Inspected all hives plus looked in a poly nuc I had hived a swarm in 6 days ago.
All hives busy.
No 4 had a couple of charged queen cells. I had no 1 hive empty and sterilised so I used it to carry out a Pagden AS, leaving the queen on her frame in the original position with the rest of the brood box filled up with frames of foundation and the super above it. All the other brood box frames and a frame of foundation are on no 1 stand.
The polynuc which contained a swarm that had settled in was drawing comb but part of the foundation on frame 1 had detached and slumped against frame 2. Result a messy lump stuck together and dripping with nectar. Having checked no sign of eggs I sliced out the messy bottom half of the frames wax and removed it, leaving the top halves for the bees to draw from. Hopefully they will infill the gaps to the bottom of the frames.
I'm hoping hm was out on the pull while I worked.
All hives busy.
No 4 had a couple of charged queen cells. I had no 1 hive empty and sterilised so I used it to carry out a Pagden AS, leaving the queen on her frame in the original position with the rest of the brood box filled up with frames of foundation and the super above it. All the other brood box frames and a frame of foundation are on no 1 stand.
The polynuc which contained a swarm that had settled in was drawing comb but part of the foundation on frame 1 had detached and slumped against frame 2. Result a messy lump stuck together and dripping with nectar. Having checked no sign of eggs I sliced out the messy bottom half of the frames wax and removed it, leaving the top halves for the bees to draw from. Hopefully they will infill the gaps to the bottom of the frames.
I'm hoping hm was out on the pull while I worked.
