The nuc has been installed for a few weeks. I did my first FULL inspection of removing all frames and such. A few findings I wanted to run by people here:
1. Water on the inner lid. Thought this was syrup at first from my leaky top feeder, but then realized even if leaking, it can't feasibly leak where I saw the moisture. It lines up right over the inner lid hole. This water was in big raised bubbles on the surrounding parts of the inner lid. Is it condensation?, the bees storing water up there or something? I have the Ultimate Hive Cover with ventilation channels too.
2. They have expanded from their 5 frame nuc to using maybe 7 frames. Drone frame is still empty. A good mix of capped honey, brood, open nectar in the frames. I didn't see a ton of larvae or any eggs, but I am a noob and it was my first time. I also didn't shake the bees off so they could have been under there.
3. I didn't see the queen anywhere, which I though was weird. But hey there are thousands of bees in there. I did see a dead bee on the bottom of the hive but it was between two frames and I didn't want to bother going in there. It was a biggie, so I got nervous thinking it was my queen. But I saw her last week alive and well and I sure as heck didn't crush her. So maybe she was elusive today.
4. I didn't see anything abnormal looking other than some comb on the bottom of one of the frames.
When should I do my first varroa test? I don't want to sacrifice 300 bees from such a small colony just yet, unless it's no big deal.
I was going to let them get the rest of the 1 gallon syrup I have in there until it runs out then they're on their own for the summer.
I know beginners can go overboard, and I don't want to stress them too much. But I also don't want to let them just do their own thing and die or leave.
1. Water on the inner lid. Thought this was syrup at first from my leaky top feeder, but then realized even if leaking, it can't feasibly leak where I saw the moisture. It lines up right over the inner lid hole. This water was in big raised bubbles on the surrounding parts of the inner lid. Is it condensation?, the bees storing water up there or something? I have the Ultimate Hive Cover with ventilation channels too.
2. They have expanded from their 5 frame nuc to using maybe 7 frames. Drone frame is still empty. A good mix of capped honey, brood, open nectar in the frames. I didn't see a ton of larvae or any eggs, but I am a noob and it was my first time. I also didn't shake the bees off so they could have been under there.
3. I didn't see the queen anywhere, which I though was weird. But hey there are thousands of bees in there. I did see a dead bee on the bottom of the hive but it was between two frames and I didn't want to bother going in there. It was a biggie, so I got nervous thinking it was my queen. But I saw her last week alive and well and I sure as heck didn't crush her. So maybe she was elusive today.
4. I didn't see anything abnormal looking other than some comb on the bottom of one of the frames.
When should I do my first varroa test? I don't want to sacrifice 300 bees from such a small colony just yet, unless it's no big deal.
I was going to let them get the rest of the 1 gallon syrup I have in there until it runs out then they're on their own for the summer.
I know beginners can go overboard, and I don't want to stress them too much. But I also don't want to let them just do their own thing and die or leave.