bees - first inspection of the South hive

[joebelknapwall]

Hived a package of bees last week, let 'em settle for a bit, and went in this evening for my first inspection to see how they're doing.


The hive. It's nice and utilitarian.


Bees at the entry holes to the hive.


First bar pulled in the inspection—they've drawn a beautiful bit of comb for a week's work.


I'd planned to remove the queen cage, but the bees have been so busy and built such perfectly straight comb around the cage, I'm just going to leave it in place. They'll probably entomb it in propolis, but that's okay.

The queen's been released, and the hive sounds right, so all is good with the hive.


This is one of the pieces of comb I borrowed from the North hive, and they've been stocking it with honey and extending the comb around the edges.

Busy, busy!


Here's a freshly-drawn bit of comb, just as they're getting started. How can anyone be afraid of anything as amazing as honeybees?


Always a bit of a struggle to get the top bars settled and closed—they just love to keep on sneaking out to keep an eye on the big guy who's mucking about in their hive. Got 'em closed in, and they're all snug for the night.

Bzz!

Comments

[mondragon.livejournal.com]

Are you familiar with that series that ran a long time ago in the New Yorker about a woman who left the city for the country and kept bees? It was amazing writing....

[snidegrrl.livejournal.com]

Yay! Go bees!

[mamoosh.livejournal.com]

Yay! Nice, straight combs in just a week! Excellent work, ladies!

I'm envious. My partner forbids me a hive because I'm deathly allergic to stings, and due to our laziness factor, which is pretty high.

[houseboatonstyx.livejournal.com]

Looks like a nice bench. Ouch!

[changeling72.livejournal.com]

Looks great!

[restoman.livejournal.com]

Cool!!!

Thanks for giving us a glimpse into the mysterious world of beekeeping!

[fivecats.livejournal.com]

i'm extremely jealous. i have a hive still sitting in the house because i'm short of funds for bees and the safety equipment for handling the hives once they've been populated.

your bees look healthy, their comb-building looks great.

here in NC there's a state (or county) paid person whose job it is to inspect and give advice on bee hives. it's a great free (taxpayer paid) resource -- they're likely to have one in your area, too.

...

[albear-garni.livejournal.com]

Wow - you are doing a great service to keep the bee population growing! I'm always surprised out here in northern California, when I hear and see bees doing their thing. Are you going to harvest honey?

[quothautodidact.livejournal.com]

All is fine here with the North Hive as well, lacking nothing but the beautiful sountrack.