Very weak colony

[Bighead]

I received a very weak colony this past weekend. Just one frame of bees and a queen, I was wondering if I could feed medabee to help things along. I don't have another hive to add bee or  brood to this one.

[slacker361]

bighead, I am a new keeper, so keep that in mind, however I would think that giving megabee  wouldnt hurt at all, also feeding syrup and an entrance reducer to help them fend off invaders

[wd]

I'd certainly give it try myself in a two maybe 3 frame box with mega bee and sugar syrup

[Bighead]

Yea, I have them in a 5 frame nuc with a small opening reducer. I was going to feed them the megabee mixed in the sugar water.

[AllenF]

Were they a new hive or a split or could something be wrong with them?

[wd]

Were they a new hive or a split or could something be wrong with them?

I thought that too along with just one frame?

Regardless, a pollen patty is an option. I do sprinkle a little mega bee on top of frames sometimes, usually it's just a pinch gently applied directly on top of the frames. One hive boiled out the front seemingly as a result of throwing on more.

[Bighead]

I was told it is the remains of a swarmed hive.

[AllenF]

One the one frame, is there brood?   Do you have the queen?   How old was the swarm and how bog was it from the start?    You may just need to feed the crap out of them.   

[riverrat]

first off i would look for signs of a queen. if you have a queen then i would feed feed feed. another option to build them up is find a trap out to do and use that hive as the bait hive i have done this with weak swarms i have found to build them up. that reminds me i got to go switch boxes out on a trap out tomorrow

[Bighead]

No brood and I do have the queen. I think what I have is the complete swarm softball size?I will feed them the megabee as much as they will stand.

[AllenF]

Go ahead and medicate with fumidil B with there feed.   They may have nosema for the queen not to lay or she may just be real old.   Go ahead and be looking around for a replacement queen in any case.  If they are taking up much syrup, you may need to drench them with the meds.

[Kathyp]

 2nd the pollen patty.  if they don't have enough foragers they'll need the extra help or that queen will never lay.  you don't have much time to get her going.  that small a bunch of bees i would not requeen.  if you don't see her laying right quick, you need to combine that hive.  in the mean time, do you have another hive?  pop a frame of brood and workers in there to boost numbers.

[Bighead]

She has started laying but I have no brood to put with them. Thanks for all the help

[wd]

how's it doing?

[Bighead]

I think it is doing pretty good considering how small it was in the beginning.