My Easter inspection please advise. Ty

[saltybluegrass]

I?m going to inspect my 3 hives this weekend- I would like some input - today I post entrance videos . Tomorrow and maybe Sunday,  I?ll crack them open. Let?s have some fun with the new guy!!
This video is the dropped comb last inspection. It had an emergency q cell capped. It is from a hot tub cutout with tons of food. https://youtu.be/alcAcDqIVVQ

The next one was a cutout from under a neighbors landscape rock with only 3-4 small combs.
https://youtu.be/jXfrNOaWlQk
These hives are one month old and named after my cousins
The third one is a China flow hive that may need the flow super added after I post the inspection.
https://youtu.be/Skx7lTScFqs

I just ask for passing first thoughts as I included yard shots to receive any placement comments as well.
Thank you 

[van from Arkansas]

Salty, your bees look happy healthy,,, just going about business as usual.  The guards paid you no attention which is a good sign to me.  As far as placement, I don?t know regulations in your area; some areas such as mine have a 15 feet away for property line.  If you are referring to direction of hive entrance when you ask about placement, I look for my hive entrances to face the sun.  In your warm area, south facing may not be a concern,  so a Florida beek can advise you better than I.

I like your plastic hives.  All hives nicely arranged, clean, manicured lawn, beautiful houses,, looks very nice.  Are those plastic hives compatible with std langstrof hive bodies and frames?

Hives named after your cousins???? Are cousins sweet as honey?
Cheers.

[saltybluegrass]

Maybe sawdust can comment on the property line but I received no word or written rules when I applied and spoke to the state people.
These are Apimaye hives from Turkey and indeed measured equal to common langstroth dimensions. Removable Pollen catchers - slide out perforated bottom boards - dividers top feeders for liquids or
Solids-
They seemed to be no muss no fuss for a beginner.
My cousins are twins and as children , we spent summers on my great aunt, their grandmothers farm tending horses chickens ducks rabbits one ornery goat and yes, bees. Thanks!!

[BeeMaster2]

That 6 foot solid fence makes it so that you can put your hives right up against your property line and bee following the BMP.
Jim Altmiller

[TheHoneyPump]

With respect to inspections.  Have a definite purpose for the inspection, or else leave the bees alone. 

For inspection, follow the standard. 
- Look for brood of all stages, eggs larvae capped.
- look for dense uniform brood pattern
- look for signs of brood disease(s)
- look for swarm cells, look for supercedure cells
- look for adequate space (boxes) to control swarming tendencies

[saltybluegrass]

Thanks HP- I wrote this in my book -
Jim - about the a holes neighbor chain link? Distance to that?

[BeeMaster2]

Even a chain link fence acts as a barrier, not perfect, most of the bees will fly over it but not all. If they are facing away from the fence they will probably all go over it. I used to keep my bees in a chain link fence to protect them from my bull and I watched them for hours.
With out a fence, the hive is supposed to bee 15 feet from the property line. A bush or a single section of fence will do the job. The idea of the fence is to force the bees to go above head level before leaving your property.
Jim Altmiller

[saltybluegrass]

I really enjoy standing away from the hive but watching the sky and see them appear out of nowhere flying into my field of vision

[Acebird]

Is there an entrance option that allows for more bees in the hive?

[saltybluegrass]

Is there an entrance option that allows for more bees in the hive?

Brian, there are 2 sliding ?doors? that open one to 6 holes on each side

Here is my month old that started as a 5 frame nuc. The first frame was previously drawn from other failed nuc. I replaced that second  neglected frame with a drawn wax from the previous failed nuc. So there are 2 that haven?t received work.
What is anyone?s thoughts here?
 https://youtu.be/vjep-GONryg

[BeeMaster2]

Salty,
Hive looks healthy.
There is almost no smoke coming out of your smoker. I suspect that it is loosely packed. After you get it lit roll your material as tight as you can and keep adding it until you can?t. Puff it while packing.
Jim Altmiller

[saltybluegrass]

This is a cutout from under a landscape rock with some drawn comb placed in top super.
Please advise as I see brood in top box
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6YHDud3-rg

[saltybluegrass]

Salty,
Hive looks healthy.
There is almost no smoke coming out of your smoker. I suspect that it is loosely packed. After you get it lit roll your material as tight as you can and keep adding it until you can?t. Puff it while packing.
Jim Altmiller

Jim - you don?t see a problem with empty frames being the flow is on and these are a month old or does it take a while? The way people talk here makes me think all frames should be worked by now.
Also when do I super?

[BeeMaster2]

Salty
I see a good brood pattern. I see wax being built. I see lots of bees. They are not really for a super. If you have a good flow on, check them in 10 days. It is possible that there is not enough wax on some of those plasticell frames. Looked like they were building above the plastic on one side of one of them. Then I saw another one that wax being drawn out perfectly. If they are all brand new from the same source, they should be ok.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

Brian, there are 2 sliding ?doors? that open one to 6 holes on each side

Adequate for a nuc but not a production hive.
Your camera is too close to see what you are doing and your smoker is out making it useless.  With a small hive they tend not to get aggressive but if it was a production hive you might be covered in bees.  First thing is to master the smoker and then the bees.

[Acebird]

Also when do I super?

When there is a solid cap of honey above the brood.

[saltybluegrass]

Thank you all very much.
Brian I read or saw a video where the guy always signs off with /Keep you smokers cool/
I know how to make smoke and did so on the hot tub cut out. Is the smoke supposed to keep the bees low in the box or just from getting on me? I don?t mind them on me as these hives are pretty gentle. I also understand it makes them eat honey and stay calm. Thanks 

[BeeMaster2]

Salty,
If you smoke them and wait 10 minutes and smoke them again and wait 30 seconds, it puts them in swarm mode. They fill their stomachs with honey in case they have to leave. The smoke also disrupts their communication so that that cannot react to your disturbing them as one unit.
Jim Altmiller

[Acebird]

Brian I read or saw a video where the guy always signs off with /Keep you smokers cool/

The denser the smoke the more likely it is cool.  What it does is keep the hive from going kamikaze.  And that is not 100% so you have to be aware when they are planning the attack.

[Michael Bush]

>The denser the smoke the more likely it is cool.

I had not thought to point that out before... yes.  The denser the smoke the more likely it is cool.