Sorry I didn't get to post yesterday. I visited all three of the hives and took photos but can't find the cable to link the camera to my computer. Isn't always that way? Minor details & photos will come soon. "St Anthony, help me find the lost cable." Here is a cartoon I found and a Langstroth hive photo from last year.
Langstoth hives are ready for a honey super. That means the girls have drawn comb on 15 frames almost in the 2 hive bodies (brood chamber) so the queen can lay lots of brood and now they will start focusing on making honey. It has been perfect weather too. Sunny with enough rain at night to keep blossoms coming and not windy. Bees do not fly if the wind is too strong or it is raining. Their wings don't function well if wet. These 2 hives are out where the former hive was, at the edge of the hayfields. They make glorious clover/alfalfa honey that is light in color.
I worked on contruction the frames and attaching foundation to 2 shallow supers yesterday. Almost ready to go out. Because they are honey supers, I only put a 2 inch strip across the top. I don't spin the frames to extract the honey, I cut the comb off like you would with comb honey, crush it and strain it thru cheese cloth and a strainer. That means the comb must be built fresh each time which slows the bees down on honey production (that is why comb honey costs more) but I feel it give the honey a fuller taste, keeps the pollen & propylis particles suspended in the honey which is the stuff that helps with allergies and healing.
Top Bar hive is thriving- comb is drawn on all the bars between the feeder boards so time to add more. As it expands to the end of the hive, they will start filling these with honey too. They were all hanging like monkeys again. Took a photo, hope it comes out.
Stay sweet.
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