Ducbee Apiaree

We've decided to start our own apiary adventure by establishing our own backyard hive!

2014 Chronology:

19 May: Backyard Hive Installed

Type: Italian
Qty: approximately 10K
Location: California
Bees arrived in:

good shape,
internal syrup (1/2 each H₂O and C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) was empty,
appeared calm and to be taking to the queen

Removed the queen and placed her into the hive in the closed queen cage
Removed 5 frames from the hive and placed the open container into the hive
Inserted Jar with syrup (1/2 each H₂O and C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁) into hive

22 May: First Inspection

some comb being drawn
removed cork from queen cage / allowed queen to be released by workers

23 May: Refill syrup jar

24 May: Refill syrup jar

25 May: Refill syrup jar + Hive Check

After only 6 days, we already had to cut out "wonky" comb. What we want is very even, flat comb on the frames.

Jason inspects the work.

26 - 30 May: Refill syrup jar

1 June: Queen & Hive check

Added Mann Lake Top Feeder

with 1/2 gallon of syrup (1/2 each H₂O and C₁₂H₂₂O₁₁)
removed entrance/jar feeder

Identified the Queen on Frame #6 (North-side)
A few bees with black butts have strange wing shapes; they're not necessarily deformed, but the ends look a bit "ragged" compared to the paler bees and their rounded wing tips.
Overall the collective was cool and calm during inspection.

Sarah holds a frame

We've found the Queen on Frame #6 (North Side)

8 June

Queen & Hive check

Sarah lifts up the queen excluder in preparation to check the hive.

Frames #2 and #6 had comb gluing them together. We broke them apart.

Capped honeycomb lines the top of Frame #2 with pollen stores below.

This is capped brood - meaning there are BABIES in there!

Capped drone cells (male larvae)- these protrude more than regular larvae cells and look like little bullets, originate from unfertilized eggs, and remain capped for 4 days longer than their sisters'.