This time of year, and only one frame of bees, I would combine. I would look that one frame over carefully, and if the queen was found, she would be done away with.
Problem hive - please help!
The first swarm I picked-up 4 days ago has used 3 gallons of 1:1, drawn out 4 1/2 deep frames of comb and has eggs in some of those new cells!
The problem is with the second swarm gathered the same day. They cluster around the entrance, showing no sign of foraging. They are clustered on one frame at the far side of the super and have only drawn out 3/4 of a frame. My wife and I have searched for a queen without success and there are no eggs yet.
What do you think? Do I read the signs correctly, that they do not have a queen? Should I do a newspaper combine with the other hive that is doing so well? If not, what should I do? I don't want to waste the bees but I would appreciate some guidance on what to do.
Thanks in advance!
The problem is with the second swarm gathered the same day. They cluster around the entrance, showing no sign of foraging. They are clustered on one frame at the far side of the super and have only drawn out 3/4 of a frame. My wife and I have searched for a queen without success and there are no eggs yet.
What do you think? Do I read the signs correctly, that they do not have a queen? Should I do a newspaper combine with the other hive that is doing so well? If not, what should I do? I don't want to waste the bees but I would appreciate some guidance on what to do.
Thanks in advance!
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x2 of what Iddee said. The combine will help the struggling hive. By struggling I mean they are giving it their all to make stores for the winter.
Kind of hard to think of them tring to make it for the winter in the middle of the summer, but there is not much around here for them to forage on and can start depleting what stores they have. Feeding sugar water takes alot of energy to to into heavy syrup for stores also.
Good luck with them.
G3
Kind of hard to think of them tring to make it for the winter in the middle of the summer, but there is not much around here for them to forage on and can start depleting what stores they have. Feeding sugar water takes alot of energy to to into heavy syrup for stores also.
Good luck with them.
G3
Thanks to everyone for the sage counsel. I will combine them with another hive using newspaper and hope for the best.
Thanks again to all!
Thanks again to all!
I would agree with the combining of the swarms, but I just bet you have a virgin or just mated queen in that hive!
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