Installing a Rooftop Beehive

My beekeeping friends Michelle and Karen installed a new hive on my roof about 6 weeks ago.

They used foundation in their frames.  Not followers of the Backwards Beekeepers. Yet...

Frames set in the hive body.

Karen behind the new hive, which is sitting underneath the "package" of new bees.

The package included 3 frames of bees and a queen. Here Karen and Michelle are smoking the package prior to moving the frames to the new hive.

Setting a frame of bees into their new hive body.

A frame showing capped honey and brood.

After placing the bee laden frames into the new hive body, the remaining space in each body is filled with empty frames.  Over time the bees will fill in those frames with comb, brood, and honey.

Michelle giving the new hive a final inspection.

 Michelle and Karen have been back several times in the past six weeks to check on the new hive.  Good news!  The queen is laying like crazy, and the hive itself is doing well.  They tell me that it looks like we'll be able to harvest some honey later this summer.