First Inspection Of 2014

I think it’s all OK but would value your beekeeping opinion on my concerns.  In summary:

  • I found the marked Queen (she’s 3 years old now)
  • Brood: There were eggs, larvae and capped brood in both the lower and upper brood boxes – approx 4 frames
  • Stores: Most of the stores is now 80% uncapped – approx. 6 frames; plenty of pollen stores
  • Bees: Several hundred, maybe 1-2,000, not sure.  Did not feel there were loads of bees but I did the inspection at 2pm so a lot would be out and about
  • Several hundred dead winter bees on the floor (photo below)

Concerns:

  • Do they have too much space with a double 14×12 brood box situation?  Bees were thinly spread about.  Will they be able to keep the brood warm?  I assume they will do the right thing and that it will be OK.
  • Some of the stores was quite black.  Is this due to the comb going black or have the stores gone mouldy?  I assume it’s the comb that’s become dark.
  • How best to expand from 1 to 2 hives and when? I presume an artificial swarm but what’s the earliest I can do this?  Wait till the bees cover 7 frames?
Smoking The Hive
Smoking The Hive
Inspecting Frame - Capped Brood In Centre
Inspecting Frame – Capped Brood In Centre
Dead Winter Bees
Dead Winter Bees On Hive Floor

Read More

Author: Roger

regaining my sanity through beekeeping

7 thoughts on “First Inspection Of 2014”

  1. Hi roger, not inspected yet but lots of pollen coming in!
    My strategy for you would be:
    1. Why do you need 2 brood boxes? Better to have one and then two supers?!
    2. If they get to fill up one brood box, presumably then they may want to swarm, build queen cells, then you’ll be ready to go with the artificial swarm.
    3. I think it’s end of May/ early June for splitting.
    4. I had a bit of mould on my open mesh floor which I took out today. Just taken off mouse guard so I am hoping better airflow fixes that!
    5. My new bees have 2 supers on already as they came with them and need cleaning up so I hope the bees get to work on them!
    Happy beekeeping!
    Simon

    1. Hey Simon – I’m meant to be advising you!
      My reasons to keep the double 14×12 brood box situation rather than a brood box plus supers: (1) I think the status quo might be better than disturbing them; (2) with a big hive there might be more bees to do an artificial swarm with in May/June?
      The first nectar flow starts mid-April – let me know how your supers are getting filled.
      More on nectar flows here: Harvesting Honey. The dates will be a bit later and shorter in Yorkshire.
      Roger

  2. Congratulations on having a healthy colony with a laying queen 🙂

    I’m not sure what you mean by “black stores” – dark brown comb from brood rearing? Mould should be fairly obvious.

    If it is mould, could be they have too much space now that the colony’s gone through winter and they can’t keep the moisture levels low enough. If it’s very dark comb, perhaps a Bailey comb change to get the bees onto fresh disease free comb would be a good idea.

    Like Simon says, I would do an artificial swarm once I found uncapped queen cells, work with the bees’ natural instinct. If you inspect weekly carefully you should catch any queen cells in time to do this.

    1. Hi Emily,
      Great to hear from you.
      Yes – you are right – it’s dark brown comb. It’s only two years old, so no need to do a Bailey Comb Change.
      I’ll wait for the swarm cells.
      Do you think there could be early swarming this year as it’s been a mild winter?
      Roger

      1. Glad it’s not mould!

        Someone in London has already collected a swarm! Drone cells are in many of the hives already, they seem to be off to a flying start this year. Seeing a lot of queen cups too – they’re going to keep us on our toes this year!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.