Update, Did a second inspection today because it wasn't snowing or raining or freezing. Sunny 63, and negligible wind. 4:00pm
Hive that at 1 week had larvae and eggs is nearly side to side capped brood. Well, I didn't bother looking at all the frames because the box was 8 frames packed with bees, and minus a lot of field bees. 2 brood frames I did pull were solid capped brood. I mean even the corners were filled out. I should have taken a picture. Looking down into the frames from one angle showed similar. So I added a second deep of drawn comb.
Looks like I will be doing some splits. I should have pulled them all to check for swarm cells. Fingers crossed.
The other hive is about half. There is now capped brood and larvae and eggs on 3-4 frames. I realized later that I had on an old pair of glasses that have a longer focus plane, so I was really too far away to see the eggs that must have been present. (I keep one pair for computer work and another for reading.) At any rate the queen didn't seem to lay right off which is not unusual. The queen was on a warped comb frame that I stuck in there for lack of better comb. Out of 30 frames of drawn comb I had selected by others who lacked understanding, there was about 7 warped drawn combs that will see the recycle department. So because some of the frames had honey stores I was short on good comb. Will add second brood box soon. Weather looks to be in the 80's next week.
So the lesson for new BK's is make sure foundation is straight with no warpage. The cells are either too shallow or too deep for the queen to lay in depending on which direction the curved comb bends. Her abdomen is only so long.
Hoping last night's 30 degrees didn't harm apple blossom buds. Looking forward to some apple flavored honey.
Hive that at 1 week had larvae and eggs is nearly side to side capped brood. Well, I didn't bother looking at all the frames because the box was 8 frames packed with bees, and minus a lot of field bees. 2 brood frames I did pull were solid capped brood. I mean even the corners were filled out. I should have taken a picture. Looking down into the frames from one angle showed similar. So I added a second deep of drawn comb.
Looks like I will be doing some splits. I should have pulled them all to check for swarm cells. Fingers crossed.
The other hive is about half. There is now capped brood and larvae and eggs on 3-4 frames. I realized later that I had on an old pair of glasses that have a longer focus plane, so I was really too far away to see the eggs that must have been present. (I keep one pair for computer work and another for reading.) At any rate the queen didn't seem to lay right off which is not unusual. The queen was on a warped comb frame that I stuck in there for lack of better comb. Out of 30 frames of drawn comb I had selected by others who lacked understanding, there was about 7 warped drawn combs that will see the recycle department. So because some of the frames had honey stores I was short on good comb. Will add second brood box soon. Weather looks to be in the 80's next week.
So the lesson for new BK's is make sure foundation is straight with no warpage. The cells are either too shallow or too deep for the queen to lay in depending on which direction the curved comb bends. Her abdomen is only so long.
Hoping last night's 30 degrees didn't harm apple blossom buds. Looking forward to some apple flavored honey.
