectar, pollen...My husband think's I've finally lost it..for reals this time!! :-D Jody

JP · May 09, 2008, 08:14:40 AM

Rex, the brown stuff you are seeing I would venture a guess would be bee bread, Here's a link for you about bee bread: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n19_v134/ai_6809486

Others have given you reasonable advice, just be patient, and you will see that everything is most likely as it should be.

Welcome to beekeeping!

...JP

sc-bee · May 09, 2008, 10:54:18 AM

I hear some folks have great success seeing eggs with a small LED flashlight. New comb-- should be able to hold them up in bright sunshine and see them through the new comb (sometimes this works).

Barbara · May 09, 2008, 03:26:06 PM

We are new at this as well, and I was surprised when we were able to see the eggs right off. And we had some comb that the bees had built up from top of the frames that we removed, and it was full of eggs. We were also lucky enough to see the queen in both hives. It is all very exciting. Maybe the fact that we got nucs makes a difference.

Michael Bush · May 10, 2008, 01:06:59 PM

Queens in packages are often banked. Depending on how long they might start laying as soon as 3 or 4 days or as long as 17 or 18 days. At about 2 1/2 weeks I'd panic.