Once the super is 75-80% full of bees and stores, add another super. Checkerboarding a few frames would be a good idea running foundationless.
If a nectar flow is on, there is no need to feed.
If a nectar flow is on, there is no need to feed.
4 week old package - add new hive body?
Hi all,
Pictures from my 4 week old package. The first batch of brood have emerged and the population in the hive has exploded. All 8 frames are at least 2/3 full with comb.
Enjoy!
Worker kicking it on a frame:
![Bee Honeybee Insect Invertebrate Membrane-winged insect]()
New comb after first batch of brood has hatched, note the darker color and the cell cleaned and ready for the queen:
![Bee Honeycomb Beehive Honeybee Insect]()
More brood on the way, likely a few more days behind the recently emerged brood:
![Bee Honeycomb Honeybee Beehive Insect]()
Newly hatched worker - note the lighter colored fuzzy heads around the eyes?
![Bee Insect Beehive Honeybee Honeycomb]()
More new brood. You can see wax secretions on the underside of a few of the newer bees.
![Bee Honeycomb Honeybee Insect Beehive]()
Worker enjoying the baggie feeder. So glad I dumped that top hive feeder. Less space = no more bees putting comb in bad places.
![Bee Insect Honeybee Beehive Membrane-winged insect]()
Ouch! Bee sting in action:
![Insect Bombyx mori Pest Bee Invertebrate]()
Question(s):
I am thinking its time for a new hive body. I run 8 frame mediums with foundationless frames. Should I move 2 frames of brood up into new body, checkered between empty frames to promote drawing out comb? I then take those empty frames displaced from empty hive body and place it below in the full hive body between frames of capped brood to get them built out too.
Should I keep feeding syrup at this point? I see them bringing in new pollen from the fields.
Pictures from my 4 week old package. The first batch of brood have emerged and the population in the hive has exploded. All 8 frames are at least 2/3 full with comb.
Enjoy!
Worker kicking it on a frame:
New comb after first batch of brood has hatched, note the darker color and the cell cleaned and ready for the queen:
More brood on the way, likely a few more days behind the recently emerged brood:
Newly hatched worker - note the lighter colored fuzzy heads around the eyes?
More new brood. You can see wax secretions on the underside of a few of the newer bees.
Worker enjoying the baggie feeder. So glad I dumped that top hive feeder. Less space = no more bees putting comb in bad places.
Ouch! Bee sting in action:
Question(s):
I am thinking its time for a new hive body. I run 8 frame mediums with foundationless frames. Should I move 2 frames of brood up into new body, checkered between empty frames to promote drawing out comb? I then take those empty frames displaced from empty hive body and place it below in the full hive body between frames of capped brood to get them built out too.
Should I keep feeding syrup at this point? I see them bringing in new pollen from the fields.
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Here's another suggestion which may(?) get more volume to them. I made this to go over the inner cover and allows me to feed 2 jars at one time.
I've always heard, read and done (in my short time)-when 70%-80% of the frames are worked, then it's time to add a new hive body.
3
Thanks! Beekeeping is a family affair in our home with my wife and our 13 yr old son involved in taking the classes, attending the meetings, and working the hives. The one not manipulating the bees takes the pictures.
I know its probably just first year beek excitement, but man, this is the coolest thing we have done in a long time and I take hundreds of pics each inspection to pour over later. I even managed to convince the wife for an Observation hive in the front room so that I stop scheduling inspections every 3-5 days just to see what they are doing. I know, bad idea for new hives to be in there so often. She calls it getting my "bee fix."
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