Both queens had managed to get out of their boxes in the days since we put the packages in the hives.
However, rubber-banding them to the bars was a bad idea. The workers had built comb all around the boxes. If we need to do this again, we’ll use a thumbtack to hang the box from the bar and let the bees figure it out.
Rosamund’s colony had built more comb, but when we started trying to remove the rubber bands, the weight of the box broke the comb off. We think she was elsewhere in the hive because that piece of comb seems to only have food in it.
Elinore’s box had very little comb around it and we just removed it.
(Get it? Rrrrrrrosamund on the right and ELLLLLLLLinore on the left.)
We have left the pieces outside the hives to let them retrieve what they can.
Elinore’s colony seems to be eating less, too. Rosamund needed food, but Elinore is only about half down the quart.
But, both colonies seem to be busily building comb, so we are going to leave them alone, except for feeding a little more and moving the back board as comb gets built.
I expect we’ll go in and look for brood this weekend.
(The little bugs in a couple of the chambers were taking advantage of the situation after the comb was moved outside, not problems for the hive.)
I am the Audience 