What to do?

Started by GLOCK, August 13, 2010, 08:51:01 AM

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GLOCK

Ok it's like this i'm new to beekeeping i have two hives i made from package bees. One hive is doing really well it has two brood box's and a honey super very nice bee's not mean at all{c1=dio}.
Now C2=HELL HIVE on the other hand is not doing well it only has7 of the 10 frames filled with comb so about 5 weeks ago i put c1 where c2 is and c2 where c1 is and that made c2 seem to be more active but the hive was still not making capped brood after like two weeks so it took a frame of caped brood from c1 and gave it to c2 well now i have capped brood in c2  but most of it is drone brood plus i seen one queen cell low on a frame and the brood is spottie.
I seen some worker brood but more drone then worker and there making comb now and filling it with drone brood as fast as there making the comb .
I really don't know what to do it's getting late in the year should i try re queening or add it to my strong hive . Plus c2 HELL HIVE  is mad when i get with in like 15 foot of the hive i can be sure to hear that  unmistakable biz in my hair. When i first got my bee's i read in many places to not wear gloves and get to know your bees and i seen many beekeepers not wearing much  bee gear so  i did the same i started to go feed the hives in only my shorts and shirt well now days i suit up every time i  go to my apiary. Two make a long story short  As your apiary grows stronger the more you'll get stung I've been stung 8 times and chased to my shed 6 times.{I'm a slow leaner}
I sure would like to have c2  make it but not sure what to do next.
Any ideals would be great .
THANK YOU.
Say hello to the bad guy.
35hives  {T} OAV

Titus

Take your Glock and cap the queen :evil:   Then requeen or possibly give them a frame with eggs from your docile hive to get some of those genetics.  Use plenty of smoke on the hot bees.

super dave

they are probably a little mean due to not having a queen--- you could ether take the chance and let the queens cell run its course or you could re-queen--ether way this late in the season you should feed the heck out of them-
lets throw it in the air and see which  way it splatters

AliciaH

How large is the population of bees in C2?  If the population is still strong I might be inclined to see how the queen cell works out and might even steel one more frame of eggs from C1 to see if they make a queen from that.  If it doesn't work, you can combine at that point.

If the population is already noticeably dropping, then you might not be able to build the population back up in time for winter and combining sooner rather than later is probably better.

I, too, would be feeding them.  If you end up combining, you can combine the stores or put them aside to feed back over winter.

It also depends on how your weather is there and how long you think you have before the colder weather hits.  I'm not familiar with that area of the country so you'll have to fill in the blanks on that one.

AllenF

You need to see if you do have a queen.   A queenless hive will get hot and after several weeks will develop laying workers.   I would check on finding the queen first and then we can go from there.