During the week, Tom got me worried that the hive stand for one of the hives was leaning so I went out and set up a new more level and sturdy hive stand, took apart the leaning hive and moved all of the boxes to the new hive stand. While I was doing that I took off the 4th box since I had gotten an email reply to some questions saying the bees would fill up a box better if they had less space, not too much emptiness. That was one of the few days it didn't rain last week. It was hot with lots of thunderstorms.
I did not inspect the hives this weekend. I just put in the latest ApiLife Var dose and new buckets of syrup with some pollen substitute. I want to get the medications done and feed them so they fill in their boxes for the winter.
The email did say that Russian hybrids and Italians are very different so I shouldn't judge them by comparing them.
The Russian hybrid does operate with fewer bees. I am leaving the medium on top for food stores although I don't know if they will fill it. When I went to put in the new dose of thymol I found that they had completely covered the previous dose with propolis. I scraped it out and put in the new wafers. I put a syrup bucket and pollen substitute on top of the 3 medium boxes.
When I opened the Italian hive it was chock full of bees so I ran off to light my smoker. I put on the new dose of ApiLife Var on top of the 3rd box since during my last inspection I found brood in the 3rd box. I also put back the 4th box since they had been putting in nectar and drawing comb. I figure if they are working the box I should leave it on.
I tried to disturb them as little as possible yesterday. They have both been doing OK and do not show signs of a heavy mite load. It was a little cooler so I tried to move fast.
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