Castle Additions

It has been a nice warm sunny day. Mid 80 degree temps, when I showed up to Doris' place to drop off some food, there were bees everywhere. They were crawling around the outside. They were in the top box, beginning to work the frames in the super. They had filled up the slatted rack, and spread out to cover the majority of the last few frames inside the brood box. They have really blown up this last week or so.

I really only stopped by to drop off a pollen patty and refill the syrup. That quart size feeder is lasting only a few days now. There was so much activity, and they were obviously looking for more space, Kyson and I decided to go ahead and add the second deep box under the brood.

We will check them out later this week to see how they're liking it. I may need to move a few things around. I was planning on installing the queen separator to create a false roof over the brood. Right now the inner cover is between the brood box and the super. There were about three small clusters working on those frames this morning (golf ball size groups). They also had a dozen or so individuals wandering around the super. I do eventually hope they fill that super. For now, the goal is to increase bee numbers. I didn't spend much time inspecting. Of what I did see, all still looks well.

The brood box I added had some comb worked out by Deloris when she stayed there. I expect Doris will probably take right off where the others had left it.

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Nine Weeks

It has been nine weeks since these bees were installed. The bees did fine while we were gone on a short trip. When we got back, just five days after topping off the sugar water, the bees had nearly used up all the pollen patty and both quarts of syrup we had left them. At seven days, the syrup was gone. And today, no pollen patty at all. The dry days and eighty degree temps really help them get things done.

The inspection was ideal. They had brood in all stages, perfect egg laying patterns, large areas of hatched brood comb cleaned and reset with fresh eggs, and no signs of beetles or mites. There are no signs of any mites at all! I can't believe there are no mites. I figure I must be missing something but they are clean. I have even, recently, taken pics of each frame, zoomed in, inspected bee by bee, and I have not seen any mites. Skeptics take note, powdered sugar treatment works for me. I am sure mites will eventually reappear. But for now, Doris' bees are happy.

There were only two frames left on the outsides of the box that were not being built out with comb yet. The brood box is nearly full of bees. The second outer most frames had partial comb with only nectar in them so I switched the two outside empty frames in one position. I am hoping this encourages them to build out a little farther.

I am going to give them one more week. Next week I am going to add another Brood box below the one they are in. That should encourage them to continue building and growing downward into the next box.

The use of the slatted rack has definitely made a difference in the utilization of the frames. The first few frames are now completely filled to the corners. Now the bees are building them deeper. They seem to enjoy building burr comb. There is chunks of comb holding the lid down each time I open up the hive now. There is also gratuitous use of propolis. They are trying harder to keep me out and it's probably due to their growing numbers. The bees are now spread out across seven full frames (some are more concentrated than others).

I have been leaving one medium super above the inner cover. It seems to have helped them. It has been functioning as a makeshift quilt box holding the air above them steady. It has empty frames which won't absorb moisture like a quilt box, but they like hanging out in there sometimes and this time of year there is not a lot of condensation anyway.

Long Live the Queen!

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Where's Waldo ( I Spy )

We didn't see Doris during the first inspection the other day. We went back later to find her. Then while I was looking back through the inspection pics, I spotted her right out in the open. She was there the whole time.

Even with her markings she is tough to spot. See if you can find her.

 

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Surprise Inspection

During the initial inspection of the hive, Doris was especially good at hiding from us. So we relaxed, had a nice visit with Scott, rode a dirt bike a little bit, then went back in for a surprise inspection. We got good look at her the second time. She is doing an excellent job. John got a chance to meet her then, too.

Here, Scott is checking the weight of a full brood frame. They are noticeably heavy compared to the empty frames.

Kyson is helping us look for Doris.

Full frames of bees are so much fun to look at. The brood is all in really good condition. No signs of deformed wings. I didn't see any mites hanging on bees. There were no mites on the bottom board. We are still looking good. I hope this continues through the summer.

The workers managed to build some burr comb to stick the inner cover down tight. I took the hint and promised not to open the hive again during any rains.

I pulled the small feeder and left two quarts of sugar syrup. The new front porch fit perfectly. I hope that slatted rack spacer serves them well. Perhaps, Doris might even fill in those empty corners now they are further from the door.

A half dozen or so bees did end up squished by that pollen patty a few days ago. Not too many, but it was sad and unnecessary considering there were no storms the next day. We had some light showers that were not even close to what was in the forecast Thursday.

They have collected a complete frame of stored nectar. In combination with the syrup and patty I have provided, that will be enough to get them through much of the summer rains.

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Surprisingly Sunny

Well, as I have said before, the forecast is more often wrong than right. Today, the clouds cleared, it warmed up and it began to dry out. I didn't have much to do but I decided I better just let the bees be bees for today.

Kyson and I rolled down to Lowes to waste some time. I found some lemongrass plants I had to have. While pokin' around their scrap bins, I found a nice piece of 3/4 inch plywood. FREEBEE! Now it is a slatted bottom board for Doris' hive.

We will have to try to get it installed this weekend.

I have read a lot about these slatted spacers. They offer many benefits to the hive year 'round. Beekeepers who use them swear by them. I am hoping it will help keep the winds away from the frames, and some of the moisture below the brood.

This design will keep the frames elevated an extra two inches above the entrance. The wide shelf at the front channelizes the atmosphere away from the bottom of the frames keeping the queen, brood, and bee cluster warmer and drier. The added space below gives larger crowds someplace to hang out when it gets hot around the brood cluster and effectively helps the bees manage the hive temperature. Also, the slats act as a bottom to the hive, preventing burr comb in the open space, but allow mites and debris to fall through to the screen bottom.

I am excited to offer this accessory to Doris. I believe every little bit will help.

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Rain, Rain, Go Away

After a busy week, full of rain storms, baseball, work, and errands, Doris' colony has used up all of the sugar syrup and pollen patty. I needed to feed the bees but the rain is relentless. Rain is in the forecast for the next few days. There was no choice, we have to take a chance. I had to get them more syrup and pollen patty.

Ashlyn held the umbrella over the hive, blocking both the wind and the rain. I lifted the top just far enough to slide the pollen patty in. The bees were all over the tops of the frames and there's a chance a few may have been hurt. I installed a fresh jar of sugar syrup. I added it to the other two feeders that were already installed. I also filled those two feeders. There is now three jars of syrup in entrance feeders. The opening is only about a half inch wide now, which should help with the cold temps and damp winds. The bees will still have room to get in and out if the sun does shine during the next couple days.

There were no signs of beetles in the usual spots around the feeders and in the entrance. There are also no mites on the bottom board. This is very positive to see. We are still just waiting for some warm dry weather to come through so the colony can really take off.

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New Inspection

Today there was a window in the daily thunderstorms. Just before the weather turned, we opened the hive to see what progress was made.

There was a lot of activity outside the hive.

This whole frame is all nectar. There is another frame of nectar that is about two thirds full. They are working hard at expanding.

 Doris is working away. She is laying eggs across three frames. This is also the first picture of Doris with her tiny blue marking. It makes all the difference in locating her during inspections.

 Two of the brood frames are almost full to the corners.

 There is new brood in the cells that have already been hatched out.

 Bottom left to top right, you can see the larvae in different stages.

The bottom board had only a couple mites. They were the first I have seen in about two weeks. I did spot one bee with deformed wings (a developmental deformation caused by the mites). So, I dusted with powdered sugar and I will check them again in a few days to see how many mites drop to the bottom board.

There was no sign of any beetles. The colony has plenty of pollen stores, nectar, pollen patty, and sugar syrup. They seem to be healthy and growing in spite of the bad weather.

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