Wow. I have a lot of bees! My hives look like it's August. I"m not used to my bees living through the winter I guess. It feels like I should be doing a split. I will check with others in the area before that but it won't be today anyway.
Later today I will add sugar syrup to a top hive feeder. Most of the sugar I put in there a few weeks ago was sitting at the bottom. I don't expect to add straight sugar again this spring but when I do, I'll put it on a plate so it doesn't fall through. I had put it on paper; they ate the paper; sugar fell below.
There seems to still be enough honey in there too because the lower deep was heavy. I didn't inspect every frame. Some were really stuck and broke apart. I will be ready with new frames when I inspect again and will plan on a split then too.
- I have a queen. I saw brood in the upper deep.
- They're bringing in pollen! A neighbor alerted me that they were all over his heather. I went to see and there were many bees in that patch. All mine I think.
- There is an unfilled super on there so if they need space, they can use that.
- Also added a few empty frames to the deeps in case needed.
- added sticky board and will check that in 3 days.
I did see three cells at the bottom of a frame. (are they queen cells or swarm cells?) They weren't peanut shaped so they were something else or in progress. Will check them again.
