It was about 88º, clear skies and no breeze at the Bee Yard.
Alpha Hive
Opened it up and inspected all frames. Found eggs and larva on frames 8 and 7. The cells that have eggs have 1 to 2 eggs! The larva are in cells that are being drawn out as drone cells. I did not find the queen. Looks like there is a laying worker.
Beta Hive
The top super was ready for harvest so I removed it. The bottom super is about 70% done, hopefully it will be ready next week. Now the top super is the one that is almost complete and the bottom super is the new one to replace what I removed.
It was 95º at the Back Yard Bees
Epsilon Hive
Bottom honey super is about 90% capped on all frames!. I will harvest this one next week when I harvest one super from the Beta Hive, weather permitting.
Top honey super has some curing nectar spread throughout the ten frames but not enough to harvest for some time.
I did not inspect the hive bodies today.
Zeta Hive
Looks like there is a queen in there! I found eggs throughout frames 2,3,4! I did not find any cells with multiple eggs. The hive cluster covers frames 1 through 5.
Eta Hive
The queen has been busy laying eggs. Frame four has eggs all over southern side. Frame three has capped brood, larva and eggs. The hive cluster covers frames one through four.
==========================
Honey Harvest from Beta Hive
10 quarts.
After extracting the honey from the frames I put the frames near the Back Yard bees in hopes of them cleaning it up.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
24 May, 11 am - 2011
It was 86º at the Back Yard Bees, partly cloudy and no wind.
Zeta Hive
Opened up the hive to check on the release of the queen. There were bees all around the queen cage and the two frames that the cage was in between. The queen was not released. I removed the cage and removed the cork from the other end of the queen cage and put the cage at the entrance of the hive. After about 15 seconds the queen was somewhere in the hive. Hopefully she will be okay and begin egg laying. I'll check on this hive again in 7 days.
Bee Yard in the country
Alpha Hive
It was time to check the hive for the release of the queen. This hive also did not release the queen. But there were bees all around the two frames where the queen cage was centered. I released the queen the same way I did for the Zeta Hive. I will also check again in 7 days.
After looking at the two queen cages, the queen candy still had wax paper on the screen side of the cage. That is probably why the bees had difficulty releasing the queen.
Zeta Hive
Opened up the hive to check on the release of the queen. There were bees all around the queen cage and the two frames that the cage was in between. The queen was not released. I removed the cage and removed the cork from the other end of the queen cage and put the cage at the entrance of the hive. After about 15 seconds the queen was somewhere in the hive. Hopefully she will be okay and begin egg laying. I'll check on this hive again in 7 days.
Bee Yard in the country
Alpha Hive
It was time to check the hive for the release of the queen. This hive also did not release the queen. But there were bees all around the two frames where the queen cage was centered. I released the queen the same way I did for the Zeta Hive. I will also check again in 7 days.
After looking at the two queen cages, the queen candy still had wax paper on the screen side of the cage. That is probably why the bees had difficulty releasing the queen.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
21 May, 3 pm - 2011
It was about 90º at the Bee Yard, clear skies, no wind.
Beta Hive
Checked on the top honey super to see if its ready for harvest. Four frames are completely capped and the rest are 50% capped! Hopefully it will be ready in a week.
Alpha Hive
This hive was requeened 19 May. I did not disturb this hive.
Checked for ants around hive stand and so far no sign.
Beta Hive
Checked on the top honey super to see if its ready for harvest. Four frames are completely capped and the rest are 50% capped! Hopefully it will be ready in a week.
Alpha Hive
This hive was requeened 19 May. I did not disturb this hive.
Checked for ants around hive stand and so far no sign.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
19 May - 2011
It was 80º at the Back Yard Bees
10:15 am
Zeta Hive
Put a purchased queen in the hive today. The queen came from Gardener's Apiaries. I will check on the hive in a week. I put a fresh feeder jar on the hive today.
Bee Yard in the country
10:45 am
Alpha Hive
Also put a purchased queen in this hive today, and it came from Gardener's Apiaries. I will check on this hive in a week.
I did not inspect any of the other hives today.
10:15 am
Zeta Hive
Put a purchased queen in the hive today. The queen came from Gardener's Apiaries. I will check on the hive in a week. I put a fresh feeder jar on the hive today.
Bee Yard in the country
10:45 am
Alpha Hive
Also put a purchased queen in this hive today, and it came from Gardener's Apiaries. I will check on this hive in a week.
I did not inspect any of the other hives today.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
14 May , 1:30 pm - 2011
It was about 85º at the Bee Yard.
Beta Hive
Checked on two honey supers and found that the bees are beginning the capping process!!!!
Didn't do anything else to this hive.
Alpha Hive
Opened up the hive and inspected every frame. Did not find any eggs/larva or brood!!! And I did not find a Queen???!!! I did not find any wax moth or hive beetle.
Frames 7,8,9,10 have capped honey, pollen and curing nectar. Frames 6,5, pollen and some curing honey. The remaining frames are empty and there are bees roaming around on them.
I will order a queen for this hive Monday from Gardener's Apiaries out of GA.
Beta Hive
Checked on two honey supers and found that the bees are beginning the capping process!!!!
Didn't do anything else to this hive.
Alpha Hive
Opened up the hive and inspected every frame. Did not find any eggs/larva or brood!!! And I did not find a Queen???!!! I did not find any wax moth or hive beetle.
Frames 7,8,9,10 have capped honey, pollen and curing nectar. Frames 6,5, pollen and some curing honey. The remaining frames are empty and there are bees roaming around on them.
I will order a queen for this hive Monday from Gardener's Apiaries out of GA.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
11 May, 11:10 am - 2011
It was 85º at the Back Yard Bees.
Eta Hive
Replaced the feeder jar with a full jar.
Didn't do anything with the other hives.
The honey super is still near the hives so the bees can clean it up.
Eta Hive
Replaced the feeder jar with a full jar.
Didn't do anything with the other hives.
The honey super is still near the hives so the bees can clean it up.
Friday, May 6, 2011
6 May, 3 pm - 2011
It was 80º at the Bee Yard.
Beta Hive
Harvested one honey super. The one that is now in the top position, the frames are starting to be capped at the top. The middle honey super is a new one put on today and its empty. The bottom super is being worked by the bees. There is curing nectar scattered throughout the ten frames, looks like it will be some time before its ready. Buttoned everything up.
Alpha Hive
Opened up the hive and found that 5 frames have bees and there are bees on frames 6 scattered and alot scattered on the remaining frames
Put down insecticide...
Cleaned up weeds/grass around hive stand.
Beta Hive
Harvested one honey super. The one that is now in the top position, the frames are starting to be capped at the top. The middle honey super is a new one put on today and its empty. The bottom super is being worked by the bees. There is curing nectar scattered throughout the ten frames, looks like it will be some time before its ready. Buttoned everything up.
Alpha Hive
Opened up the hive and found that 5 frames have bees and there are bees on frames 6 scattered and alot scattered on the remaining frames
Put down insecticide...
Cleaned up weeds/grass around hive stand.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
5 May, 4:14pm - 2011
It was 78º at the Back Yard Bees. Clear skies and no wind. The bees are busy cleaning up a honey super I extracted honey from last week. Soon it should be cleaned up and then I can store it.
Epsilon Hive
This hive has two honey supers. Top honey super is not being used by the bees. Bottom honey super has 6 frames of drawn capped honey and four that are in various stages of drawn comb with curing nectar. I did not do a hive inspection today.
Zeta Hive
The bees are busy drawing comb on frames 3,4 and 5. Frame 4 was the frame that had all of the queen cells. Now there is only one left and its still capped. This could be good or bad. I'll give it a week and see what I find. I may end up combing this hive with Eta Hive. I replaced the feeder jar today.
Eta Hive
The bees are comb building on frames 3,4 and 5. I found eggs/larva and capped brood on frames 1,2 and 3. I expected to see more drawn comb by now. I replaced the feeder jar.
Epsilon Hive
This hive has two honey supers. Top honey super is not being used by the bees. Bottom honey super has 6 frames of drawn capped honey and four that are in various stages of drawn comb with curing nectar. I did not do a hive inspection today.
Zeta Hive
The bees are busy drawing comb on frames 3,4 and 5. Frame 4 was the frame that had all of the queen cells. Now there is only one left and its still capped. This could be good or bad. I'll give it a week and see what I find. I may end up combing this hive with Eta Hive. I replaced the feeder jar today.
Eta Hive
The bees are comb building on frames 3,4 and 5. I found eggs/larva and capped brood on frames 1,2 and 3. I expected to see more drawn comb by now. I replaced the feeder jar.
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