Hive Check

Steel Tiger · April 21, 2014, 01:14:01 PM

I released the queen yesterday. Even while I was working on the cork, a couple bees kept landing on the cage and sticking their tongues through the screen. The queen ran down between two drawn frames that were positioned near the center. I added an empty frame and closed them up.
This morning I sat and watched them come and go, specifically looking for incoming pollen. After about 20 minutes, I decided to add a pollen patty and a feeder.
Since I know there was a lot of honey in the hive, I added a medium with partially drawn frames and a frame feeder 1/2 filled with 1 to 1. The pollen patty is sandwiched between the top deep and the medium.
Tomorrow I'll do a quick check on the feeder. If they're working on it, I'll top it off. If not, the next check will be Sunday. I'll be looking for brood.

labradorfarms · April 21, 2014, 10:46:53 PM

I started to use a pollen patty but, the beeks at the local bee club say they seem to draw in hive beetles uless the weather is very cold.

Vance G · April 21, 2014, 10:57:56 PM

If this is a package, two boxes might be a little much for them to protect from wax moths and your small hive beetles. But I would hesitate to tear the hive apart after just releasing the queen. I have lost more queens than I want to admit buy going into colonies with just released or just laying queens. For some reason they seem to ball the queen. I have seen them do it.

Steel Tiger · April 22, 2014, 01:04:44 AM

Quote from: Vance G on April 21, 2014, 10:57:56 PM
If this is a package, two boxes might be a little much for them to protect from wax moths and your small hive beetles. But I would hesitate to tear the hive apart after just releasing the queen. I have lost more queens than I want to admit buy going into colonies with just released or just laying queens. For some reason they seem to ball the queen. I have seen them do it.

Thanks for the warning. I'll give her an extra week to get established before checking for brood. I'm still planning on popping the top off tomorrow to see if they're taking the sugar syrup.
Nighttime temps is still down in the 30s. I'm not too worried about moths or beetles, but I will keep an eye out for them.

BeeMaster2 · April 22, 2014, 02:09:12 AM

Quote from: Steel Tiger on April 22, 2014, 01:04:44 AM
Quote from: Vance G on April 21, 2014, 10:57:56 PM
If this is a package, two boxes might be a little much for them to protect from wax moths and your small hive beetles. But I would hesitate to tear the hive apart after just releasing the queen. I have lost more queens than I want to admit buy going into colonies with just released or just laying queens. For some reason they seem to ball the queen. I have seen them do it.
Thanks for the warning. I'll give her an extra week to get established before checking for brood. I'm still planning on popping the top off tomorrow to see if they're taking the sugar syrup.
Nighttime temps is still down in the 30s. I'm not too worried about moths or beetles, but I will keep an eye out for them.

Popping the top to check food stores is not the same as going through the hive, pulling frames. The bees are not bothered much by it. Especially if you keep the smoke to a minimum. Just a little to the top.
When you take apart a hive, the SHB own the hive for as long as 3 days. I see this in my observation hive. The bees don't bother them while they are trying to fix the hive.
Jim

Steel Tiger · April 23, 2014, 12:49:47 AM

Went out today and topped off the feeder with 1 to 1. I brought my smoker but didn't use it. The bees didn't pay any attention to me until I chased down and killed a black wasp that was sitting in front of the hive.
Afterwards I sat on a rock and watched them kicking a drone out. He wasn't happy and kept diving back in. While I was there I saw a few bees bringing in pollen. After about 10 minutes, I killed another wasp and left them to continue doing what they want.

BeeMaster2 · April 23, 2014, 12:21:24 PM

Quote from: Steel Tiger on April 23, 2014, 12:49:47 AM
Went out today and topped off the feeder with 1 to 1. I brought my smoker but didn't use it. The bees didn't pay any attention to me until I chased down and killed a black wasp that was sitting in front of the hive.
Afterwards I sat on a rock and watched them kicking a drone out. He wasn't happy and kept diving back in. While I was there I saw a few bees bringing in pollen. After about 10 minutes, I killed another wasp and left them to continue doing what they want.

Sounds familiar.
When I first got my hives, I used to sit right between them and watch for hours. When they are in town, I am always looking out the bathroom window to see what they are doing. Even have a flashlight in the bathroom to see what they are doing at night (during the summer).
Jim