On Mon, 3 Apr 1995, Kelley Rosenlund 904-392-5551 wrote:
 
> Hello,
>         Got into Clarence (the Hive) this Saturday. Put in two new frames(I
> bought 8 frame's worth of hive & put in a 10 frame super), queen excluder,
> new super up top for my first batch of honey. Had my nephew & a friend over
> to watch so I ended up not using a veil[yikes!!]. Only got a mild sting on
> my finger. Many more questions, bear with me, the books I hhave read do not
> answer everything.
Well done.  I am sure there will be many replies to your message and here
is one opinion.  My climate in Northern Alberta is far different from
yours so keep this in mind.  By the way - after a few days above feezing
at night it droppped to -10 degrees C. and daytime highs will be below
freezing. I was planning on unwrapping bees this week - guess not!
 
>
> 1. What is the longest time to keep the hive open? The temp was in the mid
> 60's. I looked and looked for the queen but could not find her and the bees
> were getting a little nervous (OK, I was the nervous one), so I closed the
> hive up before I got to look at every frame. I must have had it open over
> an hour.
I you are gentle and don't stir up the bees I see nothing wrong with
this.  If the hive is on the stand and the entrance is available the bees
will go about their chores anyway.
 
>
> 2. I went into it again Sunday ( by the way, as per the smoker discussion I
> use pine needles and YES it does tar up the pot a lot) and went through
> each frame. Could not find the Queen. I saw larva in various stages and saw
> eggs and I saw capped brood. Somewhere I read that if the queen dies that a
> worker will start laying eggs but the brood will be all male. Is it a drone
> or a regular size worker that is a male?
>
I very seldom look for a Queen.  If I see one what do I know? - that
there is a queen in the hive.  That information is of little use.
 
However, if I examine the brood in all stages I know:
        - is there someone laying eggs and how many
        - what is the relation between the quantity brood at different
            states? - this is a clue to past history.
        - if the brood is all or nearly all drones I know that
                someone(Queen or otherwise) is a drone layer
Laying workers - yes it happens and when it does:
        - eggs often along sides of cell rather than end.
        - often many (dozens) of eggs in one cell
        - if allowed to develop - only drones are produced.
        - laying patters is very ragged.
 
> 3. I am starting to see the logic of nine vs 10 frames. What a job pulling
> some of those babies out. also there is one frame ( on the east side of
> hive) that is a plastic foundation and it has nothing on it but a couple
> clumps of wax. Could it be the plastic? Could it be its location? The frame
> above it has wax in it.
>
Pull out the 1st of 2nd frame from any edge first.  Do not replace it
until you are ready to close up.  Now additional frames can be moved
sideways and removed easily.
 
Put that plastic frame in centre of brood nest and see what happens.  Bet
they draw it out quickly.
 
> 4. There are a lot of frames that have old black comb that is misshaped and
> hard. I am thinking of starting to swap it out and let the bees start
> a-new. Comments?
>
If there are lots of drone cells why not use it for honey storage.
 
> 5. I placed a new super on top Saturday but there were almost no bees in it
> on Sunday. I got another body and put it on top of the new super and put my
> entrance feeder in there in hopes that it would lure the bees through the
> empty super. Any other ideas? I know it is a good practice to put a full
> super above the new one but I want to keep the new super as honey only.
>
You may be too impatient or they may simply not be ready for a new
super.  Bye the way does 'new' mean new foundation?  If you lift a frame
of brood up to the 'new' super you will likely get bees up there very
quickly.
 
> 6. How much smoke is still the big question? I am really trying not to were
> gloves so I can be gentle but I really want to minimize the getting stung
> part.( I have very sensitive skin...:))
>
Enough to do the job.  If they become agitated or agressive you are
either using too much or too litt.e - some help eh!  I find a little
smoke frequently works best.  Equally important - be gentle.
 
 
Eric Abell
Gibbons, Alberta
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