backwards hive

[JackM]

I have one hive that is doing everything backwards.  They are keeping the stores below the brood and nothing above.  The whole hive is a mess on the inside, the comb is wonky but has brood so I cannot discard it yet.  We have a good flow and they don't seem to really be putting anything up as stores.  Brood is in large  central area, even between the top and bottom of frames. 

Tried to find the queen the other day, without luck as I was going to off her and put in a frame of fresh eggs from my strongest hive.  This hive almost didn't make the winter and is well behind the other two as far as growth/buildup.

So, I am open to suggestions.

[chux]

I had a double deep brood chamber for my strongest hive. Went in there sunday and they had most of the brood in the top deep. The bottom had some brood and lots of bees, but was backfilled with nectar and pollen. Found a capped swarm cell in the top deep . They were backfilling to swarm. I split the brood chamber and put the old queen with the bottom box, and moved her away. Left the cell and more brood and bees in original location.

I'm just wondering if there is any chance what you are seeing is back-filling for a swarm??

[JackM]

Possibly, but no queen cells that I saw.  Maybe it is sunspots?

[BeeMaster2]

It sounds like you have too many boxes on that hive, like you have an empty box above and below the brood. Next time you are in it you might want to move the frames to one or 2 boxes.
Jim

[JackM]

No, don't think I should do that, the only real room is above them in the super.  The whole hive is only 3 mediums, and the flow is on, put on third box for the flow, the were three boxes thru the winter, come first inspection they were just in the center box and the top box had been used up.  Only just put the 3rd box back on about 3 weeks ago.  I did try to condense the brood to the middle of the bottom box,

[buzzbee]

If the bee numbers are low,it can be hard to cover brood and forage. Thus adding to the lag. I wouldn't pinch the queen and wait for them to raise a new one as it will only weaken them further due to the time that it takes to raise a queen,get her laying and brood to start emerging. Most of your older bees could be dead by then.I would rob a frame of brood and nurse bees from another hive and feed this one until it gets better established.

[iddee]

Chux, in nearly 40 years of beekeeping, I have never seen or heard of only one swarm cell. One or two cells usually means supercedure.

Jack, do you have an excluder on that hive? If so, take it off.

[BeeMaster2]

Jack,
If it is a supercedure, you could end up whit a mother and daughter working together to rebuild that hive.
Jim

[buzzbee]

Hadn't thought about the possibility of an excluder.   What Iddee said to that.

[chux]

Iddee, you may be correct about the cell being supercedure. The split didn't work. I assumed swarm, since i saw all the backfill.

[jayj200]

I think I have noticed bees get depressed then do not do well
nurture them talk to them encourage them
they should come around at their own speed
jay