Hive Inspection

Today marked my first real opportunity to check on the hives after introducing the queens. Thanks to a chilly snap and a few blustery days, I finally managed to take a gander at the frames. The east hive appears to be thriving, with plenty of larvae on display. I had a bit of a detective moment trying to spot any eggs, and no sign of the queen either. However, after reviewing the photos I snapped, I think I might have spied some potential eggs on a few frames — unless they were just optical illusions or sneaky shadows. Fingers crossed for better luck in the next round of inspections! They do have several frames filled with brood, pollen, and honey, so that’s a win.

As for the west hive, I hit the jackpot — I found both eggs and the queen! The frames showed similar activity as the east hive, but for some reason, I had a much easier time spotting the eggs here. Perhaps the sun decided to play nice and shine at a perfect angle.

I brought out second brood boxes, but they don’t seem quite ready to take the plunge. They’ve got a few frames of last year’s comb that are still empty, and some frames waiting to be constructed. I’d estimate they’re at around the 50-60% mark, and I’ve heard it’s best to wait until they’re past the 70% threshold before adding more space. I guess patience is a virtue in beekeeping!

To sweeten the deal, I topped up the sugar water in each feeder to keep the energy flowing for the hives. I even tossed in some Bountiful Bees Brood Booster — think of it as a protein shake for bees — to aid their growth.

The bees were in a good mood; only one bee in each hive seemed a bit cranky, and it didn’t last long. The sugar syrup appeared to have vanished in both hives, making my timing to replenish it spot on. All in all, it was a successful day in the world of buzzing little creatures!