New hives are busy as... yeah, well, you know

Started by Squirrelhenge, April 24, 2013, 08:15:19 PM

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Squirrelhenge

April 24, 2013, 08:15:19 PM
Installed my first two nucs last Saturday. SHive 1 is almost through its second quart of sugar syrup since last Saturday, while Hive 2 isn't a quarter of the way through its first. I think the nuc that went into Hive 2 had been turned on its end or side at some point, because water leaked out and turned much of the fondant into a thick syrup that trapped a lot of bees. It took them an extra day or two to start flying once they were in the hive, and I've seen a few dozen dead bees and larvae out front. I'm hoping the larvae (late-stage development, no pigment yet, tongues out) are a sign of VSH behavior.

Still, I'm seeing lots of activity. Bees are flying from both hives, and I'm coming back with pollen (including black pollen - any clue what that might be from in Arkansas at this time of year?). I will be opening the hives this weekend to find the queens and see how they're doing. I'm also going to start a mite count so I know where I stand on that.

I've attached some photos during the installation and earlier this evening. Hope everyone's spring is off to a good start!







Eric Francis
North Little Rock, Ark.

"If I'm a geek AND a beekeeper, does that make me a beegeeker?"

Joe D

#1
April 24, 2013, 11:20:38 PM
Good going squirrel with your hives, and great pic's also.



Joe

capt44

#2
April 25, 2013, 01:02:38 AM
Eric I'm in the Searcy Area.
The black probably isn't pollen it is probably Propolis.
They use it to seal up any nicks or cracks in the hive and glue everything together.
And it is probably the most expensive product of the hive.
Richard Vardaman (capt44)

Intheswamp

#3
April 25, 2013, 10:05:58 AM
Congrats on getting the nucs hived.  Looks like you're well on your way with them.  It sounds like there was some serious housekeeping going on carrying out those pupae and bees.  You might mention the fact about the messed up fondant to the supplier so they can be aware of it.  Interesting thing is that my strongest hive *appears* to fly less than my other hives...it was my only honey producer last year (1st summer for me) but gave me 75 pounds.

I did a cutout last year and used a my robo-vac for the first time.  I left the colony sitting on the bottom board of the vac until the next day.  By time I got to it there was a pile of brood on the ground in front of the hive...that and any bees that got killed during the vacuuming.  That really got my worry factor up, but I figured the bees knew what they were doing and trusted that the queen would kick in and start re-populating.  That hive has grown into a fine colony of bees...it's hygienic behavior is good and it appears to somehow maintain a low population of beetles. ;)

Ed
www.beeweather.com 
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Squirrelhenge

#4
April 25, 2013, 11:07:09 AM
Thanks, all! I feel better about the dead bees now. And I will contact the supplier and let them know.
Eric Francis
North Little Rock, Ark.

"If I'm a geek AND a beekeeper, does that make me a beegeeker?"

Georgia Boy

#5
April 25, 2013, 09:18:22 PM
Hey Squirrelhenge,

Congrads on the to nucs. I am currently waiting on mine to arrive. I did just install a pkg last Saturday. When I picked it up there were about a 1/2 inch of dead bees in the bottom of the pkg. I wasn't too pleased with that but hasn't seemed to hurt the build up as of yet.

Went into the hive yesterday to make sure the queen had been released which she had and to remove the cage. I want to check and see it they had started drawing comb and to my surprise they had actually drawn quite a bit in just 4 days. While checking the frames I saw in the bottom of some of the cells what looked like black pollen like you saw but I haven't seen the bees returning with any pollen as of yet. Since they don't have any larvae to feed yet I guess they don't need any yet. I also saw what looked like nectar and syrup in some of the cells. I must say I am very happy with the progress so far.

As to the dead bees in the pkg, when I put the bees into the hive all the dead bees went in also. Sunday through Tuesday I saw bee leaving the hive with the dead bees. On Wednesday when I did my check all the dead bees were out of the hive. Very clean.

In responce to capt44: do bees put Propolis in the comb cells?

Anyway Congrads again. Good luck and have fun.

Almost forgot I just had to give the hive its second gallon of syrup. This is day 5.

David 
"Give it All You've Got"
"Never give up. Never surrender."

PLAN-B

#6
April 25, 2013, 10:25:19 PM
Congrats Squirrel--- I am also new this year and get just as excited hearing new stories as I am checking in on my hives... Hopefully everything will continue to go well for you....  :-D
Marshall
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