Following yesterday's wet and windy conditions I determined to carry out inspections today. I started by looking into the weakest hive (4) and little progress shown from last week. I couldn't see a queen but there were a couple of frames with capped worker brood and nectar/honey being brought in along with pollen. A smattering of red amongst the frames showed the foragers had been visiting the big horse chestnut tree in the village. Maybe there just isnt a critical mass of bees in this hive. If I could spot this queen I would cull her and unite with a stronger hive.
Moving along to hive 3, I had a quick look for queen cells as the sky was turning black again. A couple of empty cups in the upper middle of two frames and some clumps of drone cells. Couldn't find the queen but drones a-plenty in the hive. A few super frames drawn out and nectar being stored.
Hive 2 had to wait as a shower started to fall. The shower stopped after about twenty minutes so I resumed inspecting. A few empty queen cups and drones around the hive. Most of the foundation which was added following the AS is drawn and being laid in. The white queen seen. A few frames drawn in the super
Hive 1 inspected and the queen has been active in the super with four frames containing eggs, larvae and capped brood. I couldnt find her despite extended searching so resorted to shaking bees down into the brood box and installing a queen excluder. Will be looking carefully for eggs and larvae in the super next weekend to see if she is still upstairs.
I carried out a quick check of the AS split hive which was separated from hive 2. The bees have been busy increasing stores in the super. I didn't disturb the brood unnecessarily.
Moving along to hive 3, I had a quick look for queen cells as the sky was turning black again. A couple of empty cups in the upper middle of two frames and some clumps of drone cells. Couldn't find the queen but drones a-plenty in the hive. A few super frames drawn out and nectar being stored.
Hive 2 had to wait as a shower started to fall. The shower stopped after about twenty minutes so I resumed inspecting. A few empty queen cups and drones around the hive. Most of the foundation which was added following the AS is drawn and being laid in. The white queen seen. A few frames drawn in the super
Hive 1 inspected and the queen has been active in the super with four frames containing eggs, larvae and capped brood. I couldnt find her despite extended searching so resorted to shaking bees down into the brood box and installing a queen excluder. Will be looking carefully for eggs and larvae in the super next weekend to see if she is still upstairs.
I carried out a quick check of the AS split hive which was separated from hive 2. The bees have been busy increasing stores in the super. I didn't disturb the brood unnecessarily.
