Opening the hive

I was advised to open the hive, so I did. There were piles of dead bees. I started removing bars (about a dozen) until I found one with a few bees still vibrating. I scooped out the dead bees on the bottom, so I have a sizable amount for Rachel. After this result, I was further advised to feed them immediately. I haven't had enough time to do that, but I'm getting some sugar and making fondant. Tomorrow afternoon I'll put it in the hive and hope there are still some bees left.

This is how most of the comb looked in the bars I pulled out. The bees are hung on the comb and can be brushed off.


In many sections, towards the top, you see bees in the cells head first. I guess they were getting the last scrap of food.

I carried the bars inside in a larger box. Plenty of bees fell off, but I also noticed some hive beetles. I have to separate the two to see how many hive beetles there are.

I'm going to make some fondant and feed them tomorrow. I just haven't had time yet.