8.30.09

Sunny

temp 75 and breezy

Did a complete inspection of both hives today and was pleased at what we saw, Alpha as always is looking good, they built a lot of drone comb on the bottom of a a couple of frames, and this made it a little hard to remove some of the frames. Checked some of the drone brood still in comb and saw zero mites, which is great.

Also saw a lot of capped honey for winter stores, always nice and took some photos as well.

Bravo is a bit puzzling though, frames nearly full on bottom box, but little done in top box. they are building, and queen laying like crazy in bottom, but nothing in top box at all. even some capped honey in bottom box. I need to move them into a 10 frame deep very soon.

i also took some photos of bravo as well.

8.13.09

Both hives are doing fine. Alpha my first and my 10 frame hive is doing fantastic, started feeding them earlier in the month of July and they are really filling frames for the winter now. Bravo my small 5 frame nuc is also doing very well and building up quick. Weather has finally took a turn for the better and I beleive that nectar is now more readily available. I am very happy with the way things are looking now, outlook for the winter is much better.

I really cant believe how much I enjoy watching them every day. My son and myself sit out near the hives and just watch the action, and on my days off i get up early and go out and watch them (they are really active then).

8.1.09

Been checking food stores and after having several conversations with the local beeks, I decided to start feeding now, since all the rain that we have been having has cut the nectar flow to next to nothing.

Started feeding 2:1 now as the food stores they have are very little and am worried that there wont be enough to last them the winter. We have had rain and cloudy weather throughout the month of July (something like 20 days of rain and only 3 full days of sunlight the entire month)

will continue to feed until late september

7.12.09

temp:85 sunny and clear

heat index 85

We moved the bees from the nuc to the 10 frame deep (2) , lit the smoker up just in case but never needed to smoke them. Went very well moving them, saw the queen and plenty of brood and some honey as well.

All in all was a very easy move as always some pics are included as well.

Also thanks to my brave wife who took the photos.

6.28.09

Temp: 91

Heat Index 105
Sunny

Did a weekly inspection and everything looks ok, saw the queen and also some capped honey as well as brood in various stages. took some photos as usual. Bees were docile, used very little smoke. Still have not moved them into the 10 frame as of yet. The frames on my rossman 5 frame does not fit properly in the 10 frame that I got from Kelly and I have some concerns as to how well the bees will take to the new supers with the discrepancy in frame size, fit etc.

I am going to leave them in the 5 frame for a little longer as they are doing fine in it.

6.21.09

Went out to do some Bee watching and this little girl showed up at the watering hole, Black Bee? Not sure, but she and others made several trips to the old bird bath to drink.

6.21.09
We got into the hive today to do an inspection of both the brood supers, and took some photos as well. Everything looks great! I think I am going to need to move them soon to the 10 frame hive. I dont know if it is ok to leave them in the 5 frame for the winter, but they look to be doing fine.
I smoked the entrance and then the top and it went well, they are very docile bees, during the orientation flights yesterday many of them came up to my son and myself and landed and inspected us!

6.20.09
checked hive yesterday and still a little concerned that they are not moving into the 3rd super. It looks like bottom two are pretty full so I added the 3rd one for more space. They have not pulled any comb there yet and its been a week. I put the feeder back in and they went nuts over it (I guess they need it?) Anyway I am hoping that they will move up and and pull some comb now. Also a large number 50 or so at the entrance maybe cooling the hive, dont know as of yet but still observing thier behavior. Orientation flights!!! Many, many bees taking small circles around the entrance and then bigger circles etc. was a treat to watch!

6.20.09

Some earlier photos of hive ( 2 weeks into the insertion of the packaged bees)

5/18/09
Bees finally arrive, sugared them and waited an hour or so and re sugared them and then pulled queen cage. (all new to me having never done this before) My son and I placed the queen cage and then dumped some bees in the hive around the cage and closed it up. Placed the rest of the bees at the front entrance.
5/19/09
Son called bees are back in the box and he spotted queen there as well. I came home and we re did sequence of events from the day before only this time i shook all the bees out of the box into the super and really pissed them off (no stings)
5/20
no data
5/21
no data
5/28
we opened upper super and checked the feeder and refilled it, also took a look inside (couldn't resist)
They are drawing comb and it all looks good
6.8.9
opened second super and was excited to see hundreds of brood larvae everywhere! So excited queen is doing her thing! Should be new bees in just a week or so and then honey flow starts!
Colony temperament still seems to be incredibly docile upon opening hive bees were not concerned with us in the least bit, it truly is amazing took a lot of photos inside hive as well and also noticed a queen cup located mid of a frame.
6.11.09
checked brood cells all looked good brood, wrapped with bread wrapped with honey cells in the corners, all is looking good, big storm en route so not much time in the hive, also took out the feeding jar as they are bringing in enough nectar and pollen to feed themselves.