Had a look into the hives. No.1 has capped the open charged queen cell and is building new comb which they are filling rapidly with nectar. Saw a quantity of larvae which has hatched since the swarm on Friday. The bees were a bit tetchy, probably missing her majesty.
No.2 (the split from before the swarm) showed a few capped queen cells in hard to see places so i broke down all but two. Most held queen larvae which the chickens loved. Pity I am not geared up to use the queen cells.
No.3 which held the swarm from No.1 hive swarm on Friday has drawn lots of new comb on the new foundation and stowed a lot of nectar in it. I saw Tiger Lily but could not see any eggs yet. The light was patchy sunlight through the trees and the new comb almost white so there could still be eggs present.
Closed up and went in the house to wash my gloves and hive tool with washing soda and bleach then walked back to the apiary. One of the sas kamikaze bees gave me a sharp lesson behind my right ear - little b!
Hope both queenless hives (1 & 2) produce decent virgins and mate successfully. I think No. 3 hive may need a super soon so will have to get frames and wax for the bees to draw out. I don't want to see the bees fill everything up then swarm again. I might not be there to catch them a second time.
No.2 (the split from before the swarm) showed a few capped queen cells in hard to see places so i broke down all but two. Most held queen larvae which the chickens loved. Pity I am not geared up to use the queen cells.
No.3 which held the swarm from No.1 hive swarm on Friday has drawn lots of new comb on the new foundation and stowed a lot of nectar in it. I saw Tiger Lily but could not see any eggs yet. The light was patchy sunlight through the trees and the new comb almost white so there could still be eggs present.
Closed up and went in the house to wash my gloves and hive tool with washing soda and bleach then walked back to the apiary. One of the sas kamikaze bees gave me a sharp lesson behind my right ear - little b!
Hope both queenless hives (1 & 2) produce decent virgins and mate successfully. I think No. 3 hive may need a super soon so will have to get frames and wax for the bees to draw out. I don't want to see the bees fill everything up then swarm again. I might not be there to catch them a second time.
