Brood!

Well a second inspection this weekend has yielded my first sight of brood this year!  In the so called "weak" hive as well!  Perhaps this hive isn't so weak afterall.  Actually the differences between the hives has been interesting to see. 

I opened my "strong" hive to do a bit of reorganization and consolidation today.  I eneded up "reversing" the super and placing this at the bottom of the hive, and leaving the deep with the cluster above it.  The second deep I removed entirely.  I did however move some of the stores about the hive too. The deep with the cluster now contains a lot more stores as well as two empty frames of comb adjacent to the cluster.  I hope now the bees will not have to look too far for supplies and can start to lay brood this week. The pollen patty I added a week ago has been partially eaten but I added another half a patty to keep them going.  I removed the sugar mush as they just don't seem to want this.  I think they have enough honey for the moment and I don't need to worry about them running out.

When I opened the "strong" hive it was very noticeable how many dead bees were lying on the screned bottom board. I couldn't actually see the screen! But they seemed in otherwise good health.  Maybe this was why the top entrance was being so well used.  By comparison there were no dead bees on the bottom of the "weak" hive, so maybe the queen in this one this is actually very hygenic and her workers fastidious! The queens are from difference sources and it is interesting to note that my "weak" queen pulled a nearly collapsed hive through a very nasty SHB infestation.  She's a good 'un I reckon!.

Anyway, I moved a couple of frames of honey from the "strong" hive to the called "weak" hive, just to increase their reserves, but as I said the weak one is fine have now started to raise some brood. The queen must have started laying last week as there is some capped brood now visible.  The pollen coming in from the willow and maple trees may well be giving the bees a little boost towards brood rearing and this may be why the pollen patty on this hive has only been partially eaten. Nevertheless, I added an additional half a patty for good measure. I can always take this off next week, or whenever I manage to get back in again.

Overall the hives look in good shape and I'm happy.  I hope I will be able to make another inspection next week.