6 Apr 2012 - Spring Inspection

Thought it was time for a spring inspection, bees were really busy and I thought I would have a wee check for Queen cells, and try and pre-empt  a swarm, which I would love to avoid.  Not sure how happy the neighbours would be, bad enough having to ask for a ball back, but to knock and ask for your swarm of bees back who have settled on a kids trampoline, may be a bit high on the nuisance gauge. 

 

This is generally empty comb, its on the outer edge, it has been rescued at one time, the give away is the green wire and the hair clip on the top bar holding it up on the left hand side. 

 Tell them about the Honey Mummy.  We snapped a bit of this comb for a trial. Top half is capped honey, or at least it was until we had to cut it to separate it.

 JP separating combs, we were doing it two at time to try and keep the combs strong trying to avoid any more bodge jobs.

JP holding up a comb.  You can see the brown hair comb in the middle being held up by green garden wire. Bit of capped honey at the top. 

Some capped brood here, unfortunately there was some evidence of chalk brood. Note the clear hair clip holding the comb on the bar.   

On the right side, there is a bigger cell, which I think is a Queen practice cup.  We picked it off and it wasn't charged.   

You can see some drone brood at the bottom here, it is bigger more pronounced than the normal brood. 

During the separation, I have cut thorough some babies.... I plan on opening the hive every week this year to ensure that they keep their combs separate. 

 On the mesh floor you can see the mummified remains of some chalk brood larva.  If I was to build my own hive, I would have a removable mesh floor to help with the clean up process.

Getting busier......girls were getting more aware of our presence. They always get more tetchy the closer to the brood we get.   

Last comb, I spotted Queen Kylie at the bottom of the beard and we desperately started snapping hopping to catch her, like true paparazzi.  

And there she is half way up on the left, toffee brown, longer body, no stripes. Queen Kylie in the exoskeleton. 

Queen Kylie again, just to the right in the middle. Bigger than the rest, but with a pronounced point to her rear. She is unmarked, that is a lesson for a more experienced bee-keeper, I am just pleased she is surviving, never mind what designer colours she is wearing.  

Queen Kylie middle right again, moving to the middle. 

Shame this one is blurry, she was doing her 'Cant get you out my head' pose. 

 When I have seen Queens before, they normally have a posse of bees following them around, but she seemed to be left alone, although, they did move out the way for her. Perhaps she had been fed and watered recently and the carer bees were on a smoke break. :)

After our intrusion, they covered their entrance for while and were on full alert.  

30 mins later, they had settled down to clearing up the devastation we had wrought.

The Hampshire 2, still moody now they are on concrete after chomping through my lawn. 

 

This was the feeder I removed.  I put it in last Autumn, still full of fondant, but they obviously preferred their own honey, and who can blame them.  

So quick summary, bees very busy, Queen seen, and is happy.  Bit of Chalk Brood, bit I am hoping they will sort that out by themselves.  I did put a separator in just in case they do build a queen cell and I will artificially swarm them into the other half of the hive. The plan is to get a national hive later on in the year, more for the honey production, trouble with the top bar, it it not always that clear what is their honey, and what is mine.  Talking of honey...........

It was the first time we had opened up the hive and not needed a hair clip, which I actually had ready, for a change. We ate our own honey straight from the comb.  Delicious.