Lost a Hive at the Farm

[FatherMichael]

There is a frame's worth of bees hanging on but no sign of a queen.  They had plenty of feed but some critter has been raiding them: found the bottom screen caved in and the closure on the ground; plus, there are smashed bee stains around the entrance.

Will take these poor stragglers and combine them with the other hive, which is fairly strong considering the winter we had.  Will use the old newspaper method between the deep hive bodies.

Maybe it will be a great year.  They might fill two deeps and I'll have a chance to split next spring.

Maybe I'll catch a swarm?

[jtcmedic]

Any idea on what. Skunk? Sorry for the lost hive

[Acebird]

As a rule I would not combine a failing / failed hive with a healthy one.  I feel it would be better to clean it up and give it some larvae to see if it can make a queen.

[FatherMichael]

Any idea on what. Skunk? Sorry for the lost hive

Thank, medic.

Haven't got a clue what was eating them.  Whatever it was caved in the bottom screen.

Mary helped me combine the two hives yesterday.  We were through in 15 minutes.

The bottom deep with the stronger hive has a lot of food left from overwintering.  I gave the impoverished top group a pail of syrup, which both groups will have when they combine.

[FatherMichael]

Found a design flaw on the Finnish Bee Box screened bottom, which allowed the critter to cave it in and lick up bees.

To slide it in the slot the entrance end is left without any positive mechanical attachment for the screen.

That'll need to be fixed.

[FatherMichael]

Shook the two deeps into one and solved the screen caving design flaw with four nails across the screen in the front.

Solved the critter problem (probably a racoon as evidenced by the bite marks) by putting a solid 3/8" plywood bottom on the hive stand and, get this, piling thorn bush branches fore and aft where the bees were being licked up.

[Bob Wilson]

Judges 8:16
And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness and briers, and with them he taught the men of Succoth.

[van from Arkansas]

HE was killed; 8:21.  Obivious you are talking about the coon or skunk, not the honeybees?

I hope that critter does not come back to harass your hives.  Are your hives on a stand, Father Michael?

[FatherMichael]

Great quote, Bob!  Ha!

Yes, Van, my hives are on stands that put the entrance about 20 inches up.  But that racoon was smart.  It had caved in the bottom screen from below.  He or she would pull out the plastic mite counting board and get bees.

[paus]

I have had "coons" rip  the bottom screen but the oil pan was in the way and they never got to the bees.

[FatherMichael]

I have had "coons" rip  the bottom screen but the oil pan was in the way and they never got to the bees.

That made me think that I might substitute an oil pan for the plastic mite counting board.

[van from Arkansas]

Great quote, Bob!  Ha!

Yes, Van, my hives are on stands that put the entrance about 20 inches up.  But that racoon was smart.  It had caved in the bottom screen from below.  He or she would pull out the plastic mite counting board and get bees.

I find coon are both smart and persistent as you describe.  They are numerous in my area, hardwood country with plenty of coon hollows.

[FatherMichael]

Made a bottom board and top out of scrap plywood for the empty hive body full of drawn comb.

Set it out a few days for my home hive to rob out.  But it is now a swarm trap.

Would love to catch a swarm.

Have six traps out now but one will get a package of bees soon.