7/26 added drawn frame or two to the hive

I went through the hive yesterday and worried I didn't see any brood. However today I saw some  Not a lot but some.

Yesterday, I had added empty, undrawn frames to give the packed hive more space and added another deep.  But I worried that, IF there's a queen in there, she needs space now. 

I had a few frames in the freezer that are kind of old but at least they were already drawn out so I added it to the new deep where I saw another frame or two with some uncapped brood. I'm hoping it's not a drone brood.  We'll see.  At least I'll know I gave them room to grow.

I did see some queen cells that look empty.  I also saw a lot of craziness around the hive a week or two ago and a youtube video showed similar activity when a queen was heading out for her mating run.  That could be what was happening.  Time will tell

Hive check heavy with nectar but no real brood

I'm not sure I have a queen anymore.  I have a lot of bees right now, and a lot of honey and nectar.   In fact, the second deep was way too heavy for me to lift so I removed all but three frames from there to move it.  Then I decided to add a third deep since there was so little room in the second.  They haven't made much headway in the super I added but I also added that to the top.  Right now, I just wanted to give them room to grow....hoping there is a queen somewhere that I may have missed.

I saw very little brood, but did see some eggs on a few frames. I also saw some empty cells with black dot in them.   I wonder if they were mites.  I just fear that I could be drone heavy again.  I'm not sure.

But I did what I could for now as I'm heading to vacation and won't have time to deal with anything more than what I did today.  I checked all boxes and all frames today and cleaned out any comb not needed.

When I get back in a week or so, I plan to do a mite check and an oxalic acid treatment if needed then. I am not going to get a queen.  Seems to me the norm of the life of a queen should last more than 2 months!

Hive check 7/4/19

The bottom deep was pretty empty...much lighter than I expected.  But it is because all that brood is now hatched so I have a lot more bees flying around.  The queen is busy laying eggs and the pollen is so  varied and pretty in the cells.

I was going to add a super today but decided to wait until the next hive check.  They still have room now in the lower deep and about 3 frames in the upper deep so I added more sugar syrup instead so they can build out the few remaining foundations.  I didn't have a lot of comb on the frames this year so they've needed to put in some extra effort.  They seem to be thriving at the moment.

Dare I speak too soon?

I also added another sticky board which I will check on Sunday and do a mite count. Trying to get in the habit of doing it, even though I read that once a month is enough. Can't hurt though since there's no disruption to the bees.

I took this photo the other day when it was just slightly beyond its peak but it will be loaded with Elderberries in August.  I want to get them before the birds do. Will need to be diligent in watching for the perfect time to pick.

Mama and baby elderberry bushes.  I think I will move baby to another part of the yard that needs a focal point.

Looking from the hive area to the back yard and see some of the vegetable garden (with a few flowers around too)

Happy Independence day!