Hived russians on HSC today

[mintong]

Put a package of russians on HSC today. Installed queen includer at entrance. Interested to see how quickly they build up compared to a package of Russians I installed on pierco at the same time.

[Chef Isaac]

That should be an interesting comparison. How are your russian bees doing on the plastic? I plan to split my small cell and put russians in there.

[mintong]

Right now, the HSC Russians are sucking the 1 gallon hivetop feeder dry (Mixture of Megabee, Sugar water and HBH). Strangely there is a swarm like cluster at vent holes of feeder, hopefully they go back inside tonight.
Pierco russians are doing same thing, except no cluster on outside of feeder (no vents on that one).

[Chef Isaac]

mintong:

I havent mixed megabee and syrup together before. Does it mix in easy? Does it ferment easy?

[mintong]

Yes, the Megabee and Syrup mixed very easy. Too early to see if fermentation is higher. I just put some dry pollen out to see if they take it. Both hives seem more interested in plain water right now (Tho they are still sucking down the feeder mix). Still have a small cluster of 100 or so bees hanging out at external hive top feeder/hive top joint. They do not want to go inside like the others (strange). Both hives are putting a few foragers out on to my yellow clover (probable more as warms up today).

[mintong]

Update on the hives.
HSC hive building slowing, no drones (yet), LOTS OF BURR COMB between frames and feeder when it was removed (real hard to twist off). They were not happy when removed the burr comb. Left burr comb out there for the ladies to clean out.

Pierco hive is building up quickly, a few drones. Busy working clover. Will add another brood box 4th of July weekend.

Both. Removed bottom solid board on SBB's. Water usage should greatly increase due to increased airflow and low outside humidity.