Schampell TBH Inspection/harvest

Checked out the inside of the Schampell TBH today.
Last night I noticed that there was a small cluster on the outside of the hive. I wondered if they were out of room. I've been seeing drones also so I wanted to get a look.

The first bar on the south end was a partially drawn out comb with nectar in it (none capped).
The next 10 bars were packed. Mostly capped brood with some eggs and larvae scattered about.
The next bar was solid pollen both sides. This ended up breaking off because the comb guide had detached from the top bar. I tried unsuccessfully to reattach it with aluminum strips and I ended up just removing  (for now)
the next 10 bars were honey - mostly capped. The last 4 were cross combed pretty bad and the last 6 were attached to a mess of comb that had fallen last year and I had left in there.

 I removed the cross combed honey bars as well as another. I removed all the comb from the bottom and sides. This leaves them with 5 bars of honey (mix capped and uncapped). I left several empty bars on the north end, spacing them between full bars to encourage straight comb building. I did the same thing on the south end with the last 2 bars in the nest area.

I did notice many, many drones throughout the hive. I did not see the queen (though I did see eggs). I also did not see any queen cells. I did see a couple of very small cups on the edge of a couple of combs.

I took 2 stings. The first from a bee that crawled up my pant leg. She didn't sting me, however, until I removed my pants to try to free her. Upon loosening my waist, she was able to proceed up and into my shirt and ended up stinging me in my left armpit. Ouch! The other sting was through the shirt on my right bicep. The second one swelled much more than the first.

I did not smoke them (perhaps I should have knowing how invasive I was planning to be. I did spray them with water after they got worked up to try to calm them down. An hour after I closed up the hive, there were still a few that would dive bomb me by the back door.

Also, now 3 hours after the inspection there are quite a lot of bees hanging on the outside of the hive (above the entrance holes). Not sure what they are doing. Many of the bars had bur comb attaching the comb to the side of the hive. This was cut with a serrated knife before removing the comb. With so many bees in the hive, I'm afraid I squished several with the knife each time I cut the bur comb. I hope I didn't injure the queen.

This hive will be moving to the Patterson farm on Wednesday.

The little colony that could

I inspected the Schampel Oscar hive today. This is a hive I didn't expect to survive the winter. They were so light going into it. These girls are the remnants of a small swarm caught late last year that were added to the stragglers from a large swarm who absconded. They didn't have much time to build up for winter. I had decided to let them give it a shot. If they make it, they make it! If not, oh well.

I have been watching them bringing in pollen. Have also noticed a bit of dysentery (brown spots all over the front of the hive). Yesterday while watching the hive entrance, I noticed a large red and yellow wasp land on the front and walk right in one of the entrance holes. I tried to squish her with by shoe but was not fast enough.

Today at lunch the weather was nice enough (at first) that I decided to open it up and have a look.
There are still 3 frames in the top box about 1/3 full of capped honey. Bottom 2 boxes are large combs hanging from top bars (measured one of them at 14 inches long). I pulled them all out for a look see.

The first thing I noticed upon removing the only 2 bars without comb on them was a large red and yellow wasp dead on the hive floor. Yes! The hive bottom needed some serious cleaning. The entrances are about half way up on the bottom box (no bottom entrance). There was about 1/4 inch of chewed up newspaper bits (from when I combined the two colonies) on the bottom. Mixed into this were dead bees, bits of chewed wax cappings and of course a large DEAD wasp.

 I Found the queen on the first brood bar. Small queen (perhaps not mated?). Also noticed what appears to be the remains of a supercedure sell. Opened up on the side. Not sure what that means. I found a small cluster of capped brood with some uncapped brood. Did not notice any drones or eggs. the total brood area was only about the size of a softball.
I cleaned up a bit of cross combing that had happened. Rather easy to do at this point as those 2 combs were empty.

I'm happy that the girls survived the winter. I'm a bit concerned with the dysentery and also the small size of the colony. I guess We'll see what the do now the the flowers have their bloom on.

Death to the wasp!

Queen

Large Comb

Crazy builders!

I knew the swarm I caught last week was big. I also knew they were busy just by observing the entrance. Interestingly they've propolized one of the entrance holes shut. I've got 3 3/4" holes on the front of the bottom box (no bottom entrance). I was amazed at how much comb they have built. 5 bars so far. About 80 percent of the length of the bar and down to the middle of the bottom box. Way cool. Never seen such huge combs. I was nervous about breaking the new comb as it was very heavy with nectar and pollen. I didn't take the time to look for the queen or even for eggs. The first 2 bars are a bit bur combed together. Also bur combed to the side. The next three are perfectly straight and not attached to the sides at all.
I had just visually spaced the 1" bars leaving a bee space between them. The ends of the hive a re a bit warped and the bars are only just long enough to reach. I wish they were 1/4" longer. It's possible they could slide 1 direction or the other and fall into the box. I guess once they propolize them in place, it won't be an issue. Happy bees. Happy beekeeper!

Dropped guide strips

I pulled out all of the top bars with strips that hadn't been glued or waxed into place and replaced them with  top bars that have strips that are glued or waxed into place.

There are 2 combs that have dropped with the guide strip (see drawing). There are 3 other combs that are still in place but that also will be drawn out more and become much heavier. The 6th bar that they had started had fallen and since it only contained pollen and nectar, I removed it. They have 5 empty bars to work with. 

The two that had fallen are filled with eggs and brood (some capped) and I don't dare remove them.

The girls are busy drawing out comb now from the top bar down to the guide strip (see drawing). Perhaps they'll connect it all together and It'll be fine. I'm worried about them attaching it to the sides. At least it's straight comb. Perhaps it won't be too bad.

Good Idea - just not thought out.

Had a chance to look into the Prazen TBH today. They are starting on the 6th bar of perfectly straight comb. Very gentle bees. Except for the one who got to close to Ibrahim and got swatted at. I had told E not to move quickly or swat. It's hard not to, even for me. The swatting pissed off the bee and she got him. Right on the ear. I felt terrible. He seemed so interested watching me pull the combs out and look at the bees.

With my experience with cross comb last year, I had made up my mind to give them some comb guides this year. I had cut strips of wood 3/4" tall 1/8" wide and about 13" long. These strips slid perfectly into the 1/8" kerfs I had sawed into the top bars. Most fit snuggly so I didn't glue them. I hadn't figured on the weight of the comb. I assumed that the bees would glue it all together with wax when they drew their comb out. As it turns out the bees are just hanging their comb on the bottom of the strip. The 2 most drawn out (and full of brood) combs have detached the strip from the top bar They had fallen into the hive and are dangling by the ends of the strip. The weight of the comb is keeping the bar straight however I'm afraid that the comb might be soon bur combed to the sides. Not sure what to do about it at this point. Thought of tying the strips back to the top bars but I don't know.

I will certainly replace all unused top bars with top bars that have had the strip secured with wood glue or bees wax. I finely grated some wax and put the grated wax on the joint between the top bar and the strip of wood. Using a lighter I was able to melt the grated wax until it ran down the seem hopefully securing the two together.

As I had seen both eggs and capped brood, I removed the queen "includer".

Peczuh TBH cleanup

I had moved the TBH from the Peczuh farm to my house to clean it up. If I can get another swarm, I'll put it back out there. I've seen several scouts checking it out in the last couple days in the back yard. I took 2 bars of empty comb (relatively straight) and placed it in my bait/swarm catching hive. I cleaned up the rest of the comb leaving 4 semi straight comb and removing the rest to be melted down. Some of the comb had starved bees in them that I didn't want to mess with removing. Those combs were chucked. Cell size on most cells was 5mm (5 cells to an inch). The bees were still soft and pliable. They hadn't dried out (do bees get rigormortis?) yet. This makes me think that they had only just starved. I might have been able to save them even a week or two ago if I had known they were out of stores. Dead mites on the bottom board. A bit of mold on the bottom board also but none anywhere else in the hive. I've left 4 frames of comb and divided the hive into 2 separate spaces (2 combs in each). Going to leave it in the yard and use it as a bait hive for now.

Update Schampel TBH

Time: 7:00 pm

Weather: perfect

Checked in on the hive this evening. The staples holding the plastic roof to the frame were coming out. Reattached it with 2 screws in each corner and by retapping the staples in place. The wind has been rather nasty lately (lost shingles off the garage too).

This hive is full!!! Also heavily propolised. She was glued together good. Even the follower boards were propolised in place.

On my last visit I had added 3 bars to the north end. This was the end that had the straightest comb so I thought I'd let them build out this way to encourage further straight comb. Wrong. On the 3 new bars they have drawn out comb at almost 90 degrees from the bars (and the rest of the comb). Decided not to break it all up at this point. I will have to address it later in the fall when it cools down or maybe in the spring so I can see how much they needed for winter and take the rest. I think it's all honey but I'm not sure as I wasn't able to get into it really.

The curved comb at the south end was very thick and full. I didn't measure it but I'm guessing it was at least 2 inches at the top. Mostly capped too. I added 5 bars on the south end to give them room to grow. Since its all going to be honey and will be removed in the spring, I'm not overly concerned with the curve of it. When I take the honey out in the spring, I'll replace the bars with some that have better guides for comb building.

Very docile bees. I love this hive. It's my favorite to work. Jaden was right there with me with bees flying in and out (before I opened it up. Tylor and John (renter) got right in the thick of it with me (no protection whatsover). We all got a good finger full of fresh honey that was exposed when I separated the bars on the south end.

TBH comb guide

Time: 5:00
Temp: 90ish - breezy

Midnight bees (Peczuh farm)
The girls have started out slightly cross combing. 7 combs so far. Each starting in the center of one bar and finishing in the center of the next. I had bent the southern most comb in and smashed the follower board up against it on my last visit. They have allready started cleaning up the comb - removing parts of it to give themselves their required "bee space" at the end. The last bar on the north side is only about half drawn out. I have 3 empty bars on this end of the hive for them to build on (all with wooden waxed guides). I inserted a "divider" between the last partial comb and the blank bars to encourage straight comb. The "divider" is a sheet of aluminum cut to the size of the top bar and hanging about 4 inches into the hive. Hopefully this forces them to build on the next bar straight (even if it causes them to not completely draw out comb 7). I had read about an idea like this on biobees.com forum but I can't find the thread just now.

We'll see how it goes.

midnight bees TBH inspection

Time: 5:30
Temperature: 90 ish slightly breezy.

Very calm bees. Have built 7 combs now (in just a week and a half). All combs gently cross from the center of one bar to the center of the next. Straightened out one of the end bars (flush with follower board). Removed all empty bars on the south end. Added bars with guides to the north end. Found the queen (actually tylor did). Lots of larva and eggs, all 7 combs had pollen and nectar. Left 3 empty bars (with guides) on the north end.

I love it when a plan comes together

Time: 12:30 pm

Weather: very slight breeze - mid 70s

I decided I needed to look at the back (north - right side really) of the hive to see what was going on there. They had also done just what I hoped for here. They had skipped the spacer and built their next comb in the center of the following (last) top board. They now have 7 bars of comb. Lots of Brood. I even found some drone brood. I found the queen. Got to watch her laying eggs. It's a blurry picture, but you can see her towards the top. I added another top bar to this end. With the 3 empty bars on the left (south) side, they now have 4 empty bars to build on.

20 Day inspection

Time: 2:00 pm

Weather: sunny - no wind - mid 70s

Did a quick inspection today (mostly just to show the girls off to my sister, Amy). Decided to remove a couple bars to see how they were building their comb. They had done exactly as I had hoped. They had skipped over the half-width bar and built comb directly in the middle of the next bar. They had even started a small comb in the middle of the bar next to that. I didn't pull the bar in the back to see how there were doing there. The second bar had larva, pollen and honey. The third bar was mostly capped brood (very exciting).

I've been reading lots of posts on the biobees.com forum. Many suggested putting 1 inch (or so) strips of foundation into the top bar kerfs for the bees to use as guides for building their comb. Others us popsicle sticks or other strips of wood and coat them with wax. I've cut down a bunch of wooden strips for this purpose but have not had the time to install them.

The red lines represent where the girls had drawn out comb. The green lines represent where I had hoped they would draw out comb (and I was right).

Top Bar Day 5

Time: 10:00 - 11:00 AM

Weather: partly cloudy with a slight breeze - mid 50's.

Well, my top bar hive (Schampel TBH) has been set up and with bees for 5 days now. The queen was still in her cage so it was time to release her. The hive is built with a screened bottom that has a sliding wooden bottom beneath that can open or close from the outside depending on how cold it is. I'm nervous about leaving the bottom wide open when it's still cold at night so it's been mostly closed all week. I've opened it a few times at night to shine my light up inside and see what's going on (ok - I've done it every night - sometimes twice). They've been very active all week as the weather has been nice. I've seen them coming back in with pollen also.

Upon first opening the hive this morning I was surprised to find that some of the top boards were stuck together. I figured the girls had propolized them together and didn't think much about it. But as I slowly pried them apart, it became obvious that the comb had crossed over more than 1 top bar.

I was able to pull out 3 different bars with comb built up (or down) about 5 inches wide and 6 inches long. I was amazed at the amount of comb already produced in only 5 days. Wow! They were filling the cells up with honey and pollen already too.

When I had built the top bars, I cut a groove down the center of each bar about 1/16 inch deep and filled it with bees wax to give the bees a starting point for drawing out their comb. At least that was the idea. Well, they had their own idea. They completely ignored the wax strips and used the edge of the top boards as a guide for starting their comb. This is going to be a problem as the comb is now attached to 2 top boards (actually centered between the 2). I ended up causing the collapse of one of the comb. I wasn't sure what to do with it so I removed it altogether.

In hopes to get them back on track, without destroying all of their hard work, I cut one of my top bars in half to use as a spacer. My top bars are 1 3/8 inches wide. I put the 2 bars with comb attached to one side of the hive and next to the 2 bars, placed the half bar. My thinking is that when the bees move over to build their next comb (if they use the same spacing), they'll end up drawing comb in the center of the next top bar. I'll let them proceed this way for a while and will eventually remove the 2 bars with misplaced comb. We'll see how it works.

The queen is in there and loose now, so I'll be getting back in next week to see if I can find any eggs or larvae and to check to see if they're drawing out their comb where I want it.

Here's a video I captured right be fore I closed her back up.