My 2 Hives 2008
Sun 10th Feb.
Being a nice sunny warm day I just had a look at my 2 hives.
My right hive witch has an old Queen in.
I think this hive is going to DIE .
Not many bees and a very small about of brood.
I was planning to join this hive to my left hive with the new Queen.
This hive is doing great.
Load of bees and 7 frames of brood.
Even saw a few bees chewing there way out of the cell.
Wed 26th Mar.
Right Hive.
Just had another look and it's still alive...Just...
A very small amount of brood on 1 frame and the outside frames are starting to go mouldy.
I saw the queen, But going to join this hive up with the other hive later.
Left Hive.
now has 13 frames of brood.
Even saw some eggs in the super.
Bees were covering all frames and their was a load in the super.
Even saw some drowns.
Put a Q/E on and gave them a feed.
Fri 4th Apr.
I put a varroa floor on the left hive yesterday and had a look today.
Found too many varroa for 1 day.
Too late to do anything now.
I will use icing sugar from now on.
Tue 1st May.
Joined the right hive to the left hive today.
Extra Info
I look after a beehive at a school and they lost the Queen.
Don't know what happened to the Queen.
Opened the hive up and found no eggs or any brood.
So gave them my old Queen.
Put the queen in a cage with a little candy.
Few days later they had eaten the candy and she was laying well.
Mon 12th May.
16 frame of brood.
Did an Artificial Swarm today.
Moved the hive and placed a new hive with foundation in old place.
My left hive is now my right hive.
Found 12 Q/C, 7 with royal jelly in.
Picked the best one and removed the rest.
I marked my queen yellow 4 weeks ago and could I find her.
I looked at every frame 4 times.
After an hour in this heat I gave up.
So put the Q/C in with the foundation and put the 2 supers on top.
(top one full, 2nd half full.)
Put a new super on the old hive and closed up.
Hope it works..
Thu 29th May.
Right Hive.
has drawn the 1 frame of foundation, I put in last time.
17 frames of brood and not much honey in the super.
Still looking for the queen.
Left Hive.
Only drawn a small amount of foundation.
21st May the Q/C was capped.
Today it is open.
Did not see the Queen.
I added a 3rd super.
Top one full. Still waiting for them to cap the last 2 end frames.
2nd super 1/2 full.
Wed 4th June.
Right Hive.
I found the Queen today without a mark and remarked her.
Then I found another marked Queen.
The Queen had not lost her mark.
So the 1st one is a new Queen.
I must of missed a Queen cell when I did the Artificial Swarm on 12th May.
So this Queen has been in the hive for about week.
Unless I missed a Q/C before the A/S.
Looks like this is a supersedure.
Will be interesting to see how long the old Queen will be allowed live alongside her daughter.
Wed 11th June.
Left Hive.
Eggs seen and capped brood.
4 frames of brood.
Only drawn 2 frames of foundation.
Right Hive.
18 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen today.
As the Queen in the left hive has been laying for over a week, I guess the new Queen is also laying.
This may be why they have built back up so fast.
Had to add a 2nd super for Extra room today.
Witch was almost empty last week and now 1/3 full.
So needed a super anyway.
Also removed 11 Queen Cells.
Wed 18th June
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
I marked the Queen Red.
Also move a frame from the right hive to boost this hive.
They seem to be taking a long time drawing the foundations.
Put a C/B on 14th and extracted around 24 lb yesterday.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen again.
But did not see the new queen.
But that doe's not mean she is not there.
removed 10 play cup.
Wed 25th June
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
They seem to be very slow at drawing the foundation and the bottom super seem to now be empty.
So have moved the Q/E above the bottom super to give the queen some more laying room.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen again.
But still did not seen the new queen.
Maybe the old Queen has removed her.
Found 17 Q/C
Also 2 were capped.
Have to start inspecting every 6 days from now on.
Added another super.
Top full.
2nd 3/4.
Tue 1st July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
Top 3/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Did not see any Queens.
Removed 12 Q/C.
The super I put on last week is almost full.
Added a super of foundation.
Lucky I had one made up.
Using all my 6 supers now.
I do have 2 spare. (not made up)
The top super is not all caped.
So will get my Honey Refractometer out tomorrow and test the top super.
If I can?t extract the top super I have to get the hammer and nails out.
Top full.
2nd 3/4.
3rd ?.
4th foundation.
Mon 7th July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
They are drawing the foundation out now.
So moved the Q/E above the brood box.
Plus the top super is almost full.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old Queen.
Removed 7 Q/C.
I built another super and frames.
But did not need it.
Top super is now caped and I have put a C/B on.
2nd full.
3rd full.
4th is 1/2 drawn out.
Thur 10th July
Extracted the super and filtered both buckets (other bucket extracted on 18th June).
And bottled.
Got 50 Jars of honey.
Sun 13th July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
Top super is almost full.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old Queen.
Strange?? No Q/C.
Only found 4 play cups.
Did not find any eggs in the play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd just over half drawn out.
Moved the frames around.
Drawn frames are now on the outside.
Sat 19th July
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
6 capped in super.
Top super 3/4.
Less honey in the super then last week.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 4 Q/S.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 1/5, all frames drawn out.
Fri 25th July
Left Hive.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/5.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 12 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 3/4.
Added another super.
Thu 31st July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/5.
Right Hive.
15 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 3/4.
4th 1/5.
Thu 7th Aug.
Left Hive.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 6 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
Put C/B on.
3rd 3/4.
4th 1/2.
Got stung today.
1st time this year.
Sat 9th Aug.
Extracted the 2 supers today.
Got around 60 lb Honey.
Wed 13th Aug.
Filtered both buckets And bottled.
Got 57 Jars of honey.
Fri 15th Aug.
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
12 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd 3/4.
Fri 22nd Aug.
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
12 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Did not see any drones.
Bees in my left hive with my new queen have been
getting more aggressive every week.
So will not bee keeping this Queen next year.
Right Hive.
15 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd 3/4.
The flow has stopped here.
But the top supers are only half capped.
I will give it another week then take them off.
Thu 28th Aug.
Did not get any time to look in the brood box?s.
Spent all my time swapping frames around, So I have 2 top supers full and capped.
Put a clearer bord on both hives.
2nd Aug.
Extracted the 1st super but most of it was not capped.
So the water content was 20%.
Will feed this back to the hives.
Other super was OK and got 26lb.
Got total 133lb of honey from my 2 hives.
Will treat for vorroa Friday.
13th Aug.
Been a bit bizzy so only just treated hives for vorroa today.
Thought I have my last look in the brood boxes this year.
Left Hive.
9 frames of brood.
Right Hive.
10 frames of brood.
Sun 10th Feb.
Being a nice sunny warm day I just had a look at my 2 hives.
My right hive witch has an old Queen in.
I think this hive is going to DIE .
Not many bees and a very small about of brood.
I was planning to join this hive to my left hive with the new Queen.
This hive is doing great.
Load of bees and 7 frames of brood.
Even saw a few bees chewing there way out of the cell.
Wed 26th Mar.
Right Hive.
Just had another look and it's still alive...Just...
A very small amount of brood on 1 frame and the outside frames are starting to go mouldy.
I saw the queen, But going to join this hive up with the other hive later.
Left Hive.
now has 13 frames of brood.
Even saw some eggs in the super.
Bees were covering all frames and their was a load in the super.
Even saw some drowns.
Put a Q/E on and gave them a feed.
Fri 4th Apr.
I put a varroa floor on the left hive yesterday and had a look today.
Found too many varroa for 1 day.
Too late to do anything now.
I will use icing sugar from now on.
Tue 1st May.
Joined the right hive to the left hive today.
Extra Info
I look after a beehive at a school and they lost the Queen.
Don't know what happened to the Queen.
Opened the hive up and found no eggs or any brood.
So gave them my old Queen.
Put the queen in a cage with a little candy.
Few days later they had eaten the candy and she was laying well.
Mon 12th May.
16 frame of brood.
Did an Artificial Swarm today.
Moved the hive and placed a new hive with foundation in old place.
My left hive is now my right hive.
Found 12 Q/C, 7 with royal jelly in.
Picked the best one and removed the rest.
I marked my queen yellow 4 weeks ago and could I find her.
I looked at every frame 4 times.
After an hour in this heat I gave up.
So put the Q/C in with the foundation and put the 2 supers on top.
(top one full, 2nd half full.)
Put a new super on the old hive and closed up.
Hope it works..
Thu 29th May.
Right Hive.
has drawn the 1 frame of foundation, I put in last time.
17 frames of brood and not much honey in the super.
Still looking for the queen.
Left Hive.
Only drawn a small amount of foundation.
21st May the Q/C was capped.
Today it is open.
Did not see the Queen.
I added a 3rd super.
Top one full. Still waiting for them to cap the last 2 end frames.
2nd super 1/2 full.
Wed 4th June.
Right Hive.
I found the Queen today without a mark and remarked her.
Then I found another marked Queen.
The Queen had not lost her mark.
So the 1st one is a new Queen.
I must of missed a Queen cell when I did the Artificial Swarm on 12th May.
So this Queen has been in the hive for about week.
Unless I missed a Q/C before the A/S.
Looks like this is a supersedure.
Will be interesting to see how long the old Queen will be allowed live alongside her daughter.
Wed 11th June.
Left Hive.
Eggs seen and capped brood.
4 frames of brood.
Only drawn 2 frames of foundation.
Right Hive.
18 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen today.
As the Queen in the left hive has been laying for over a week, I guess the new Queen is also laying.
This may be why they have built back up so fast.
Had to add a 2nd super for Extra room today.
Witch was almost empty last week and now 1/3 full.
So needed a super anyway.
Also removed 11 Queen Cells.
Wed 18th June
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
I marked the Queen Red.
Also move a frame from the right hive to boost this hive.
They seem to be taking a long time drawing the foundations.
Put a C/B on 14th and extracted around 24 lb yesterday.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen again.
But did not see the new queen.
But that doe's not mean she is not there.
removed 10 play cup.
Wed 25th June
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
They seem to be very slow at drawing the foundation and the bottom super seem to now be empty.
So have moved the Q/E above the bottom super to give the queen some more laying room.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old queen again.
But still did not seen the new queen.
Maybe the old Queen has removed her.
Found 17 Q/C
Also 2 were capped.
Have to start inspecting every 6 days from now on.
Added another super.
Top full.
2nd 3/4.
Tue 1st July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
Top 3/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Did not see any Queens.
Removed 12 Q/C.
The super I put on last week is almost full.
Added a super of foundation.
Lucky I had one made up.
Using all my 6 supers now.
I do have 2 spare. (not made up)
The top super is not all caped.
So will get my Honey Refractometer out tomorrow and test the top super.
If I can?t extract the top super I have to get the hammer and nails out.
Top full.
2nd 3/4.
3rd ?.
4th foundation.
Mon 7th July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
They are drawing the foundation out now.
So moved the Q/E above the brood box.
Plus the top super is almost full.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old Queen.
Removed 7 Q/C.
I built another super and frames.
But did not need it.
Top super is now caped and I have put a C/B on.
2nd full.
3rd full.
4th is 1/2 drawn out.
Thur 10th July
Extracted the super and filtered both buckets (other bucket extracted on 18th June).
And bottled.
Got 50 Jars of honey.
Sun 13th July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
8 frames of brood.
6 in super.
Top super is almost full.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Saw the old Queen.
Strange?? No Q/C.
Only found 4 play cups.
Did not find any eggs in the play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd just over half drawn out.
Moved the frames around.
Drawn frames are now on the outside.
Sat 19th July
Left Hive.
8 frames of brood.
6 capped in super.
Top super 3/4.
Less honey in the super then last week.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 4 Q/S.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 1/5, all frames drawn out.
Fri 25th July
Left Hive.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/5.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 12 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 3/4.
Added another super.
Thu 31st July
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/5.
Right Hive.
15 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
3rd 3/4.
4th 1/5.
Thu 7th Aug.
Left Hive.
10 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 6 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd full.
Put C/B on.
3rd 3/4.
4th 1/2.
Got stung today.
1st time this year.
Sat 9th Aug.
Extracted the 2 supers today.
Got around 60 lb Honey.
Wed 13th Aug.
Filtered both buckets And bottled.
Got 57 Jars of honey.
Fri 15th Aug.
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
12 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Right Hive.
16 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd 3/4.
Fri 22nd Aug.
Left Hive.
Saw the Queen.
12 frames of brood.
Top super 3/4.
2nd 1/4.
Did not see any drones.
Bees in my left hive with my new queen have been
getting more aggressive every week.
So will not bee keeping this Queen next year.
Right Hive.
15 frames of brood.
Removed 4 play cups.
Top super full.
2nd 3/4.
The flow has stopped here.
But the top supers are only half capped.
I will give it another week then take them off.
Thu 28th Aug.
Did not get any time to look in the brood box?s.
Spent all my time swapping frames around, So I have 2 top supers full and capped.
Put a clearer bord on both hives.
2nd Aug.
Extracted the 1st super but most of it was not capped.
So the water content was 20%.
Will feed this back to the hives.
Other super was OK and got 26lb.
Got total 133lb of honey from my 2 hives.
Will treat for vorroa Friday.
13th Aug.
Been a bit bizzy so only just treated hives for vorroa today.
Thought I have my last look in the brood boxes this year.
Left Hive.
9 frames of brood.
Right Hive.
10 frames of brood.
