What should i be looking for in my hive

[irishguy]

Opened up me and a friends hive yesterday and while i was there, i noticed some drone brood maybe about 15 cells on one frame. I noticed some capped honey but not much and some honey stores.

We bought 2 x 6 frame overwintered nucs, put in the hives about 10 days ago. Im probably running away with myself here but i was expecting them to be at least drawing out the other frames i installed, but the bees haven't touched these yet, is this normal.

One thing i did notice at the bottom of one of the frames, in fact my daughter pointed it our to me. There was a few cells( don't know if thats the right terminology for this but its inside the wax with no honey,eggs) that had black stuff in it. I don't know if this is dirt or not or something other but i thought id ask anyway incase its something i should worry about.

Another thing i seen was there was one drone brood with white capped over it. I thought it was capped honey but its sitting out to much to be honey i think.

Just wondering what else should i be looking for when opening a hive 10 days after first installed into the hive

I also got my first sting ever yesterday! All i felt is a small sharp pain on my little finger, the pain started feeling like a burning sensation so i lifted my hand up and noticed there was a sting on my rubber glove. TBH, i was expecting a sting to be alot worse than this or maybe i havent really got a proper bee sting yet seeing as the glove protected me, sure only time will tell if im right on this matter lol.

 

[drstitson]

"We bought 2 x 6 frame overwintered nucs, put in the hives about 10 days ago. Im probably running away with myself here but i was expecting them to be at least drawing out the other frames i installed, but the bees haven't touched these yet, is this normal. "

many, myself included, would normally add nuclei to hives with only one or two frames of foundation, adding extras as needed. remaining space dummied down. possibly with insulation in the void and on top.

your bees have gone from a cosy home to rattling about in a big new open plan space.

what was the state of the nucs when hived? i.e. frames of brood, stores, numbers of bees?

 

[oliver90owner]

And, in addition to the good doctor's post, do you have gaping holes in the crownboard (that is the board between frames and roof)?

 

[dn170221]

many, myself included, would normally add nuclei to hives with only one or two frames of foundation, adding extras as needed. remaining space dummied down. possibly with insulation in the void and on top.

I think this is more than a comment it is good advice!

 

[REDWOOD]

Are you feeding them ?

 

[irishguy]

"We bought 2 x 6 frame overwintered nucs, put in the hives about 10 days ago. Im probably running away with myself here but i was expecting them to be at least drawing out the other frames i installed, but the bees haven't touched these yet, is this normal. "

many, myself included, would normally add nuclei to hives with only one or two frames of foundation, adding extras as needed. remaining space dummied down. possibly with insulation in the void and on top.

your bees have gone from a cosy home to rattling about in a big new open plan space.

what was the state of the nucs when hived? i.e. frames of brood, stores, numbers of bees?

I have insulation in the roof but not in the sides. Do you mean on the inside of the hive? Is nuclei food, if so I was going to feed with sugar but forgot to buy it yesterday before I opened up. As for the state of the nucs when I bought them, they had capped honey, brood and honey stores. As for how much, I wouldn't know what's a decent amount just yet. In obe hive yesterday one did have alot more bees than the other and the one with the least bees had more dead bees under it thou, maybe 30-50. When did these die, I don't know but I guess it's prob 10 a day.

 

[irishguy]

And, in addition to the good doctor's post, do you have gaping holes in the crownboard (that is the board between frames and roof)?

My crownboards don't have holes in them. I'm going to knock up another few and put holes in tgwm. I was waiting on my feeder arriving so I could measure the hole size then put the white plastic feeder over the hole.

 

[irishguy]

Are you feeding them ?

No haven't gave anything yet. Would sugar do? And if so, how long for

 

[oliver90owner]

how long for

Zilch, zero, no time at all - providing they have adequate stores already. You need more bees not more stores.

 

[REDWOOD]

No haven't gave anything yet. Would sugar do? And if so, how long for

Reply should have been; no they have stores or yes they had very little stores

Stores have white cappings
brood have biscuit coloured cappings
pollen have no cappings

 

[irishguy]

Reply should have been; no they have stores or yes they had very little stores

Stores have white cappings
brood have biscuit coloured cappings
pollen have no cappings

So if they have plenty of white cappings, don't feed but if they have very little then I should feed. If this is the case, how much is plenty and how much is to little

 

[REDWOOD]

In a full colony you should have about 2 frames in total without supers.
you need to do a quick estimate when inspecting as stores are usually spread throughout the hive.
A half colony (nuc) should have one frame in total.
I hived 2 nucs yesterday that were packed with bees and BIAS and had about 1/3 of a frame of stores so I fed them with 1:1 syrup.
Note.... not all stores are sealed.

 

[REDWOOD]

http://www.killowen.com/brood 2.html
Good example

 

[irishguy]

In a full colony you should have about 2 frames in total without supers.
you need to do a quick estimate when inspecting as stores are usually spread throughout the hive.
A half colony (nuc) should have one frame in total.
I hived 2 nucs yesterday that were packed with bees and BIAS and had about 1/3 of a frame of stores so I fed them with 1:1 syrup.
Note.... not all stores are sealed.

I seen open honey stores but not capped honey. They have drawn out all the 6 frames with wax now because when i first got them, there was parts of the frames that was empty. I think ill just have to get a more advanced bee keeper out to have a look. Just found out today that someone about 2-3 miles away has a few hives so will call him down to have a peek

 

[jd101k2000]

The answer to your question about stings: it differs a lot from person to person.
Yours sounds like a normal reaction. Pin prick on day 1 'ouch'. Then several days where the area itches for a bit.

Also depends where you were stung.

Here is an article by a guy who tested stings on all parts of his anatomy. Apparently the most painful place to be stung is.... the nose!

http://phenomena.nationalgeographic...aces-to-get-stung-by-a-bee-nostril-lip-penis/

 

[victor meldrew]

Perhaps you should read the book which I'm sure you must own .,
To obtain bees with little prior knowledge is putting the cart before the horse .
Yes newbies ask questions , anomalies occur which aren't usually covered by books !
I apologise for any offence caused but my repeated mantra is and always will be , read learn, handle other peoples bees , join a club and only then contemplate the purchase of bees.
VM


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk