I took advantage of the good weather and inspected all hives.
No 1 which had been empty until last week when l hived a swarm from the association breeding apiary was busily drawing comb and bringing in nectar and pollen. Only a cursory check of the middle frame as I don't want to disturb the queen if she is/was a virgin.
No 2 continues to disappoint, green queen seen aimlessly wandering over the comb but only a couple of postage stamp size patches of eggs. One more week and she will be squished and the bees shaken out to beg their way into other hives.
No 3 has decided to get going with the warmer weather conditions. It's been slow but may catch up.
No 4 holds a swarm which moved in a couple of weeks ago and has eggs, larvae plus drawing comb, bringing in nectar and pollen. Plenty of traffic on the landing board.
No 5 appears to be queenless. No eggs or young larvae. Bees are calm but I have taken a frame of eggs and brood from hive 6 and placed it in 5
No 6 is very strong. Eggs, larvae and brood in a good pattern plus supers full of bees with stores building nicely. One queen cup quite well drawn out amongst the brood. I decided to leave this alone for now.
No 7 is an empty newly built hive for future swarm control/splits
No 8 contains the cluster which I had removed from the roof of hive 6. I was not sure if this was bees sitting outside on a hot afternoon or a swarm but today it held lots of eggs. Glad I hived the cluster now.
No 9 is another empty newly built hive standing by for duty
The bait hive continues to be sporadically checked by scouts, hopefully from the other beekeepers in the village not my hives.
No 1 which had been empty until last week when l hived a swarm from the association breeding apiary was busily drawing comb and bringing in nectar and pollen. Only a cursory check of the middle frame as I don't want to disturb the queen if she is/was a virgin.
No 2 continues to disappoint, green queen seen aimlessly wandering over the comb but only a couple of postage stamp size patches of eggs. One more week and she will be squished and the bees shaken out to beg their way into other hives.
No 3 has decided to get going with the warmer weather conditions. It's been slow but may catch up.
No 4 holds a swarm which moved in a couple of weeks ago and has eggs, larvae plus drawing comb, bringing in nectar and pollen. Plenty of traffic on the landing board.
No 5 appears to be queenless. No eggs or young larvae. Bees are calm but I have taken a frame of eggs and brood from hive 6 and placed it in 5
No 6 is very strong. Eggs, larvae and brood in a good pattern plus supers full of bees with stores building nicely. One queen cup quite well drawn out amongst the brood. I decided to leave this alone for now.
No 7 is an empty newly built hive for future swarm control/splits
No 8 contains the cluster which I had removed from the roof of hive 6. I was not sure if this was bees sitting outside on a hot afternoon or a swarm but today it held lots of eggs. Glad I hived the cluster now.
No 9 is another empty newly built hive standing by for duty
The bait hive continues to be sporadically checked by scouts, hopefully from the other beekeepers in the village not my hives.
