jim, they were capped wednesday, i thought they capped on day 8. i had about 50 percent success (i suspect the frost tuesday and poor larvae selection cost me a few).
ray, i had planned on starting a few weeks earlier but cold, rain and late blooming has held me back. I don't have a shortage of drones by any stretch of the imagination.
i don't know if i ever remember seeing so many drones in every hive. that and the series of two pound swarms (kind of small in my opinion) makes me think the bees are predicting a bumper crop.
sure looks like everything is going to bloom at one time and i'm not sure if that's good or bad. maybe privet will come in late and last into june.