🔎 First Inspection 2022

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It was just warm enough and sunny, Greensboro Weather (2/19/22), the wind was a little much, but we made do, or at least the bees did. All the hives look great with the exception of Hive 25, this one is a little weak looking. They all have 4-6 frames of brood in all stages, placed in the bottom box. We saw queens in all the boxes, except for Hive 25 which makes it even more suspect. We currently have (6) 8F hives on main benches double deeps with new boxes on the bottom. All have new bottom boards and lids, again with the exception of Hive 25. Those are being used for the second-grade presentations. We also have (1) double 5F nuc set on the pallet to be sold. All hives received a full jar of 1:1 syrup with spirulina.


Going forward:

  • Run with (4) Production Hives. Only.

  • Split in 2-3 weeks, using double screen board and triple deeps. Use Bob Binnie's system: Splitting Using a Double Screen Board as a reference, https://youtu.be/Z62UwOLfdMo.

  • Incorporate the OTS & Demaree Method in this as well.


Stand 1

Stand 2

11

13

15

21

22

24

25

Pleasantly surprised, we thought this hive was weak, but she is turning over the nest well. 5F of brood all stages. Light on stores. Saw queen.

Transferred to an 8F hive. 4F of brood all stages, with a couple of slabs. Light on stores. Saw Queen.

Strong hive. 5F of brood all stages. Light on stores. Saw Queen.

Strong hive, no worse for wear of having the tree branch fall on them, 🐝 Storm Damage. 5F of brood all stages. Light on stores. Saw Queen.

Strong hive, no worse for wear of having the tree branch fall on them, 🐝 Storm Damage. 5F of brood all stages. Light on stores. Saw Queen. Moved to an 8F box, and now is Hive 23.

Strong hive, no worse for wear of having the tree branch fall on them, 🐝 Storm Damage. 5F of brood all stages. Light on stores. Saw Queen. Moved off the bench and to a pallet for disposition, kept in double 5F nuc. (Hive 24 is no more).

Weak hive, did not see the queen. Built a ton of brace comb in feeder shim and laid it up, mostly drone. 3F of brood all stages. Placed queen excluder between deeps to help with finding her next week with a follow-up inspection.
Location: Colfax, NC, USA

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