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Well, spring is here, or is it? Next few days high's in 60's, low 70's, but lows in the 30's predicted next week.
I went though 4 of my more swarmy hives ( all medium 8 frame), found 3-4 frames of brood, drone brood & actual drones in one. One goal was to switch boxes needing maintenace for boxes already repaired. Checking stores, found uncapped nectar & pollen. No wonder they aren't taking much syrup, but they are going to town on sugar cakes, so i am making sure they dont run out.
I switched brood from top box to bottom box in 2 hives. I fear i may have done this too early. Will the bees abandon the brood next week when the night temps drop? I moved the food combs down with them, but continue to place sugar cakes on top of the top (2nd) box, which is only empty drawn combs.
Still too early for me to consider making splits, but i reconfigured my stored equipment stacks as bait hives ... just in case.
I went though 4 of my more swarmy hives ( all medium 8 frame), found 3-4 frames of brood, drone brood & actual drones in one. One goal was to switch boxes needing maintenace for boxes already repaired. Checking stores, found uncapped nectar & pollen. No wonder they aren't taking much syrup, but they are going to town on sugar cakes, so i am making sure they dont run out.
I switched brood from top box to bottom box in 2 hives. I fear i may have done this too early. Will the bees abandon the brood next week when the night temps drop? I moved the food combs down with them, but continue to place sugar cakes on top of the top (2nd) box, which is only empty drawn combs.
Still too early for me to consider making splits, but i reconfigured my stored equipment stacks as bait hives ... just in case.