Wednesday, May 1, 2013

2013 Hive 4

Hive status:  New nuc 2013
Hive origin:  Nuc that Alan made from a cut-out he did that had swarm cells present
Queen type:  Unknown, new in 2013 (hopefully survivor stock)

Significant events/observations:
New hive that I transferred from a nuc box to a deep when moving it to my apiary on 6/22/13.  Hopefully the queen is survivor stock and will be able to make it through Ohio winters.  Added remaining sugar syrup to the top, about a quart, even though nectar is flowing strong.  Did not spot queen during transfer, but eggs and young larvae present on two sides of one frame were observed.  The 5 frames moved over were foundationless as this hive started with comb from a cutout rubber-banded into deep frames.  One had a chunk of honey the size of a small plate that was stuck to the nuc wall instead of part of the frame so I removed it to have a little spring honey, probably 2 pounds.

6/28/13:  Expanding into single deep, spotted eggs on a frame that was not original to the nuc.  Removed a frame that had very little comb in it and replaced with a frame of drawn comb.

7/5/13:  Hive is drawing out frames that are foundation only or filling in openings where no foundation exists.  Single deep still ok for now, saw eggs.

Sometime in July added another deep.  

8/5/13:  Eggs in bottom of top deep, still plenty of room without a honey super.  Slow growing.

8/10/13:  Eggs.  No food in this hive, added 3 deeps of honey/pollen.  Rearranged partially drawn frames to walls of upper deep as they are not drawing them out.  Moved empty deep drawn comb to center of lower deep to encourage more brood.  Could probably fit in a single deep, but hoping they will grow to fill it.

8/17/13:  Doing well, building up and bringing in nectar.  Spotted eggs.

8/25/13:  Eggs spotted, ok on food and space.  This hive was a bit defensive and is filling up both deeps now, a big difference from 2 weeks ago.

9/11/13:  Hive doing well, added queen excluder and super.  Super has 4 frames of drawn comb and 6 frames of undrawn was foundation.

9/28/13:  Removed queen excluder due to no bees or honey in the super.  Did not see eggs.  Deeps are full of honey.  Swapped super which was mostly undrawn for a super of drawn comb (removed on 9/28 from H2).  Will watch for eggs after they hopefully move some honey up.  Closed upper off-set entrance.

12/22/13:  6+ frames of bees on heavy frames in upper deep, some bees still down in lower, very calm.  Second strongest hive behind H2.

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