Hive inspection March 6th

Opened hive #1 and removed all frames and moved them to a new box. The lower box was totally empty as was expected. Reversed boxs and put 2nd brood box with 4 hsc seperated by empty frames, no foundation on top. Replaced the pollen patty and fondant due to the fact that they had some stores but not alot.I found several small patches of capped brood, and larva as well as pupa. I didn't see the Queen but looks like she is busy. Will look again in 2 weeks.
Opened hive #2 removed all frames and put in new box. I combined all the brood into one box with full frames of honey nearby. I then put remaining honey and pollen in new box on top with some foundationless frames spaced in there about 3. More brood than hive#1 but it was all capped no eggs, larva or pupa seen, maybe the begining of a supersedure cell. I will check again in 2 weeks.

Bees have been out and about

The weather here in North Alabama has been in the upper 40's and 50's. The bees are loving it! I have one hive that is out in the upper 30's and lite rain, while the other hive waits for the upper 40's and 50's. I will try to make my splits this spring from my better foraging hive, if I make splits at all.
I will be transfering both hives over to HSC( Honey Super Cell) this spring. I hope that it will not set them back a whole lot as everyone I talk to wants some honey. I will keep you all posted of the progress as it develops. For now I will continue to mark all of my frames for the Housel position and finalize my sping time plans. I will be making some video's and taking a lot of pictures and will post these when I get them.
Happy BEEKing
William

More Fondant added

I placed some more fondant on the hives a few days ago along with 1 pollen patty each,thinking that one hive was about dead out but to my surprize it was up to the top box with quite a few bees across the top. The strong hive was a little agressive, with bees darting out straight to my face. I would back away from the hive and they would follow a little but would calm down in a few seconds allowing me to return to cover them back up. I was a little catious since I had no hand protection. Still a little apprehensive being a new beek and all. I do not intend on feeding anything accept their honey after this next season rolls around. I will go to all natural beekeeping to insure their, The Honey Bee, survival. My equipment is just about ready just a few more frame to Housel position(link to follow) and all of my boxes to label and we are set for our first full season, it should be a very interesting one.
http://www.beesource.com/point-of-view/ed-dee-lusby/more-on-small-cell-foundation-for-mite-control/housel-positioning-how-i-view-its-importance-to-beekeeping/

New Beekeeper Hive Move

I received two complete hives and lots of equipment from a wonderful lady who goes by the call name Queenbee45 here in the Birmingham Alabama area. I went to move the hives to my apiary around the first of November 2009 and when I got there it had been raining and it was too wet so I made arrangements to come back and remove the honey supers from each hive before I moved the hives themselves. I went by after work at around 3pm, mistake #1. I lit my smoker,suited up and headed for the hives. I cracked open the first hive, the weaker looking of the 2 and all went fairly well. I took my time and gained lots of confidence,mistkae #2. I cracked open the stronger hive and started smoking the bees on the top bars,they were turning white as I did this,I thought this was weird but continued on. I decided to speed things up with all of my new found confidence so I broke all the frames loose and began pulling frames a sweeping the bees off into the air,mistake #4. I was smoking the bees and turning them whiter and whiter and was about to put the inner cover on when I discovered a liitle visiter inside my veil. I freaked and squished it on my nose without thinking first, it stung me which as WE all know sets off the sting phermone and so bees being bees began to sting me around the neck area where they were hanging out. I thought that they were all inside my veil so I started running and swatting and stipping off my veil and gloves and jacket. I wish someone had videoed it now. Going back to the hives to get my smoker I was popped again. I puffed the smoker to try to calm them but the smoker was out. I opened the smoker to relight it and there was nothing in the smoker at all. I had been blowing ash all over the bees turning them white,mistake#3. I refilled the smoker and relite it put the inner cover on closed the hive and got the heck out of there with some valuable lessons learned (and some wonderful tasting honey). I escaped with about 17-20 stings not so bad considering the goofs I made