Sunday, May 13, 2012 Mother's Day inspection. I thought it
fitting to see the queen on mother's day. I decided to run out to Acorn Hill to
check on the ladies to see if it was time yet for the second medium. The
forecast was calling for rain Monday and Tuesday, so I went for it, kind of on a
whim. Melissa and I showed up after eating a nice breakfast with the in-laws
and before a visit with my side of the family.
I lit the smoker, which I think would be much easier with a
small butane torch. I will be on the look out for an inexpensive one. I smoked
the bees and checked them out. I saw the queen right away and lots of really
good evidence of successful life. One frame of really good looking capped brood
another frame with some eggs and another with some capped and some larvae. All
of which were an epic sight.
The end frames however have yet to drawn out. The last
frames that are drawn out have been filled with sugar syrup. Now thinking back
on it I think I should have done a little checker boarding with the empty
frames. That is, move the empty frames in between some that have already been
drawn out. There a total of five full frames drawn out and one side of two more
frames. So that is only 6 frames. I figured I will wait until next weekend to
add the next super.
Also I came across a little bit of burr comb. (honey comb
growing where it shouldn't be) One section was clearly coming straight out of
the frame almost perpendicular. Also there was what might have been a queen
sticking out of another frame. This worries me a little, but my newbee eyes
couldn't tell the difference between burr comb and a queen cell. Considering
the bees still have room in the hive and the queen is laying just fine, I don't
know why they would consider a queen cell. However maybe it is something I
don't know about yet. My internet is down right now, so when I post this I will
also post a picture of my mystery cell on the forum and see what the experts
say.
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| Wish I had this sweet Ruler/ Sign to give me advice before I burned a hole in my pants :) |
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