Confused

[chemlight]

I've got 2 hives. I bought them at the same time, I supered each at the same time, etc. They are both comprised of a full depth hive, medium super (both of these are for the bees), and a small super for me. The one on the left has filled the small super to 80-85% with uncapped honey, the bees were there working away, etc. The one on the right has DRAWN the foundation in the small super about 10%. What gives. I did notice that same hive seemed to have all the bees on the front porch sweeping and dancing, but NOT moving their wings??? I have watched them for the last couple of days and thought they were just ventilating the hive. I threw my veil on today and that is what I discovered.

Why were they "dancing" and not working like their neighbors? What were they doing? It looked like they were scratching or sweeping with their legs. I'm pretty sure we are in a flow because 2 weeks ago neither hive had the frames drawn in the small super.

Just trying to figure out this bee thing! :)

[JP]

The reason you start with at least 2 hives is so you can see the developmental differences between the two and you are able to take from the strong and give to the weak, if there is a weak.

Some hives are slower to build and then come on, sometimes they don't, give them time, keep an eye on them.

They are probably washboarding: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjZ59WeVuOE

This is quite common.


...JP