One fallen thus crushed hive and one that didn't survive the move out of the kitchen cupboard
But the two remaining are still going - one "the Grass" hive is powering on, the "Fence Post" hive slowly slowly going
The son and his partner arrived for a visit over the new year break
Brad and Alanna did the usual tourist type things - but Alanna after reading my blog wanted to get at the bees herself
So we suited up and inspected the two hive
We set up the smoker and puffed away at the first hive
Opening up the hive always is high in expectation (and fear!) of what will be found - or not found! This is always a quiet hive - so I always fear nothing will be in it when I inspect it!
After the first bar is removed from the rear part of the hive and that first bit of new comb is seen - the fears and expectation settles.
We didn't find any honey stores or pollen - so the substitute feeding will need to continue
We found plenty of brood at all stages from eggs to hatching nymphs
Plenty of comb being made with most of the bars of this smaller
The front four bars were full combs to the maximum size available and had while not perfect - had good coverage of brood with only a few missing holes - i.e the queen is really doing her job well
Might be time to shift this Post hive into a larger hive
We also found the queen - and just in case you are worried I am not stabbing it - just pointing it out
We found a little cross comb but it was pushed back into shape and should be sorted
So although a slowly growing hive - it is still growing - woooohooo!
Now to the Grass Hive
This hive has three-quarter filled its 120cm length
Didn't find the queen but heaps of brood
But here too no stores of honey or pollen
We did notice a few arriving bees had pollen attached to legs - so some food coming in
See video below for a bit more on the Grass Hive inspection
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