Two hives - both different?

[Janemma]

I installed two hives on Saturday and both are very different already - is this normal?  I know they say to have at least two for comparisons so I'm assuming this is ok but thought I'd ask just to reassure myself and stop myself being tempted to open the hives (OMG it's so hard to resist!!)

One hive is VERY active - bees coming and going - lots on the porch....lots flying about outside (well, lots as in about thirty at a time.....lol).  The other hive is soooooo quite - the odd bee comes outside to do a little housekeeping but thats about it - syrup is being eaten just as much sa the other hive so I am assuming the bees are fine inside or the syrup would not be going down - but not much action on the porch - just quiet hive.  Two very different hives.  Same bees from same place.  Both Queens were fine when installed - Installation went really well...everything else went well.  Weather is good - although no pollen in area yet so pollen patty is used and syrup.

Just wanted to be reassured that two different hives is normal....and bees are ok.  I will check the Queens are released Wednesday (or would Tuesday be better???)  Both hives are on undrawn pierco frames which I added lots of extra wax to and lots of syrup......

Thank you :) 

[bassman1977]

Make sure the queen is present in the slow hive.  My experiences are that hives acting this way mean there is no queen, but that's not fool proof.  I would start there.  If she's not there, then get some eggs from the other hive and they can raise a new queen or purchase a new one.

[Janemma]

Urgh that was my first worry :(  So should I check inside today - is it ok to go into the hive earlier than planned and risk upsetting the hive early?  Would that be better than waiting until tomorrow or Wednesday? 

[mgates61]

One hive is VERY active - bees coming and going - lots on the porch....lots flying about outside (well, lots as in about thirty at a time.....lol).  The other hive is soooooo quite - the odd bee comes outside to do a little housekeeping but thats about it - syrup is being eaten just as much sa the other hive so I am assuming the bees are fine inside or the syrup would not be going down - but not much action on the porch - just quiet hive.

I installed my 2 packages on May 1st.  I had the exact same results as you are describing.  One very active, one quiet as can bee.  Yesterday I made my first full blown inspection.  I was able to find the queen in the "slow" hive.  Both hives had lots of nector and pollen.  Also both had lots of tightly grouped eggs. 

Although I am a newbee, I would not worry to much.    Hope to hear more from the gurus.


Mike

[bassman1977]

Urgh that was my first worry   So should I check inside today - is it ok to go into the hive earlier than planned and risk upsetting the hive early?

How's the weather?  If it's nice, go for it.  If not, anything good coming soon?  I think there's more of a disruption having a queenless hive than going in "unplanned".  The bees don't have watches afterall...you could have been in there 3 months ago for all they know.   ;)

[poka-bee]

My 2 did the same thing.  When I checked the tue after installing both queens had been released.  When I checked a week later the quiet hive had more wax drawn out but less pollen in the cells. Last week they were both pretty much the same, with different housing configurations & patterns.  Now both are equally busy coming & going.  Will check today if it gets warmer to see if I'm a Gran-ma-bee! 8-) It is so interesting to see the different personalaties!  Dont worry, be happy!! :-D Jody

[derrick1p1]

If you are questioning if a hive might be queenless, I would check it despite your schedule (weather permitting of course).  I was worried I had a queenless hive as a result of their behavior on the landing board/foraging but I waited.  I wish I had checked sooner.  However, if they are taking the syrup, this is a good sign though.

Good luck,
derrick

[Moonshae]

Whether or not you have a queenless hive, you see the advantage of having two. If you only had the one, you would not have had anything to compare it against and would have thought it to be normal. If you do have a problem, you're ahead of the game now.

[Janemma]

I definitely see the benefit of having two now!!!  For sure!

And I also see the difference a few hours makes!  I took my Daughter into town for a drama class and came back ready to have a look into the hive - when I went down to where the hives were, BOTH hives were active - I couldn't believe the difference in the quiet hive - instead of just one bee hovering about in the entrance, it was as active as it's neighbour hive!

I have popped down there a few times since and feel reassured that both hives are now doing well.  I'll wait until Wednesday and do my check to see that the Queens are released but I'm pretty happy now that things are going well.

Thanks everyone for putting up with this newbie and her panicking!

[bassman1977]

Cool!   :)

[misfyredOhio]

I have 2 hives this year (2nd year). It is fascinating to compare the differences. My Italians are much more active around the entrance than the Russians. The Russians are calm and they are organized when they land and take off: almost like they are taking turns. This hive is thriving (after inspecting them). The Italians have had a rough start: lost the queen and they are in the process of replacing her (see queen cells). That's probably why they're especially unpleasant.

Anyway, I'm really enjoying having two hives. I spend hours watching them! This is so cool!

[Two Bees]

I installed two packages 23 days ago and from the moment that I walked away from the hives, I could tell there was a difference.

One hive was quiet (like you described) and the other was very busy.  Activity from the quiet hive but significantly less than the "busy" hive.  When I inspect the hives, everything appears to be fine with eggs, larvae, and brood in both.  Both hives were drawing the comb out equally until this past week.  I noticed that the quiet hive had drawn 9-9 1/2 frames out (busy hive about 8 frames) and had used twice as much of the 1:1 syrup than the busy hive.  I'm using gallon jars over the center hole in the inner cover.

Soooo.............I wouldn't worry.  Based upon my observations, the quiet hive has just been busier inside of the hive instead of goofing off outside of the hive!  Just my rookie thoughts!

[Barbara]

We got two 5 frame nucs from one beekeeper, both put together at the same time with queens from the same shipment, and one of the hives seems to be about 2 weeks behind the other in building out additional frames.  There was plenty of capped brood when we got them, and the queens look identical with their little red dots. But for some reason one is slower than the other, probably just more laid back  :-D  Both hives have very gentle bees. 

[Brian D. Bray]

We got two 5 frame nucs from one beekeeper, both put together at the same time with queens from the same shipment, and one of the hives seems to be about 2 weeks behind the other in building out additional frames.  There was plenty of capped brood when we got them, and the queens look identical with their little red dots. But for some reason one is slower than the other, probably just more laid back  :-D  Both hives have very gentle bees. 

That is normal and a good reason to have more than one hive.  Swapping brood frames between hives can equaliberalize the hives.