My queen is dead after 27 days, tossed out, like the garbage...

gundalf · May 28, 2010, 09:07:57 AM

29 days ago we started two hives from packaged bees and all was going well until yesterday, when they seemed irritated and had slopped syrup all over the ramp... As I was inspecting the excess syrup, I found the queen on the ground in front of the hive... The day before, I inspected the hives and saw increasing numbers, the queen and everything appeared OK, except for the fact that they were about 10-15% behind the other hive in drawn comb...

I'm at a loss... Any ideas???

JP · May 28, 2010, 09:20:06 AM

So the bees slopped syrup everywhere? ;) How many boxes? Did you inspect for supersedure or emergency cells? Is there eggs or young larvae so they can make a new queen? If not they will either need the resources (frame with eggs/very young larvae) from another hive or you will need to order another queen.

...JP

annette · May 28, 2010, 01:17:17 PM

I am wondering if your feeder is defective and this has caused syrup to drip down onto the bees causing trouble. Bees don't usually slop syrup around.

Have you checked the feeder to see any if any problems with it?

AllenF · May 28, 2010, 09:26:32 PM

Did you refill the feeder the day before?

gundalf · May 28, 2010, 09:54:06 PM

Quote from: annette on May 28, 2010, 01:17:17 PM
I am wondering if your feeder is defective and this has caused syrup to drip down onto the bees causing trouble. Bees don't usually slopp syrup around.

Have you checked the feeder to see any if any problems with it?

No, it's a front loader and I have screen bottom board...

gundalf · May 28, 2010, 09:59:34 PM

Quote from: AllenF on May 28, 2010, 09:26:32 PM
Did you refill the feeder the day before?

Actually I fed them in the am and by 3 they were a quart low and the landing pad was a puddle...

Kathyp · May 28, 2010, 10:01:30 PM

i'm thinking something got in there. did the bees seem really agitated? those feeders are notorious for attracting unwanted visitors. the slopping of the syrup does not sound like it came from the honeybees.

gundalf · May 29, 2010, 08:27:32 AM

Quote from: kathyp on May 28, 2010, 10:01:30 PM
i'm thinking something got in there. did the bees seem really agitated? those feeders are notorious for attracting unwanted visitors. the slopping of the syrup does not sound like it came from the honeybees.

they were agitated...

AllenF · May 29, 2010, 08:43:40 AM

A leaking feeder can cause others bees to visit and rob which will upset your bees.

Kathyp · May 29, 2010, 11:07:40 AM

did you requeen?

get rid of that feeder. either use a jar feeder on top or something inside.

my guess is that they were robbed and the queen was injured/killed in the fighting.

sarafina · May 29, 2010, 12:33:22 PM

It does sound like something got into your hive to slop the syrup.

You said you did an inspection yesterday - did you pull any frames? Any chance you accidentally rolled the queen when you put the frames back?

gundalf · May 29, 2010, 09:36:16 PM

Quote from: sarafina on May 29, 2010, 12:33:22 PM
It does sound like something got into your hive to slop the syrup.

You said you did an inspection yesterday - did you pull any frames? Any chance you accidentally rolled the queen when you put the frames back?

. thing is possible... ..Here is a photo of her kinda alone.. http://picasaweb.google.com/1bigyeti/BeesOTheShire#5475557852141014690

buzzbee · May 29, 2010, 10:03:54 PM

The link doesn't work for me Gundalf. you may need to set permissions for public view on picassa?

gundalf · May 30, 2010, 08:47:57 AM

Quote from: buzzbee on May 29, 2010, 10:03:54 PM
The link doesn't work for me Gundalf. you may need to set permissions for public view on picassa?

I'm trying... Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm... Try it now... http://picasaweb.google.com/1bigyeti/BeesOTheShire#5475557852141014690

sarafina · May 30, 2010, 06:42:12 PM

What kind of feeder is that? Usually the feeders on the front are Boardman feeders, but I have never seen one like that. The Boardman's use a glass wide-mouth jar with a metal cap with lots of small holes in it.

buzzbee · May 30, 2010, 07:44:46 PM

Works now!!

JP · May 30, 2010, 08:08:14 PM

Gundalf, I have several feeders just like you have. Let me mention something if I may. If the body of the feeder is not pushed all the way down into the base, these feeders will leak. Other than that they work just fine.

http://picasaweb.google.com/112138792165178452970/March292010#5454403215273441490

...JP

gundalf · May 31, 2010, 10:23:45 AM

I inspected the hive yesterday and they are starting a cell about the size of a pencil eraser near the middle of #5 frame... It wasn't there 4 days ago, so I assume that they are attempting to make a new queen... Right now I need some help from those of you who are more knowledgeable than myself, which is just about all of you... Should I watch while the numbers dwindle or should I re-queen??? Where can I get a good queen quickly, without spending a bundle??? Retired and on fixed income, so $$$ is a factor... Thanks for all the input gang... Wish I had someone local that I could get to take a look and advise....

Kathyp · May 31, 2010, 10:47:04 AM

the cheapest and simplest thing to do is take a frame of eggs from the other hive and let this hive make it's own queen. this has a few drawbacks. it takes a couple of weeks for them to raise a queen. there is the risk she'll not come back from her mating flight, and it might take her a bit to get laying when she comes back.

so...what are the numbers like in that hive? is there enough brood in there to keep numbers up for 3 or 4 weeks. how early does your winter come?

another option is to combine that hive with your other, and just have one.

a queen should run you around 30 dollars to buy. maybe more if it needs to be shipped.

sarafina · May 31, 2010, 11:43:20 AM

https://products.kelleybees.com/wtkprod/detail.aspx?item=1372

You can get a new queen from Walter Kelly for $25 plus $5 shipping.