The weather finally warmed up just enough so that I could open the hives for a quick peek. Both hives have snarfed down most of the candy board though there is a little left around the edges. I’ve removed quilt boxes from both hives.
Both colonies have drawn comb where the candy board was. There looks to be a lot of brood in both hives, although I didn’t pull individual frames because it was cool enough that I didn’t want the hive open long enough for that–didn’t want to risk chilling brood but I did rotate the supers enough for me to see into the second and into the brood box. Lots of bees all through the hive.
Now I’m feeling really pressured to be able to do a full inspection. Meanwhile, I’m setting up another hive to be ready to do a split if swarming seems imminent.
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a-single-serving.com 
We have now entered that anxious watching phase: they start to grow so fast this time of year!
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It is definitely anxious watching–we’re having another rainy, chilly batch of weather. I am probably going to put 2:1 syrup on both hives to at least relieve some of my anxiety! Here it is quite possible to have colonies starve in March with the fast growth and weather that doesn’t provide good foraging.
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Same problems with starving here….
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I was sort of surprised at how little nectar I found in the hives, so I have sugar syrup on all the hives.
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We put some fondant in at end of Feb. Yesterday, went for a little look around and it hadn’t been touched. Both hives quite busy over Easter, so fingers crossed…
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