failing hive

heaflaw · February 07, 2008, 10:48:25 PM

I found a hive today with a queen and only about 40 bees. Lots of dead ones. There is plenty of honey, but by looking at the pattern of dead ones, I think they got caught in a part of the hive without honey during cold weather. It will turn cold again after tommorrow and I have only one day to save them if I can.

Should I put frames of bees from one of my strong hives in it so they will have enough to produce enough heat to survive until spring? Could I put this hive on top of a strong hive with a double screen in between? If I did, would the bees protect both queens? Is it too late to save them?

What is your advice?

Understudy · February 07, 2008, 11:16:37 PM

If you can add a frame of brood do it. If you can do a newspaper combine with a brood chamber no queen that may be even better.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

Alan Forbes · February 07, 2008, 11:19:03 PM

I'm no authority, but two queens in 1 hive means trouble. They would fight until one killed the other. And trying to save the depleted hive by adding bees from a strong hive could jeopardize the strong hive. As cruel as it sounds, forty workers and a queen aren't worth saving. But that's just my opinion and I don't know much.

Kathyp · February 07, 2008, 11:52:55 PM

if you have a really strong hive, you could try shaking a frame of workers into the weak hive. don't get the queen and don't do it unless you are sure the other hive is really strong. we are not so far from better weather. you might only need to nurse them along for another couple of weeks until the queen is active again. how will your temps be? you can also switch the honey frames closer to the cluster.

NWIN Beekeeper · February 08, 2008, 04:54:57 AM

[As cruel as it sounds, forty workers and a queen...]

...are a tough save.

It is very likely that there aren't enough bees to have enough cluster for the queen to be comfortable laying any new brood. You would not kill the hive by ignoring it now, in all honesty, the hive was dead as a colony a while ago.

I would say to cut your losses and store the combs until the season is such that you can make a split.
I would use these frames to boost either the split or the original hive (or both).
The mere addition of drawn comb will help advance the split to full strength sooner.

For the fastest advancement, if the combs are drawn and empty, you may want to consider an aggressive rotation of these combs in next to two brood combs to have the queen laying at her maximum. This would give you more frames of brood to add to the split, increasing the colony size and stability considerably faster.

-Jeff

BMAC · February 08, 2008, 08:55:36 AM

bank the queen and just put them 40 workers in your strong hive. Make a split in the spring and call it good.

Cindi · February 08, 2008, 09:22:40 AM

Heaflaw. That is too bad. Jeff is right, the colony was "dead" some time ago, by the time you get these responses, the last remaining 40 are probably gone now too. It is a tough one, losing bees, but there is always tomorrow. I don't know if I would bother to bank the queen. Just start anew this year. Good luck with the remaining colony, I hope it fairs well. Have a great day, Cindi

JP · February 08, 2008, 09:32:52 AM

I t does seem that this hive won't make it, but what to do with that queen? First thing to come to mind is to use her to make swarm lure.

.....JP

Cindi · February 08, 2008, 09:37:59 AM

JP, ooooooh, now that is one honkin' good idea!!!! Have a wonderful, awesome day, Cindi

NWIN Beekeeper · February 08, 2008, 10:42:25 AM

heaflaw-

So now that you have a few opinions (probably none that you like to hear, sorry) the question is where do you go from here?

Do you know have a plan?

I find that establishing some short term goals and knocking down the easy ones helps to feel accomplished in the face of tragedy. It can be simple stuff like stocking up on cheap sugar for spring stimulating feeding. It can be assembling extra supers or frames and foundation. Just something quick that makes you feel accomplished.

One thing, as spring arrives, don't over work the other hive trying to compensate for what this one wasn't. Doing so will only set back the other hive.

-Jeff

Cindi · February 08, 2008, 10:56:37 AM

Jeff, that was some good advice that you have given Heaflaw. Taking things slowly, accomplishing the easier things that will make us forget about the things that are more complicated, temporarily, ;) :) :). That makes for success, letting us heal from something that has brought us down, good stuff. Have a wonderful, great day, love our life on this beautiful planet we share. Cindi

Michael Bush · February 08, 2008, 07:21:23 PM

Even if the weather was warm (and it's not) 40 bees can't keep brood warm and fed. They will never build up.

If you have some real strong hives you might be able to steal a frame or two of bees for them. But if you don't, I'd combine them. You will lose the queen.