Chris Konopka wrote:
>
> and the last 2 frames were being worked on but not much was
> accomplished yet--however, we added a 2nd deep hive body when we were
> finished with 10 brand new frames, figuring that with such a large
> population increase, it wasn't good to leave them in just 1 box-
> -question:
> did we do the right thing or will the bees now move to the new box and
> forget about the 4 frames which need to be completed in the 1st box
>
> 2.we have noticed drone cells here and there (not many), but today
>  when we went in we noticed at the bottom of 2 or 3 frames a total
>  of 3 cells which could be the start of queen cells, but we are not
>  positive--they aren't as big as the queen cells I've seen in
>  pictures, but they are at the bottom of the frames and they are
>  somewhat bigger than drone cells--what should we do?
>
> 3.  should we have put 2 frames from the 1st box which were drawn out
>     into the second box which we added?
>
  You're doing fine and the bees are, too.
  1) Adding the second hive body:  The SE Pennsylvania honey flow is
happening now as tulip poplars and locust trees are in bloom.  In a
month, the flow will be over.
     Your bees should draw out comb in the second hive body to have a
place to store nectar. Left to themselves, they will draw the comb in
the two hive bodies to make a spherical home for the colony, only
squaring the corners as they run out of room. You can try to trick them
into drawing and filling the outside frames by switching non-brood
frames. The time to do this is during the honey flow.
***
  2) Yes, the cells at the bottom could be the beginnings of queen
cells.  Bees often build these beginning cells.  Your bees are not
likely to swarm this season. If they do make queen cells and raise new
queens, you may want to ask them why they are doing this before you cut
out those cells.
***
  3) Putting two partially-drawn-out frames into the new, second hive
body: With a honey flow happening, you do not need to do this. By the
time you read this, the bees have probably started working in the second
hive body.
***
  Bees living in Pennsylvania are programmed to build comb, raise brood,
and bring in nectar. What they are not programmed for is two kinds of
mites and queens which slowly fail in autumn. Beekeepers have to treat
for mites and should keep an eye on brood patterns in autumn.
***
  You may want to put out the word to all of your acquaintances that you
are a beekeeper. Maybe some old bee equipment will come your way and you
can start a second colony. Having more than one colony gives the
beekeeper the chance to compare colonies and provides insurance (eggs)
against the loss of a queen.
Tim
--
Tim Sterrett
[log in to unmask]
(southeastern) Pennsylvania, USA
40.0 N 75.5 W