New Packages Absconded????

[Hi-Tech]

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. I know there are so many factors that could be the problem but I will list what I know.

I purchased 10 three lb packages of Italians from Harrells (Hayneville, AL) on April, 14
I had to wait 2 days to hive them due to rain so that was done on April 16
I hived them in previously used (mine from last year) medium hive bodies with drawn comb.
Some of the hive bodies had been repainted, some hadn’t.
The hives were off the ground about 1 foot on 4x4s sitting on blocks
The hives were about 10 inches apart
All were setup to be fed by jars of syrup through the top cover.

The first hive absconded 5 days later. It looked like they were swarming but all of the bees left. Yesterday, the 5th hive absconded. In less than 2 weeks, 5 out of 10 hives have absconded….

Any clues as to what I did or am doing wrong?

[Understudy]

Is the queen still in the queen cage?

Do you have excluders on the hive?
This is about the only time I recommend using excluders.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[Hi-Tech]

After 3 days, I removed 9 empty queen cages. 1 cage had a dead queen in it. She was probably killed by a queen that was accidently shook into the package.

No excluders.

This beats all I have ever seen!!!  So far, $250 worth of bees have flown away!

[pdmattox]

Sorry to hear what happend, I think you did everything right though.

[Hi-Tech]

Also....

All the empty hives had uncapped nectar in the comb but no eggs anywhere. These hives went from wide open bee activity bringing in pollen and nectar one day to empty the next. All I found were a few dead bees below the hive and other bees robbing the nectar. I only saw one of them leave and it looked just like a swarm. the came out like a tornado and was gone in minutes...

I thought that maybe the hives being close together was causing them to fight or something but they all had syrup and i placed hives like that last year....??????????????????????????

[Understudy]

I also don't think you did anything wrong I am just throwing out ideas.
That sucks about the bees flying off.
Wait for your neighbors to complaign about strange new feral hives.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[pdmattox]

Good idea, then you can get the bees and get paid to do it. :-D

[Hi-Tech]

I just got off the phone with the guy at Harrell's and he said he had never heard of that before. He was nice and offered me some free queens to do some splits if i wanted to... I am going to go into the hives today and take a look around.

[Mici]

wittnesing another CCD story maybe? althugh he actually saw his bees leave?! and the others are robbing them but nevertheless...
sorry for your loss, but all i can say is, if others are speechless, i really can't help you.

[Michael Bush]

When I see them clustering on the outside I take another hive and scent it (lemongrass oil is my preference but lemon pledge will do in a pinch) and shake them into a new box.  I assume the don't like the smell of it.

[tillie]

Hi Robert, 

Nice to see you back here, but what an awful predicament!  I am so sorry - you must be so frustrated.  I can't imagine watching them take off like that.  I hope the splits and new queens work out OK.

Linda T

[JP]

perhaps the hives had some odor or vapors they didn't like? :?

[Kirk-o]

Bees sometimes have there own idea's of what they want.I had a friend who cut out some bees in San Diego count Monday they absconded the next morning he caught them again the next day they left again he caught them they left again he called me asked what to do I said sometimes the bees do what they want .He let them stay up in the pepper tree in his backyard.Thats were they are thats what they wanted.It happens.Your bees probably didn't like there home for what ever reason and left.
Kirko

[Hi-Tech]

Thanks for the responses... Just when you think you know something....

Thats what I love about beekeeping... Always learning...

Tillie, thanks for the welcome back. Losing my father this winter was the toughest thing I have ever gone through and it took me back a bit. However, he loved my bees and would want me to keep on keeping on...

[kensfarm]

Would this happen because the queens might have been virgins? 

[pdmattox]

I would not think they were virgins because he bought packages and they should have come with a mated and laying queen.

[Hi-Tech]

They should have been mated queens.......

So far, no more have absconed but I am going to open the remaining 5 hives up tomorrow for a close inspection. I will post results...

[Brian D. Bray]

One of the few times a queen exclude is useful is in keeping swarms or packages from obsconding.  Usually bees will take to a hive unless there is something there they don't like: Plastic comb/foundation, Chemical smells (ie paint thinner, oil, etc), pitch pockets, other pests or odors.

I've found, that time or inclination available that a light torching of the inside of the box with a propane torch will dispel those problems.

[reinbeau]

Thanks for the responses... Just when you think you know something....

Thats what I love about beekeeping... Always learning...

Tillie, thanks for the welcome back. Losing my father this winter was the toughest thing I have ever gone through and it took me back a bit. However, he loved my bees and would want me to keep on keeping on...

Hi-Tech, you don't know me (pleased to meet you) but I wanted to say I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your father.  I lost mine almost exactly 10 years ago, and I miss him to this day.  He too was a beekeeper, only for three years, though, until he got sick.  I was thrilled that the first honey we harvested last year tasted like his and Mom's did so many years ago. 

[Hi-Tech]

I went into the 5 remaining hives and was again hit with dissapointment. Out of the 5 remaining hives, 3 are queenless and one of the queenless hives has a laying worker.

This whole project has been one big dissaster!

Nice to meet you too, reinbeau,  thanks...