Take the cork out of the candy end, the workers in the hive will eat the candy to release the Queen. The “candy” is just 50/50 water and powdered sugar. This colony of bees is just getting started, I need to make sure there is a productive Queen inside.
Light puffs of smoke, then wait a few moments before going into the hive. You should never be in a hurry with honey bees. The black and white frames are from the Piergo company and are made of food-grade plastic. There is a Queen in this hive and she is laying. Move slowly and carefully, the Queecould be on this frame of brood, Lots of baby bees here. Pollen and honey are also stored on this frame. The flat light colored brood frames have already hatched while the light sand colored cell that are convex still have brood in them. The larger cells near the bottom are for drones. Always put weight on the covers, during very windy storms. You may want to have a bucket to toss the burr comb into if you want to save and use the wax.
Queen cages
On a nice hot day, the comb scrapes off very easily. Because this is mid-day, most of the field workers are out of the hive and this allows me to see the comb better. Early in the morning or late in the evening, there would be too many bees in here. Drone cells are larger in diameter, most keepers would completely remove drone frames for they attract mites more than worker brood cells do. Spread the frames apart just enough to fit the new queen cage inside.
The wax on the brood frame will hold it in place just fine, press it right in. The black mark end is to release the queen in case they don’t chew through the candy in a few days.
The wax on the brood frame will hold it in place just fine, press it right in. The black mark end is to release the queen in case they don’t chew through the candy in a few days.
More on queens
The rust-colored burr segments are propolis. Venting the hive is very very important. I originally “thought” there was no Queen in this hive for It is occupied by a very small swarm of bees. I gave them some drawn comb and honey to get them off to a good start they still need to finish drawing out this comb. I always look at the Queen for signs of stress or injuries. After a few days, add a frame of brood to give this colony an extra boost. Both colonies chewed through the candy and accepted their new
Queens.
Queens.
