Checked the second colony a few hours ago.
Didn't do a carefully documented inspection (I was on my own) but I did everything I needed.
Lots of larvae and lots of eggs. I actually saw eggs for a change - hooray! Nearly the whole of one frame side seemed empty, and there they were
4 frames of Langstroth, mostly brood with some stores at the top; 2 National frames cable-tied into Lang frames, both with brood, one with lots of heavy stores.
One of the tied-in frames was good - solidly wedged in and the bees building on both sides to fix everything together. The other wasn't so good - dangling from the top bar and not wedged in solidly. I guess I have to try and move this out and replace it somehow. How do I do that?
2 of the 3 new frames are being drawn and used. One is still pretty much untouched.
I shut them back in before they got too grumpy. Temperament was pretty good: 2 or 3 bees in my face suggesting I "Do one!", but nothing too exciting. I guess that's reasonable with all that brood to protect.
Hopefully the new poly Langs from Swienty will turn up this week during the bad weather we're predicted. I should be able to get this colony into a nice warm poly hive next weekend and return the Cedar hive to bait hive duties.
I must remember this - the worst problem we have is that the bees are building up beautifully and we need to get more equipment
FG
Didn't do a carefully documented inspection (I was on my own) but I did everything I needed.
Lots of larvae and lots of eggs. I actually saw eggs for a change - hooray! Nearly the whole of one frame side seemed empty, and there they were
4 frames of Langstroth, mostly brood with some stores at the top; 2 National frames cable-tied into Lang frames, both with brood, one with lots of heavy stores.
One of the tied-in frames was good - solidly wedged in and the bees building on both sides to fix everything together. The other wasn't so good - dangling from the top bar and not wedged in solidly. I guess I have to try and move this out and replace it somehow. How do I do that?
2 of the 3 new frames are being drawn and used. One is still pretty much untouched.
I shut them back in before they got too grumpy. Temperament was pretty good: 2 or 3 bees in my face suggesting I "Do one!", but nothing too exciting. I guess that's reasonable with all that brood to protect.
Hopefully the new poly Langs from Swienty will turn up this week during the bad weather we're predicted. I should be able to get this colony into a nice warm poly hive next weekend and return the Cedar hive to bait hive duties.
I must remember this - the worst problem we have is that the bees are building up beautifully and we need to get more equipment
FG
