Page created 4-1-2012 . Updated 6-26-2012 TUE 10:00P .

First nuke installed 4-1-12 2:00P and weighed hive at 33.54 # which included screened bottom , large brood box with 4 wired new frames and 5 nukes , inner cover , and top cover . Day 2 03APR12 TUE 9:45A wt 35.0 # . Day 3 weight 10.05 - 1.32 x 4.08 = 35.62# . Day 4 9:30A 33.74# been raining . Day 6 2:30P bees out foraging 35.09# . Day 7 12noon 33.8# , been rainy , repositioned hive by adding rubber to front which may throw my weight graph off . Day 9 4-8-12 Sun 33.17at 7:45A , reworked weighing rod to get more consistent readings . Day 8 33.17# . Day 9 Weight on 4-12-12 before bees flying is 42.21# - Had added pint 1:1 sugar water and placed on top of original inter cover , super to enclose it , 2nd inter cover to clear jar so this extra weight shows in todays reading - Will try to do all weighing before the bees leave in the mornings for total weight, Weight still varying some as still tweaking weighing rod and procedures - Had moderate frost last night ,first time since got nuke . Also moderate frost on day 10 , 4-13-2012 . Weigh on 4-15-12 Sun day 14 is 33.53# . Day 23 , Weight on 4-24-12 Tue 10:15A is 35.9# , day is cold at 55 deg and windy but bees are flying which hopefully accounts for a lower weight than I expected , will weigh next time with out them flying . Day 36 : Wt = 17.46 - 1.34 x 4.08 = 65.76 at 5:30P and bees flying , may weigh after dark to get total bee weight . Future weights will be shown below in there correct time position in relation to the pictures .

 

286-375 4-1-12 SUN .. First hive . Picked bees up from Rick 1:00P today and installed on base at 2:00P .
287-375 4-1-12 SUN .. Hive entrance, which faces , East, and located so hit by first sunshine in the winter .
288-375 4-1-12 SUN .. Hive entrance showing stop for weighing stick . The stop on the structure was later removed and a stop was added to the weighing stick on 4-7-12 Sat , This should help accuracy as before the hive had to be against the stop and now can shift some and not affect readings .
289-375 4-1-12 SUN .. Hive rear showing block and support arrangement to allow weighing with out disturbing the Hive .
483-13APR12 FRI .. Bee on landing board returning with pollen .
484-13APR12 FRI 10:00 AM .. Bee on landing board returning with pollen .
485-13APR12 FRI 10:00 AM .. Bee flying in , returning with pollen .
486-13APR12 FRI 10:00 AM .. Bee almost ready to land , returning with pollen .
487-13APR12 FRI 10:00 AM .. Bee almost ready to land , returning with pollen .
488-13APR12 FRI 10:00 AM .. Bee removing dead bee from hive .
The following 8 pictures demonstrates my hive weighing system .
296-375 4-1-12 SUN .. Hive weighing stick is a treated 2" x 2" x around 5 feet wooden guard rail . Have extra weighing stick as the handle of my bee tool box ( see bee box pictures below).
298-375 4-1-12 SUN .. Hive weighing stick showing multiplier and tare weight . Have modified stick by adding stop on stick instead of using stop on support structure resulting in better repeatability and have also made a fixed rotation point on the front of the hive because with a 4.08 multiplier the pivit point is critical for repeatiability .
GOPR1200-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Attaching 50# digital fish scale to weighing stick .
GOPR1209-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Positioning stick .
GOPR1213-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Stick in place .
GOPR1219-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Watching hive during lifting to make sure it does not twist or move left or right from the original position .
GOPR1225-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Reading the display .
GOPR1228-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Watching hive during lowering to make sure it does not twist or move left or right from the original position .
The following 6 pictures show my BEE TOOL BOX .
632-375 06MAY2012 Sun ..Tool box made from 1/8" wood , Handle doubles as a weighing stick, top is a tray .
633-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Handle that doubles as an emergency weighing stick , have not calibrate it yet .
635-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Shows 50# digital fish scales , tripod to hold GOPRO HERO2 camera , white long sleeve shirts , veil , gloves ..
636-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Fire can . Shows pencil butane torch to relight smoker fire from bottom .
637-375 06MAY2012 Sun ..Tongs shown on top of bee box used to hold additional burning fuel over fire till it catches fire .
628-375 06MAY2012 Sun .. Fire starting items , 2 cig lighters , tongs , butane pencil torch and refill .
   
First filming of the opening of my hive .
455-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Third time hive has been opened since installing . Bryan did first last Wed and showed which frames need to be switched .
462-375 08APR2012 SUN .. 2nd time I opened hive today - Did not film when I switched frames earlier this morning that Bryan showed me to switch .
470-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Removing top .
477-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Smoker working good .
481-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Removing inter cover .
487-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Small comb on bottom of inter cover .
499-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Smoking before removing outside frame for inspection .
515-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Outside frame has bees on it but no comb .
528-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Looking at frame I switched from the next to outside with the nuke frame that was third from the outside .
536-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Starting to seal back up .
542-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Small comb on bottom of inter liner .
555-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Replacing the top . All hive opening pictures were taken with a GoPro Hero2 camera mounted on a tri pod and set at 1 frame per second .
559-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Moving top to rear to keep slot in inter liner open .
571-375 08APR2012 SUN .. Job finished . Must have received some great instructions because I have not been stung , YET !!!
441-13APR12 FRI .. Hive with unpainted temporary super to hold pint 1:1 sugar water . Have not seen any bee feeding .
442-13APR12 FRI .. Pint 1:1 sugar water container . Have never seen a bee even near the feeder either when it was on top on the outside , or on the inside as shown .
777-375 13APR12 Fri 4:00 PM .. Inspecting hive feed bottle for any use . Extra unpainted empty super and additional inter liner used to enclose 1:1 sugar jar .
801-375 13APR12 Fri 4:00 PM .. 1:1 bottle sitting on inter liner .
905-375 13APR12 Fri 4:00 PM .. Checking outside frame - nothing .
922-375 13APR12 Fri 4:00 PM .. Third from outside frame has bees on other side .
924-375 13APR12 Fri 4:00 PM .. Pictured above is new frame from position 2 swapped with nuke frame from position 3 .
GOPR1060-375 4-19-12 Thur .. View showing swapped frames and burr combs on bottom of inter liner .
 
GOPR1079-375 4-19-12 Thur .. Outside frame not being used yet . Many bees on front of hive when arrived and was afraid they may swarm .  
4-29-12 Sun , Day 28 , Sunny , 72deg , Very little wind , Added Brood box with 9 frames and swapped frame next to center with outside frame on both sides on the single original brood box . Did not take any pictures . Weight before addition 40.3# , weigh after adding 9 frame brood box is 52.46# . Tongs work great in getting good fire in smoker as does the pencil torch .
5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Added Queen excluder and one Super on top , The following 7 pictures were taken with a GOPRP HERO2 camera mounted on a Tripod and set to take a picture at 1 frame per second . As you will note I am not dressed properly , Black shirt , No veil , got stung first time under right arm - Wonder why ??
GOPRO 1291-375 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Removing top cover .
GOPRO 1306-375 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Removing inter cover .
GOPRO 1327-375 , 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Adding queen excluder . First sting under right arm - maybe should not have worn BLACK . Queen excluder in place .
GOPRO 1373 -375 , 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Placing SUPER .
GOPRO 1379 -375 , 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Replacing Inter cover .
GOPRO 1388-375 , 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Replacing top .
 
GOPRO 1392-375 , 5-10-2012 THUR 4:05P .. Job finished . Weigh before the addition was 67.8# , After was 77.5# . Weighed Sat 5-12-2012 at 3:50P at 77.97 # which is only 0.47 # more than Thursday but in front of the hive was the most bees flying I have seen so far . I will weigh after they quit flying tonight and see how many pounds of bees are out working . Did not weigh .

Weighed hive 5-18-2012 Fri 11:15A at 77.07 # . Hive has lost weight since all the rain we have had since the 12th .

5-25-2012 FRI 5:05P .. Hive weight 77.81 which is less than 13 days ago but bees are really all over my white clover .

5-27-2012 Sun 11:15A .. Sunny , light breeze , hive weight is 83.56 # . My white clover is covered with bees . Hive weight increased 5.75 # in 2 days , remember only weighing one side of the hive so if the bees should collect more on one side than the other the weight I have to pickup will shift or if I happen to weigh when a lot of foragers are gone the weight will be less . Still have not weighed at nite for total bee weight . 6-1-12 FRI 1:00P Hive weight 89.6# , Partly cloudy , Wind from the SW at 11 MPH , 79 degrees , bees still all over my white clover so I am not mowing it , been seeing some red clover for a week . 6-5-12 TUE 1:40P Hive weight 95.51 pounds , 73 deg , RH 53% , very light breeze , partly cloudy , still bees in top super but can not see any filled cells . 6-6-2012 WED 6:55A before many bees flying , 57 deg , RH 94% Wind ENE at 5 , light/moderate rain , hive weight 97.55 # which means I should have around 6 # bees which seems light .

6-11-2011 MON 1:30P 78 DEG , Wind SSE at 7 , RH 82% , Cloudy .. Hive weight 111 # , Really gaining weight the fastest now that I have seen . Has gained 33 # in the last month , Since 5-12-2012 Saturday .
6-20-2012 Wed 4:25P 90 deg , 40%RH , wind South at 6 , High clouds , bees flying good , Hive Weight 123.5 # . In 9 days gained 12-1/2 # .
6-26-2012 Tue 7:05P , 80 DEG , 28% RH , Wind NE @ 4 , Sunny , Weight 134.64# , In 5 days gained 11.14# . Finally weighed at night for total bee weight . Weighed at 10:05P and weighed 137.98 # so had gained 3.34 # which I assume was the foragers returning but seems light . The actual lifting weight was 35.16 # and getting difficult to hold steady - May need later to change pivot point so not holding so much weight .
6-28-2012 THUR 7:50P , 92 DEG , 58%RH , Wind SW@6 .. Weight 136.19 , increased 1.55 # in 2 days since 6-25-2012 , Seems to be slowing down but still increasing .
6-29-12 , FRI , 104.5 Deg .. Put aluminum shade on top and West side of bee hive . 6-30-12 , SUN .. 103 Deg - replaced aluminum shade on hive that I removed 8P yesterday . Bees really flying good although my clover looks bad . First bearding observed . 7-2-2012 MON 2:00P ..wt 135.45 . First weight loss since 5-25-2012 and probably due to the scorching heat .
7-9-2012 , Mon , 8:00P , 82 deg , 58% RH , wind SSW at 5 , high today 96 at 2:25P .. Lite bearding on front which will make wt slightly low . Lifting wt 33.66 # , Hive weight 131.86 # . Lost 3.59 # in last 10 days .

7-23-2012 Mon , 8:00A , Wind West@8 , 85 Deg .. Hive weight 137.0 # . Still gaining weight - Gained 5.14 # in 14 days (2 weeks).
8-10-2012 Friday , Weighed Hive at 130.9 # , has lost 6 pounds in last 17 days . Checked top Super- lots of bees but no filled cells , Removed super / seperator and pulled one edge brood frame out and was full so probably need to remove seperator below super . The 2 Acers of Buckwheat I planted along both sides of the runway and in the meadow and the right of way is doing great and is 4-6" high . I was late planting and hope that does not prevent my having to plant my Crimson clover too late this fall over the same area . I will plant the edge of the runway in Crimson Clover normally in Mid September but will have to wait till the buckwheat blooms and the seed harden to disk and may be as late as the last of October . The Runway center will be planted in Ladina clover the first of September .
8-21-2012 Tue .. Hive weight 128.43# and probably less than that because bees had not started flying yet , has lost 2-1/5 # in last 11 days . Had lots of rain . Removed super and all top brood frames full - should have added another brood . Buckwhear started blooming Friday , August 17th but do not know when it will flower and have polan and nectar .
8-23-2012 Thur .. Removed super and queen seperator and added 9 frame brood box , weight before swap 130.88 , weight after swap 126.92 so 3.96 # less , seperator and super had burr cone and proplus that added to the removed weight . 8-29-2012 Wed , Weighed again at 133.42 so gained 6.5 pounds in 6 days . Buckwheat blooming but not full bloom - full of Bumble Bees but have not seen Honey bees working it yet .
5894-250 ..........................................6318-250 ......................................... 6320-250
6322-250 .................................... 6327-250 ........................................ 6328-250
Hive weight 9-5-12 Wed 2:15P , Sunny , 82 deg , 66% RH , Wind SSW @ 7 MPH .. 133.5 Pounds .
Hive wt 9-12-12 WED 11:35A , Sunny 75 deg , 45% RH , wind L/V .. 135.21 # , Still not seen one honey bee on the buckwheat , only bumblebees .... 9-30-2012 Sun 65Deg, Sunny , Wind ENE5 , RH 66% ,118.23# , Hive has lost 17 pounds in 18 days, Weather has been hot and dry - got first rain yesterday in weeks.
10-11-2012 Thur , 2:30P, Sunny, Temp 67, RH 32% , Wind South at 1MPH .. Hive loosing weight fast , removed top , #3 , brood box as it was not being used , Most if not all frames in #2 brood box full of honey , seems to be not very many bees , Hive weight before removing #3 brood box 115.4# , Removed and weighed #3 and it weighed 13.51 # with 9 wired combed frame in it , reweighed hive at 100.9 pounds.
 
 
 
Copyright 2012 Ted McCachren