Top Bar Beekeeping in Arlington Heights

Took 36 minutes total.  We'll see if there are any mites to count in the next few days.

Pretty cool. The pink hive has eaten through most of the fondant, and it broke off the frame.  But I really don't think they are eating it much vs. trying to get rid of it. The blue hive had quite a few moths under the screened bottom.  There are too many nooks and crannies to hide in around the plastic trays.  I need a single form fit container, not sure how to make it. Tested OAV with the soldering iron and drilled 3/4" holes under the screened bottom in both hives under the brood area to do it.  Not sure when to try. Seems to be little flowering around right now.  Waiting on goldenrod/aster.  No honey comb building in either hive, although the pink hive is forced to build the empties I put in the brood area. I wish I put an observation window in the pink one!

Calling 1st -- blue, 2nd -- pink. Good brood pattern, did not see the queen.  Added one more bar, 0. 0-New 1-Partial built, nectar, pollen 2, 3, 4, 5 - original Langstroth frames, brood mainly 6-New, brood, 3/4 built 7-original, brood/honey 8-New, partial honey 9-E 10-Old honey 11-E 12-Old honey 13-E 14-Fondant 15-E

Took the bottom box off and held a mirror.  Worked reasonably well.  Not as good as an observation window, but ok. The current state of the bars: Entrance 1/2B:B:B:B:1/4B:B:slight drawn:E:H:E:H:E:E:Fondant I added in the 1st bar, next 3 are from the Nuc, added the 5th, next from the Nuc, added the 7th, plus empty plus honey plus empty plus honey plus 2 emties and the sugar bar. I Think. So that gives ~7 they are making for brood.  Would like to maybe add one more...from the other hive?? Recheck this.

First hive has bar after bar of capped brood!  I have a laying queen in there!  Yeah!