NOW I will relax!

[Hoosier]

I've been worried for more than a month that one of my two newly installed (April 17) hives was missing a queen because one hive is doing so well/much better in all ways. This morning I went out in shorts and a tee shirt, and I slowly removed one comb at a time. FINALLY, on next to the first comb by the front, top entrance there she was in all her glory. What a beauty! AND I did not get stung or bothered by any of the bees. Now I can stop looking in through the glass every day to see how they're doing.

[brianbonner]

I understand that angst been going through it myself and I have decided my next hive will have a window, I am sorry I decided against it.

[xcugat]

Dont be afraid to get in there and look at the combs its a great learning experience---you should be in there every 2 weeks

[SteveBee]

An observation window is nice, but you'll probably never see the queen through it. We have windows in two of our hives and they're best for letting people who are scared of bees see inside. You can't really tell much about what's going on inside without a comb-by-comb inspection. Just remember, if you can find evidence of a queen (eggs and upcapped brood) you don't have to find the queen. Patience.

[rtoney]

I'm not sure what shorts and T-shirt have to do with finding a queen. I have 3 top bars and have not seen the queen in any of them not that I have not looked I guess brood is good enough so I don't spend much time looking.
I guess I could try the shorts & T-shirt idea.

[Baldursson]

let us know how that works out for ya. I don't mind a tank top to lift the lid and add syrup to the feeder but I am not going to start lifting bars with only a tank top on.

[julysun]

Did you see any eggs or brood? How much compared to your other hives?

[Hoosier]

Did you see any eggs or brood? How much compared to your other hives?

Yes, I'd seen brood earlier, but...

[VeggieGardener]

An observation window is nice, but you'll probably never see the queen through it. We have windows in two of our hives and they're best for letting people who are scared of bees see inside. You can't really tell much about what's going on inside without a comb-by-comb inspection. Just remember, if you can find evidence of a queen (eggs and upcapped brood) you don't have to find the queen. Patience.

I've seen quite a bit through the window of a top bar hive... from the comb building progress of a newly introduced package to the movement of a cluster during winter. Have also spotted hive beetles and other pests and watched how the bees dealt with them. As far as never viewing a queen through the window I spotted one in the act of laying a couple weeks ago... sure it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time but it's far from improbable.

[Hoosier]

Cell phone March 2012 063.jpg

I've seen quite a bit through the window of a top bar hive... from the comb building progress of a newly introduced package to the movement of a cluster during winter. Have also spotted hive beetles and other pests and watched how the bees dealt with them. As far as never viewing a queen through the window I spotted one in the act of laying a couple weeks ago... sure it was just a matter of being in the right place at the right time but it's far from improbable.

Personally, there's no way that I would have a TBH w/o an observation window. I built five, gave one to my son who already had several Langstroths and one TBH that he built following Mike's instructions w/o a window.Hive #1 open observation window.jpg

[brianbonner]

I think the only time I would like a window is in the beginning to see wehn they start drawing out honey comb, so I can get in AND PUT IN THE SPACERS for wider bars, or where to add wider bars and just to peek inside ot see progress when it is cold outside, big problem here

[brianbonner]

I do not recommend shorts and t-shirt! LOL! If it is WORKER brood and not DRONE brood, you are fine