First, I'm a newb, and thanks for this site. I have spent much time since I discovered you folks reading posts :)
The history:
I set up two hives in April with Italian queens. The recommendations I received was to keep them on feed their first year, so I have. Both Alpha and Beta hives have hive top feeders with 1:1 mix.
On Father's Day (June 19 )the Alpha hive swarmed. I guess I was too slow in adding the second deep. I had added it June 12- but when I did, they apparently did not like it. The second deep had been on for at least a full week when they swarmed and showed no sign of real activity. I suspect it was put on too late to make a difference. Beta hive in comparison was much weaker at the father's Day mark having 3 empty frames in one deep.
I sprayed all the unused frames in Alpha's 2nd deep with sugar water (which was all 10 frames). The new queen hatched- and BAM- the Alpha hive is rocking like no tomorrow. I now have only 2 empty frames in the Alpha hive. They are going crazy. In comparison, my Beta hive has 2 deeps with 6-7 empty frames, and seems moribund.
My thought was that I need to get the Alpha hive more room ASAP. I bought a queen excluder and a 3rd deep this week- and both are on my work bench with primer drying. I thought that if I add a 3rd deep, whatever drawn comb I get is great. More importantly, the hive gets some room to expand, and if I get frames of honey- they might be used to shore up the Beta hive for winter.
Alpha questions:
Am I going about this the right way with Alpha hive?
Is it way too late to add a 3rd box?
Rather than a 3rd box, should I take Alpha off the feed, even though it is derth here in Maryland?
Beta questions:
Beta hive is weak in comparison. Is a new hive with 6 empty frames in the 2nd deep unusual, or a problem for this time of year?
Is there enough time to build up the stores for winter?
Should I re-queen Beta?
Thanks for taking the time to read this. Thanks for answering what must be the umpteenth time a similar question has been asked.
Why not move some frames?
Have fun!
http://www.bushfarms.com/beespanacea.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beespanacea.htm)
Quote from: Sundog on August 05, 2011, 12:51:33 AM
Why not move some frames?
OK, I like that. Move frames from Alpha to Beta?
How many full frames should two new deeps have at this point?
QuoteHow many full frames...
"Logic would dictate", as many as possible. I'm still a novice too, but I believe that brood is the key for a strong colony. I think that feeding them makes them build comb. Then it requires a hearty laying queen to make baby bees.
Look for larvae and capped brood. Mark your frames and take photos (make sure you include your marks in the photos) so you can review them at your liesure and compare before and after pictures.
Good luck, and have fun!
Quote from: Dan Leonard on August 05, 2011, 12:04:01 AM
I now have only 2 empty frames in the Alpha hive.
...
Rather than a 3rd box, should I take Alpha off the feed, even though it is derth here in Maryland?
That depends on how much of those 18 frames is capped sugar. If you have more frames of stores than you have frames of bees, then YES you should take the feed off.
The reason your alfa hive swarmed is because they were honey bound. Where did you hear that you should feed for the first year.
Quote from: Dan Leonard on August 05, 2011, 12:04:01 AM
The history:
The recommendations I received was to keep them on feed their first year, so I have.
On Father's Day (June 19 )the Alpha hive swarmed.
Yup, because they were honey/syrup bound. I feed until I see some capped stores an then they are on their own. If there are any capped frames of syrup in the bottom brood box, move some empty ones down and the filled ones up into your second box. If they are all filled with syrup into your second box, I would disperse them with your B hive. The key is to leave your queen plenty of room to lay-with a plugged broodnest the hive starts its swarm preparations.
Dan,
Where abouts in Maryland are you?? I grew up there. In Berekley Springs, WV now. I like talking to beeks close by so we can compare nector flows.
Good luck with your hives! I'm a newbie this year too, so I won't add my 2 cents. These folks will get your squared away.
I'm in northern Harford County, right on the PA line (Street). I have a brother in Oakland, and go camping near Berkley Springs every fall- nice country there :)
I took an intro beekeeping class through the local ag extension/community college last spring- that's where I was told top feeder first year. Who knows, I'm new- she might have really said "pizza on Fridays" and I simply misunderstood.
I plan to open the boxes this weekend, weather permiting, it may rain tomorrow. I will dig deep, and make sure that there are some empty frames for Alpha to work with. Last week I took all of the empty frames from the bottom box (one frame) and moved it to the top- so as of last Saturday there were 2.5 empty frames on top. That hive is eating 1:1 like it's free. They have consumed 7lbs last 2 days. I'm putting the excluder and deep on tomorrow and watch what happens. I will make sure that there are some empty frames for brood in the second deep. I strongly expect they are out of room.
Beekeeping seems very similar to home brewing. Lot's of science, but equal parts art. At the moment, I am the master of neither. That said, I will go drink a homebrew.
Thanks for the thoughts and guidance- you all have been helpful.
-Dan