So, I wanted to get some thoughts on getting my two little hives ready for fall/winter.
We have two little hives from swarms caught in late spring. These were both slow starters that we had to jump start with a few frames of eggs to get a laying queen. They've been building over the summer and are now both filling their single brood boxes.
The eight frame (in just a medium) was all drawn out with packed frames of brood, larva and eggs. really tight laying patterns surrounded by some open nectar and a couple of frames of pollen and nectar. Bees covering every frame.
The ten frame (single deep) had some brood, but was starting to back fill with nectar. Bees covering every frame.
The bees are bringing something in, pollen and nectar, and the weather has been good. Sunny and warm after a wet summer. Word is that just north of Atlanta, they filled a super in a week. All the hives I got into were sweet and calm, despite the weeding my husband was doing to the left and right of the hives while I inspected! :)
Here's what I did:
8 frame - added a medium super with 5 frames drawn combs in the center and 3 empty frames on the outsides (positions 1 and 9&10). I pulled one frame up from below to get them to move up. put the empty drawn replacement frame on one side (position 10)
10 frame - added a medium super with 4 frames drawn comb in the center surrounded with 4 frames foundation (2 to either side of the drawn) and 2 empty frames on the edge.
I'm thinking the brood in the 8 frame will hatch and fill up the medium and they should be ok, if the fall flow stays strong and I feed. I can usually feed into October, although they aren't taking anything from the open feeder I have out.
The 10 frame I'm a little worried about, as there were some hive beetles in the top of this one and less capped brood on the frames, though there was larva and eggs. I think they need more room, but am worried about giving too much. Do you think I did this one ok?
The other 3 big hives are booming and I'm wondering how to reduce them as they are packed with bees. But that's another day.
Thanks for your thoughts.
love,
ziffa