Author Topic: NewBee-Please comment on my photos (Read 3138 times)

ctbee · « **on:** June 21, 2006, 10:51:02 am »

Hello All, This is great group! I really enjoy reading all the old posts and have learned a great deal here. Below are links to photos of two hives I started this spring. I would really appreciate your help as I am going it alone, though I wish I had a mentor. These pix were taken 5 weeks after the packaged bees and caged queen were installed in the hives. The weather for more than half of the 5 weeks has been cold, rainy and windy with temps in the 50s at night and 60s during the day. This past week it has finally warmed so the nights are in the 70s and the days reach 90F. Both my queens are alive and well. I have had a hive top feeder on since the get go. Most of the activity is on the inner 6 frames only in both hives. Some comb is drawn on frames 2 and 8 but not much.
hive #1: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee1a.jpg
hive #1: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee1b.jpg
hive #1: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee1c.jpg
hive #2: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee2a.jpg
hive #2: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee2b.jpg
hive #2: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee2c.jpg
queen photo: http://ttsmith.desperado.com/ebay/bee2d.jpg

Thanks!!

Chad S · « **Reply #1 on:** June 21, 2006, 02:28:47 pm »

Those are text book frames. Nice brood pattern with honey on the top. You may want to lay off the sugar at this point. a 22% solution of sugar will encourage comb building, but prevent them from storing it. Do you have a second deep on those hives, and what part of the country are you from. From your description of your weather sounds like New England.

Chad

ctbee · « **Reply #2 on:** June 21, 2006, 02:47:45 pm »

Thanks Chad! Yes, guessing my location correctly for someone in MA wasn't so difficult. I'm in CT where we have more or less the same weather. Sorry, I should have included that info. No, I have not added a second deep yet as I didn't think there were enough bees with only 6 full frames.
So things look good you are saying. This is my first look ever into a bee hive so I am not sure if this is normal and healthy looking. I thought maybe there should be more bees by now but what do I know. I have only been a text book beekeeper until this April. I am lovin' though!

Regards, Terry

Chad S · « **Reply #3 on:** June 21, 2006, 03:59:38 pm »

No hurry with the second box. Think about cocking the outer cover open to get some ventilation in your hives. Again nice photos of your bees.

Chad

ctbee · « **Reply #4 on:** June 21, 2006, 04:12:41 pm »

The bees have been clustering around the entrance afternoons and evenings since the temps warmed up so suddenly. I have been concerned about ventilation since the hive top feeder eliminates the inner cover. If I tilt the outer cover however they will be able to get to the hive top feeder via the new opening created. Unwanted bees could get to it as well. I added a screened bottom board to one hive which seemed to help.

What is 22% sugar? I am using 1:1.

Hi-Tech · « **Reply #5 on:** June 22, 2006, 12:45:44 am »

1:1 = 50% 22% would be about half as much sugar.

Brian D. Bray · « **Reply #6 on:** June 22, 2006, 10:36:56 pm »

Some clustering around the entrance on warm days is normal, excessive clustering is called bearding and can indicate a congested hive due to over crowding. Try a slatted rack from betterbee--it will go a long ways in providing a staging area for excess bees and a platform from which they can fan for ventilation.

newbee101 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 22, 2006, 11:24:41 pm »

Where in western CT?

ctbee · « **Reply #8 on:** June 23, 2006, 11:24:51 am »

I am in Sherman, CT.

I haven't received many comments on my photos. Is this the way things are suppose to look?

Thanks, Terry

melliphile · « **Reply #9 on:** June 23, 2006, 04:55:33 pm »

Nice pics! All appears well. Look for a consistant brood pattern and queen cells. Brood nest doesn't seem congested. Good luck!

newbee101 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 24, 2006, 02:35:57 pm »

Everything looks good! If you ever want to visit my bees, Im here in Bethel. I have 7 hives and 4 nucs.