Almost Nectar Bound

[ski]

Moved an overwintered nuc into a 10 frame hive yesterday Feb29 over in Gibsonville, the nuc had frames of nectar and was getting nectar bound.
Checked 3 hives today here at the house and one was almost nectar bound, did not expect to see it this early. I put some drawn frames on the outside of the brood nest and checker boarded above the brood nest.
Anybody else seeing nectar this early?

[Wally]

I wanted to check hives yesterday, but an abscess and the dentist prevented it. Maybe this next weekend.

[ski]

Wally – I hope your tooth or maybe lack of a tooth is better and you got to check on your hives.
I finally got around to checking on the last mine. They were pretty wide spread from almost nectar bound on a couple to no nectar or honey (did have sugar on the top bars remaining) to a couple that are most likely queenless.
Two had no brood the other 11 had brood from a small patch to more than a frame.
I think this is the first year out of many that there were basically no honey stores left from last year in any of the hives.

[Wally]

Finally got to check them Sunday. They were looking really good. I broke out a queen rearing nuc yesterday and we plan to graft into it tomorrow.We are trying this method. Haven't tried it before. It seems like it would be simpler and easier than the cloak board.

http://doorgarden.com/2011/11/07/simple ... beginners/

[ski]

Let us know how it turns out.

[Wally]

We have queen cells started. Don't know how many, as the bees were festooning so heavily you could not see through the grafting frame. It was solid bees. I gently moved enough with a light breath to move them off about 4 cells enough to see the wax buildup. Will know more about Saturday, March 19.

I definitely like this nuc setup better than the cloake board.

[Wally]

Having put eggs in the mating nuc on Tuesday in prepping for the graft Thursday, we are going into it this Tuesday, March 15, to check for wild cells. Then again Sat. or Sunday to harvest the grafted cells. Anyone who wants to come will be welcome. It should be a learning experience for the newbees, and a fun time for toe "oldies??" as we will "hopefully" be setting up some nucs with the wild cells Tuesday, and more nucs with the grafted cells Sat. or Sunday.

Ya'll come, ya hear??

[ski]

Looks like some cooler weather coming.
Where to we come to?

[Wally]

Looks like 79 and sunny Tuesday. The bees are at Beez Needz.

[ski]

I was looking at the weekend but they have already raised the forecasted temps.
Weather forecasts are subject to change at any time without notice.