My Third Hive!
April 9, 2023 - I installed a new hive (Hive 3) and added the queen which was in the cage with the cork in.
Checked Hive 3 - there is honey, nectar, pollen, brood, and larva in the top and middlebox. The bottom deep box is empty (I need to remove it). Scraped all the debris off the bottom and added 1/1 sugar solution to the top. The bees were very aggressive!
April 12 - took the wrong end of the cork out of the queen cage (ugh) in Hive 3 - a bee went in before I could get the cork back in and was aggressively chasing the queen - hoping they don’t kill her. STUNG twice through my jeans. No more half-suits for me! I was even followed as I hurried away. These bees aren’t playing.
April 15 - fully suited with smoker lite and went out to check Hive 2 and add a feeder. When I took off the top and inner cover the guard bees started to buzz me in force. The top box was full but I decided not to go further. I added a new medium with some partially built comb with a little honey - at least 4 new frames. Bees were getting more and more agitated and attacking me —— CLOSED HIVE. The feeder I had did not fit so I still have to feed them
April 21 - I checked the new hive (3rd Hive). The bees are very active and seem to be doing well. I added another box and frame with a comb. I also added another feeder. The bees are making do with all the dandelions in the yard at this point. By the end of May, we should have many more choices for them!
I also checked the top box in the middle hive. There is some honeycomb and they seem very active.
I did notice a lot of ants in the right hive - removed the upside-down bucket feeder and hopefully they will go away.
More to come........
May 18 - The new hive (hive 3) was going crazy today! Bees flying everywhere (see video). It currently has 2 medium boxes so I thought it was time to add another box. Luckily the bees behaved while I took apart their boxes. I removed the empty frame feeder and added two new empty frames. There was brood, larvae, capped brood, and lots of drones. As usual, I did not see the queen. I never seem to be able to find her! Started checking the lower box and by then the bees were getting agitated - some brood and larvae - decided to close the hive.
Opened the middle hive - tons of ants and ant eggs. swept off as many as I could. Removed the insulation and looked at the top box. Between noise from a nearby neighbor mowing and light wind I decided to not press my luck and lift off the frames. Observed some honey and several empty frames.
Did not open Hive 1.
