Hi,
Checked into the hives yesterday. Each hive has about four empty frames yet, though the bees are just getting started on them. I'm thinking in the next week or so I might add another deep to each hive with more frames. Both hives now have capped brood and some honey capped around the edges.
In the smaller hive, I got to watch a worker get her way out of her cell. A new bee! I also found 2 queen cells in this hive. One looked like there was something in it. the other I couldn't tell. There was a be working in it. All I saw was a little rear end sticking out, moving around. The queen is still in there, so I'm not sure about the cells. From what I've read on here, I gather that bees can build them, and not use them. I decided to leave them there for the time being. The bees probably know what they're doing. I'll keep an eye on it.
The other hive was simply packed with bees. I found no queen cells there, though. This group was a little annoyed at my intrusion, but I didn't get stung. There is a monster piece of burr comb on a frame. It's filled with honey and brood, so I decided to leave it alone. It doesn't seem to be in the way.
About a month into this adventure, I've looked in a few times just enough to see what's going on. I hope I'm going about this the right way.
Checked into the hives yesterday. Each hive has about four empty frames yet, though the bees are just getting started on them. I'm thinking in the next week or so I might add another deep to each hive with more frames. Both hives now have capped brood and some honey capped around the edges.
In the smaller hive, I got to watch a worker get her way out of her cell. A new bee! I also found 2 queen cells in this hive. One looked like there was something in it. the other I couldn't tell. There was a be working in it. All I saw was a little rear end sticking out, moving around. The queen is still in there, so I'm not sure about the cells. From what I've read on here, I gather that bees can build them, and not use them. I decided to leave them there for the time being. The bees probably know what they're doing. I'll keep an eye on it.
The other hive was simply packed with bees. I found no queen cells there, though. This group was a little annoyed at my intrusion, but I didn't get stung. There is a monster piece of burr comb on a frame. It's filled with honey and brood, so I decided to leave it alone. It doesn't seem to be in the way.
About a month into this adventure, I've looked in a few times just enough to see what's going on. I hope I'm going about this the right way.