Both Apiguard trays are still half-full of gel (1 week after the second treatment), although it just looked dried-up, rather than taken away by any bees. I really want to get it out of the smaller colony to let them get on with building up for Winter but I guess they'll have to keep it for another week.
Colony 2 has LOTS of bees now, the weather was keeping them at home, I guess, so the full population was viewable at once. They have very little stores: the top brood box was very easy to lift off, which can't be good. There definitely ARE stores in there, but only two half frames of so. There were some larvae in there which was great, and I think I saw a few eggs too, but I'm never 100% certain of that. Seems like the queen is starting to lay a bit, but I could do with more. The bottom box is completely unused, except for space to hang around in. I could try and restrict them to one brood box if that would help but I'm hoping the bottom box will give them the best Winter configuration.
Colony 1 has some good stores - 3 frames were solid capped honey and very heavy. The others were partially brood rearing and part capped honey. The colony is nice and strong, compared to when I first got them, and is using the bottom box AND the top box. When the weather was OK a few days ago, this colony was out in force, whilst the other one was a bit half-hearted.
I need to feed the weaker colony very soon but I don't want to flood the empty cells and slow the bee population growth. The Apiguard tray is a right pain and I'd prefer it gone. I may give them a frame feeder of 2:1 tomorrow so they have enough to fuel their progress but not enough to fill the space - I can always give them more later on for the Winter.
FG
Colony 2 has LOTS of bees now, the weather was keeping them at home, I guess, so the full population was viewable at once. They have very little stores: the top brood box was very easy to lift off, which can't be good. There definitely ARE stores in there, but only two half frames of so. There were some larvae in there which was great, and I think I saw a few eggs too, but I'm never 100% certain of that. Seems like the queen is starting to lay a bit, but I could do with more. The bottom box is completely unused, except for space to hang around in. I could try and restrict them to one brood box if that would help but I'm hoping the bottom box will give them the best Winter configuration.
Colony 1 has some good stores - 3 frames were solid capped honey and very heavy. The others were partially brood rearing and part capped honey. The colony is nice and strong, compared to when I first got them, and is using the bottom box AND the top box. When the weather was OK a few days ago, this colony was out in force, whilst the other one was a bit half-hearted.
I need to feed the weaker colony very soon but I don't want to flood the empty cells and slow the bee population growth. The Apiguard tray is a right pain and I'd prefer it gone. I may give them a frame feeder of 2:1 tomorrow so they have enough to fuel their progress but not enough to fill the space - I can always give them more later on for the Winter.
FG
