Afternoon all
My first study block complete and im home again!
It has been raining up here all year, so i didnt really know what to expect on todays inspection. The fellow beek keeping an eye on things for me did an inspection about 4 weeks back and they had plenty of stores in my two strong hives back then.
My walk away split back in January (if you remember ) failed raising a queen (we were wrong). So i ordered one....fellow beek put her in and 4 days later the hive swarmed.
I was happy to find that that hive today is queen right and with a big fat golden marked queen laying eggs before my very eyes. Beautiful to see. So that hive accepted her and swarmed with a young one of there own which is odd.
Anyway all my 3 hives a great! We have had sun for 3 days now, still having showers though but its all good. The girls are bringing in nectar from various sources. One super is half way there capped from earlier, and a third of the super has fresh nectar. I expect a small harvest in a few weeks before i head back to school again.
Too many beetles though. None in any of the brood boxes but killed 50 odd in the supers. Will up the trapping.
Im still dreading next swarm season...the girls have cups on standby just to remind me of their plans!!! I believe its pointless tearing them down. There is nothing in them, 4 or 5 in each of my strong hives. Am i right leaving them?
Im always reading your posts and learning....great to be home.
Rgds
Adam