Did a major run-down of all the hives in the yard this weekend. MY STRONG (swarm/survivor) HIVE (persephone) got SPLIT. As I suspected, a hive with this much population - didn't waist any time making some swarm cells. NOT MANY, maybe 4. (maybe the cold nights slowed them a little) TWO NICE CAPPED swarm cells went into the daughter hive....one for sure, second just in case. (I'll let them figure it out) In no time, the daughter should be up and running. Just keeping an eye on these two still wanting to swarm....and if I catch 'em - they're going right back into their box. I gave both mother and daughter some previously worked frames, but also some foundation to work....and a sugar syrup bucket (to keep their interest inside the hive?)
You know! it's beekeeping - it's ALL AN EXPERIMENT! x-ing my finger and toes.
And EOSTRE aka "NASTY HIVE". she wasn't TOO bad this time...but I soon discovered why. THEY'RE busy SUPERSEDING. This is still a really nice sized population - probably #2 in rank. I'm going to keep them as a 2.5 high all this summer (2 deeps and a super) - see if I can't build up a whopping big hive. I'm going to keep HIVE BODY SWITCHING this one. As soon as she gets to the top - i'm going to put her back on the bottom (the queen).
Every hive is ready for a population boom....LOTS of capped brood at every level. DRONE BROOD CUTS on all. (and interestingly - I have one hive that's not interested in building drone brood on the bottom of my short frame - it built regular brood cells!)
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