by Jim Coss on 04/22/11
Checked hives and cut out more swarm cells. The wind was brutal, and the bees were not very gentle(understatement) we got the crap stung out of us. I don't like working bees with the way the weather was on Sunday, but there was no getting into the hives on Saturday.I am getting 30 queen cells on Saturday the23rd. I will be making up nucs to put the cells in. There is enough mature drones now to get these queens mated. Between storms on wed, Thurs, and Friday I will make up about 30 nucs and be installing the cells on Saturday. I will set up a cell builder hive and we will graft about 50 more larva for more queens on Saturday.
by Jim Coss on 04/22/11
Was unable the work the bees yesterday. I had two swarms from my carney hives. We went thru every hive and cut out all the swarm cells, and added 3rd deep boxes. I will break them down when we have queens available and make the nucs up. I should have queens around Good Friday. I hope the weather don't hold up progress on making up the nucs. We also put more Brood patties on the hives and topped off the feeders.
by Jim Coss on 04/22/11
Calling for rain, but scattered, I'm going to try and work between storms. We will be checking for swarm cells and adding the 3rd deeps to heavily congested hives. Hope this will help reduce swarming, it can't hurt anything. I'll also be putting more syrup on all the hives. When I get queens I will break down the third deeps and make my nucs. I'm looking to have my queens by Easter. Last weekend I saw that most of the brood patties had been consumed. Probably add another to hives that need them.
by Jim Coss on 04/22/11
The Carney hives are building fast. Found a few uncapped swarm cells and cut them out. Next weekend I am adding a 3rd deep to reduce swarming. My queens are not available yet, or I would be making nucs next weekend. I saw lots of drones in the hives. (good sign) The weather is putting a cramp on queen rearing, but hopefully this coming week will be better. Still have not been able to move the bees at home out to other yards.
by Jim Coss on 04/22/11
Pulled off the old winter patties that were not consumed
and checked for eggs, larva, and capped brood. I had 2 more dead outs. That totaled five for the winter. I am seeing quite a bit of drone brood in the hives. I even spotted a few drones (yahoo).
I swapped brood boxes where they were needed, and put a brood builder patty between each hive body. I don't think they really need one with the pollen coming into the hive but I had them on the truck. I also filled the syrup feeders. I fed a 60% syrup mix with Honey Bee Healthy, and am trying the new Amino B Boost product by HBH on some hives to see if it is all it is cracked up to be. Next weekend I will be moving the hives here at the house out to a new bee yard (weather permitting).
