In this article, I am going to take you through the story of the Monkey 3 beehive.

On April 8 of 1922, my wife and I drove over two hours to pick up the 3 bee packages.

I installed the first hive (Monkey 1) by opening up the middle section and installing the package box there. The queen cage was strapped a frame on the bottom section.

Shown here is Monkey 2. Note this is after the actual move.

I took three frames from the middle section of Monkey 1 and moved them to a new hive (Monkey 3). These consisted of the frame with a capped queen cell, a brood frame and a resource frame.

I then took some brood frames from the bottom of Monkey 2 and placed them in the middle section. Note that I did not move any of the queen cells (There were three of them) from the bottom of Monkey 2.

Monkey 3 is born.

Note as of the install the front door was kept closed.

On day 7 I did an inspection and the queen had emerged.

I saw no evidence of the queen, no eggs or larva. Some old brood and resources. Note that there is still some old, capped brood on the other side of the frame.

I could not spot any eggs or larva on most of the frames.

I did see what looks like a little capped brood on the top of the frame, but not sure that it isn’t old.

They are still working the resources. There is also what looks like a supersedure cell started.

All in all, things don’t look good to me.

To my surprise there was a ton of capped brood.

And more. There is a queen. This has all happened since my last inspection 13 days ago.

Still working on the resources.

They have 4 frames with drawn comb populated with brood and resources. They are also starting to draw comb on the other frames as well. I have some extra beeswax, so will look at giving them a helping hand.

Looks like the baby hive is growing up. Against all recommendations of combining them with a larger hive I decided to get them through the winter.

I was able to keep an eye on them as my bee house is heated so there was no problem peaking in on them from time to time through the rear screen.

I watched the cluster move its way across the hive. I was prepared to slip them a frame of honey if needed.

This is how they are looking now on April 2nd. I feel safe giving them a new section of the hive.

Got my frames to add to the second section of the hive. A frame of honey. And some new updated rear screens.

I open the middle section and remove the frame support rods.

I remove the bottom Tray and locate the main hive cluster. I will leave this area intact and move some of the adjacent frames up when the middle section is ready. This also tells me where to move the frame to. I will place it right above the main nest.

I clean the oiled bottom tray and add some DE. Please note that the bees are separated from the bottom tray by a 1/8” steel mesh screen 1” above the tray. I use the DE when I am not using oil, I tend to switch between oil and DE every few weeks or when needed.

I remove the separator that has been in-place for the life of the hive.

I add the open separator and replace the frame support rods.

I give the lower section an inspection. Brood, eggs, food stores all look good.

I move a couple frames from the bottom section to the top. I fill out the rest with some frames with wax foundations. Most of which has been boosted with extra beeswax.

Updated rear screens added.

If give them their new feeder.

The bees have taken well to their hive expansion.

Oh how my baby hive has grown. It’s time to give them their first honey super.

I remove the frames and frame support rods.

I lift the hive separator and give them a little smoke. I am also making sure the queen is not up near the top of this section.

Looking good.

I add my queen excluder separator. Not this is a narrower separator than I normally use on these hives. It’s all I have on hand right now.

I add my initial frames back. Note that I am going to swap out half of these with honey frames they have in the bottom section.

I close up the hive.

Since I have added these vents to the beehouse, all I have to do is remove the plugs, turn off the lights, and give the bees an hour or two to leave the house.