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Author Topic: Did I do right?  (Read 4336 times)

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Offline Les

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Did I do right?
« on: May 19, 2015, 03:11:39 pm »
Cracked both the hives today and just want to make sure I made the right decisions (new"bee" lack of confidence LOL).  On 5/11 I added my second 8 frame brood box to the one hive (I have an 8 and a 10 frame hive).  Today that 2nd brood box was about 80% filled with eggs, larva and capped brood; so I added a medium frame honey super to this hive and closed it up.  The 10 frame hive has not come into it's own. This was the hive where we lost the queen and introduced a new queen on 4/23/15.  Could not find the queen but there were plenty of eggs, larva and capped brood - frames are about 70% filled.  Considering that our nectar flow is building (my black locusts are flowering), I decided to add a second brood box to this hive.  With the hope that once the capped larva hatch, the new nurse bees will take over and the foragers will get busy.  Kind of sad to see them lagging behind so much when compared to the other hive.  :'( :'(
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Offline iddee

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2015, 03:47:59 pm »
Did you push all the foundation frames tightly together and centered in the super, so they don't hang a wild comb between them?
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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2015, 03:51:41 pm »
Iddee, I sure did!  :)
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Offline Jen

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2015, 04:00:36 pm »
Ya mean like this? I love this pic, such a beautiful piece of art, but I do try and avoid this situation  :)


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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2015, 04:04:02 pm »
Jen, was that on the inside of a cover?
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Offline Jen

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2015, 04:24:55 pm »
Yup! This is what happens when you don't have the frames pushed snuggly together. The bees take the opportunity to make comb from the lid and build it down thru the open slots.
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Offline sc-bee

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2015, 04:45:12 pm »
If you don't use frames you don't have to worry about pushing them together :)




All jokes aside it sounds like you did good. It don't take long for a straggler to catch up once it gets on the roll. Staying ahead of them is better than getting behind.
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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2015, 05:22:44 pm »
Thanks everyone ...... a big sigh of relief.  And I worked the hives sans gloves this time, woohoo!
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Offline Riverrat

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #8 on: May 19, 2015, 06:12:21 pm »
Did you hit the hive with a stick before you blew smoke in their face.  ;D  If not that's the only thing I would have done different.  Good job
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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #9 on: May 19, 2015, 06:52:23 pm »
Riverrat, cracked me up :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
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Offline gtrr4

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2015, 08:56:29 am »
Jen, looks like your home made frame came with a queen cell!
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #11 on: May 20, 2015, 09:08:16 am »
Sounds to me like you were right on target Les.  When 7 out of 10 frames are drawn, then I add another brood box.  If there is a nectar flow, I add a super with queen excluder.  Black Locust blooming?  Lucky bees, lucky you.
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2015, 11:50:05 pm »
"On 5/11 I added my second 8 frame brood box to the one hive (I have an 8 and a 10 frame hive).  Today that 2nd brood box was about 80% filled with eggs, larva and capped brood; so I added a medium frame honey super to this hive and closed it up.  The 10 frame hive has not come into it's own. This was the hive where we lost the queen and introduced a new queen on 4/23/15.  Could not find the queen but there were plenty of eggs, larva and capped brood - frames are about 70% filled.  Considering that our nectar flow is building (my black locusts are flowering), I decided to add a second brood box to this hive.  With the hope that once the capped larva hatch, the new nurse bees will take over and the foragers will get busy.  Kind of sad to see them lagging behind so much when compared to the other hive. "

les, like bakers said, right on target adding another box to the 8 frame.  the 10 frame; don't be discouraged, she will come into her in own in time after being requeened..... you saw the eggs, larvae, capped brood, no need to actually find the queen, just give time to catch up. if she's a good queen she will.
with 70% filled, adding another deep is a good decision. don't worry about them lagging! little bump in the road with the queen, it's early in the season.
they have time and may surprise you or surpass the other.  this is one of the reasons on why it's good to have more than one hive!
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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #13 on: May 29, 2015, 01:29:05 pm »
I waste more time just watching the bees come and go in the hives but I have noticed an increase in activity in the ten frame hive so that is encouraging.  Next Tuesday it will be two weeks since I added the honey super to the eight frame hive and the additional brood box to the ten frame hive, so I will take a peak and see what is going on.  So glad I have ventured into the world of beekeeping  ;D ;D
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #14 on: May 29, 2015, 05:43:39 pm »
"I waste more time just watching the bees come and go in the hives"

les, that's not wasting time! it's enjoyment, and learning/education...........feel free to waste time, cuz you will and we all do........... :D

hello, my name is les, and i think i have a bee problem........... :P.... :D

LOL!
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #15 on: May 29, 2015, 10:01:28 pm »
hello, my name is les, and i think i have a bee problem........... :P.... :D

   LOL  I am just waiting to hear where the meetings are going to be held.   ;D
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Offline Les

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #16 on: May 30, 2015, 01:55:09 pm »
Lazybkpr,  now you just gave me an idea......I think we should set up a bar close to the hives.  We can imbibe on Jack Daniels "Honey Bourbon" and I can hold court answering all the questions (cause I'm such an expert  :laugh:).  As long as no one gets too intoxicated and falls into the hives, it would be fun!!
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Gypsi

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Re: Did I do right?
« Reply #17 on: May 30, 2015, 02:04:41 pm »
Beekeepers Anonymous!   When I joined the local bee club I explained to my daughter that we just all got together and talked about our bees. (and why that was so funny to her is a secret)
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