Spring inspection.

[histopicker]

I did a very through inspection on my topbar haves today and made a video of it. If you want to see a hive full of bees and brood from end to end , check it out.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCxmkueHXt4

[rendezvous]

Watched the video, very interesting! 

We had a warm day yesterday, 55F-60F. While I was taking care of the chickens, I left the feed bucket sitting by the coop while I was cleaning and refilling the waterer. When I went to get the bucket, it had 10-15 bees in it? They were crawling all over the feed? I can't image what was attracting them? 

[histopicker]

Mar 10, 2016 13:07:36 GMT -5 rendezvous said:

Watched the video, very interesting! 

We had a warm day yesterday, 55F-60F. While I was taking care of the chickens, I left the feed bucket sitting by the coop while I was cleaning and refilling the waterer. When I went to get the bucket, it had 10-15 bees in it? They were crawling all over the feed? I can't image what was attracting them? 

It is the protein powder in the feed. I have seen bees literally rolling in chicken feed to collect it in all their hair to take back to their colonies. To a bee, protein is protein.

[rendezvous]

It had me scratching my head, "what the heck is going on here?"  Thanks! 

[bk]

Nice job, histopicker. Looks like you will be doing splits while I'm dreaming of them. With all your drone brood you should be in great shape for raising queens. Is the foam under the lids to keep the hive cool? Thanks for sharing the video.

[histopicker]

Mar 10, 2016 22:32:08 GMT -5 bk said:

Nice job, histopicker. Looks like you will be doing splits while I'm dreaming of them. With all your drone brood you should be in great shape for raising queens. Is the foam under the lids to keep the hive cool? Thanks for sharing the video.

That is exactly what it is for. I do not insulate for the cold, I am trying to keep it cooler inside when we hit the 110's here in the summer.