help me!!!!!!!!

foxman · May 31, 2009, 01:09:45 PM

I dont know if there is anything i can do.
went to shim up the cover as suggested. pulled the top off the first hive and things looked great i could see plenty off bees through the inner cover. but when i got to the second hive it was differant. isaw no bees, out of fear and curiosity i lifted the inner cover. my worst fears came true , in the whole hive i saw less than ten bees. i didnt check the queen cage and immediately closed it up.
Is there anything i can do or is it too late for this hive? :'( :'( :'(
i think the bees went to the first hive is there any way to get them back.
today is the fourth day after installing the packages
please help mee!!!!!!!!!!!!

Robo · May 31, 2009, 01:19:26 PM

If there is only 10 bees, there is not much you can do. You might as well go check the queen cage and see if she is gone too. No sense letting her die if she didn't leave or isn't already dead.

foxman · May 31, 2009, 01:22:15 PM

if shes not dead what do i do with her?

Bill W. · May 31, 2009, 02:47:28 PM

Quote from: foxman on May 31, 2009, 01:22:15 PM
if shes not dead what do i do with her?

First, I would try to determine if your package went into the other hive, or just absconded into the woods. If you have a lot more bees in the other hive than you did before, you can afford to remove some. If you don't, then you probably don't want to risk it.

If you can remove some from the other hive, I would take a frame the queen has been laying in (being very careful not to transfer the queen) and move it, bees and all to the other hive. Then, if you can do so without reducing the other hive to less than four populated frames, take another that has some honey and move it over as well. At that point, I would also swap the positions of the two hives to equalize some of the foragers. Once there is some brood in the hive, they are less likely to leave.

foxman · May 31, 2009, 03:21:03 PM

Thanks Bill W i will definately try this when the winds die down, although will there be enough brood after just four daysto be able to remove them? i have yet to inspect the healthy hive but i can almost guarantee thats were the bees from the first hive went (there are just too many of them)
i hope i can save them!
Sincerely,
William W.

foxman · May 31, 2009, 06:56:05 PM

I just got done doing what bill suggested but they had yet to realease their queen so there was no brood. i went ahead and took 2 frames anyway i hope they take. if they dont im down to one have after only 4 days what a terrible beekeeper i am.

p.s. got stung on the middle finger in the process (poor girl if she only knew i was trying to help. also the 10 or so poor bees in the first hive were still working hard when i pulled frames to replace i found two frames 1/4 drawn out w/ uncapped surgar, i hope this hive doesnt die out the other hive definately had both packages in it all 8 frames were crowded with bees.

thanks for the help Bill and if anyone else has any opinions i am open to them, thanks

also has anyone else ever done anything like this with positive outcomes?

Kathyp · May 31, 2009, 07:00:34 PM

was the queen from the 1st hive still in the 1st hive?

foxman · May 31, 2009, 07:04:51 PM

both queens are still in their cages

MustbeeNuts · May 31, 2009, 08:13:30 PM

I would split the frames between the two, if you have 4 frames of bees in one and 4 in the other, you are away, screen up the entrance for a couple days. If your feeding them internally no big deal. just to let them settle in a bit.

patook · June 01, 2009, 03:33:51 AM

First, unless you are sure that the bees went into the other hive, I would look around. I has a swarm abscond and the next day, my daughter found them out back where she plays. Depending on your terrain, you may find them swarmed if they ran off. It is worth a walk, even in this heat ;)

Second, why would they move into the first hive? Where these packages shipped together? Perhaps they were left right up against each other?

foxman · June 01, 2009, 08:56:00 AM

yes when the packages arrived they were nailed together about 5 inches apart. as for them swarming into the woods i will check though it may be a fruitless effort considering that in my opinion the first hive was way to overpopulated for this to be plausible although i will check.
thanks to all
you guys are the best!!!!!

MustbeeNuts · June 01, 2009, 10:21:52 AM

let us know what you decided to do .

foxman · June 01, 2009, 06:54:09 PM

I placed 2 frames from the first hive into the second before getting stung, after that i switched the hive locations later after reading mustbeenuts post i "quarantined the hive screening up the entrances. they seem to bee taking but i will keep you posted thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

Highlandsfreedom · June 01, 2009, 07:50:07 PM

Quote from: foxman on June 01, 2009, 06:54:09 PM
I placed 2 frames from the first hive into the second before getting stung, after that i switched the hive locations later after reading mustbeenuts post i "quarantined the hive screening up the entrances. they seem to bee taking but i will keep you posted thanks!!!!!!!!!!!

Isnt beekeeping too much fun......... thats great you were able to get all the help you needed here I love this forum......... I hope it works out for you :jerry:

foxman · June 02, 2009, 11:55:01 AM

THANKS, beekeeping is wonderful it has even captured my 8 yr. old sister (shes less afraid than i am)
this forum is great i learn more here in 20 min. than hours of searching books and internet sites, thanks for making that posible.
p.s.
the girls seem to be taking to the hive again i hope this stays