Opened 4 x 14x12 colonies at one of the new apiaries. One on 9 frames brood with 2 supers already 60% full, no sign of swarming. Two on 4 frames of brood, healthy, BIAS, supers added for space as a lot of capped brood.
One I had to just throw out onto the grass as the queen has run out of steam. Sad but I caged her to show friends.
And the last - 8 frames of brood, a few drones and at least 7 open queen cells. Split them up as an expanding this year and left the hive with 60% of the frames and a couple of drawn supers on top - v docile could be a good one to watch for offspring
Must admit finding queen cells so early was a surprise !
KR
S
One I had to just throw out onto the grass as the queen has run out of steam. Sad but I caged her to show friends.
And the last - 8 frames of brood, a few drones and at least 7 open queen cells. Split them up as an expanding this year and left the hive with 60% of the frames and a couple of drawn supers on top - v docile could be a good one to watch for offspring
Must admit finding queen cells so early was a surprise !
KR
S