I installed two packages May 16 and check them the following week and both queens were released. Hive number 2 has never seen as active as hive #1 and also there always appears to be a few more dead bees in front of hive number 2. So i did my first true inspection today and hive 1 looks good to me as shown in picture below. Hive two obviously has less bees then hive number 1 and also as seen in the picture no capped brood is to be found. I do see what appears to be three hatched queen cells if I am no mistaken? I am new at this but I think I found the queen in hive 2 and she is unmark which would support the hatched queen cell? Since I have only had the packages in two weeks I have been using a top feeder with 1:1 solution and honeybee healthy. I have changed out the solution every week and although I was told honey bee healthy would prevent the solution from going bad I found out today that is not true and also ants have figured out I have the feeder as well so I took off the feeders for both hives.
I would appreciate feedback on the direction I should head now...being new I do not want to mess this up. My thoughts for the second hive is to let the new queen have time to mate and lay eggs versus immediately requeening? Is that what you would do.
Secondly I was going to move one frame of brood from hive 1 to 2 next weekend.
Lastly am I ok not feeding hive 2 any more? Feel good about one and this week we just got over 6 inches of rain so we are out of any pre-drought conditions.
Thanks for your input.
Hive 1:
Hive 2:
I would appreciate feedback on the direction I should head now...being new I do not want to mess this up. My thoughts for the second hive is to let the new queen have time to mate and lay eggs versus immediately requeening? Is that what you would do.
Secondly I was going to move one frame of brood from hive 1 to 2 next weekend.
Lastly am I ok not feeding hive 2 any more? Feel good about one and this week we just got over 6 inches of rain so we are out of any pre-drought conditions.
Thanks for your input.
Hive 1:


Hive 2:



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