BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > NATURAL & ORGANIC BEEKEEPING METHODS
Planning for year two
charentejohn:
Now in year 2 and one hive down but the other is up and running, video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGy7AX_yOuM
The other one was always less active so I wonder if it was queen failure, otherwise they have been the same all last year. The one that woke up came on 3 covered frames of a 5 frame nuc, the other had all 5 covered so I expected them to be way more active but they never were, active enough just about 2/3 of the other one.
There were a few bees coming and going a few weeks ago but all quiet now. I will dismantle when the weather is suitable just in case there are salvagable bees, doubt it though. Nothing worrting about the die out just guess the queen wasn't laying enough and as they died off not replaced, none at all flying now.
I can clean it up and await a swarm rather than from a Nuc again as should attract other bees I hope.
The15thMember:
--- Quote from: charentejohn on February 22, 2021, 10:13:10 am ---There were a few bees coming and going a few weeks ago but all quiet now. I will dismantle when the weather is suitable just in case there are salvagable bees, doubt it though. Nothing worrting about the die out just guess the queen wasn't laying enough and as they died off not replaced, none at all flying now.
--- End quote ---
I would clean up a deadout as soon as possible. If you don't really know what they died of, I wouldn't want to chance spreading something to your other hive, or other hives in your area. Those few bees coming and going a few weeks ago were probably robber bees from your other colony, and therefore whatever damage could be done is probably done, but just for the future. Deadouts are a big culprit for the spreading of varroa and other diseases, as robbers from other colonies enter the empty hive to steal resources and pick up whatever other nastiness the colony died of and bring it back to their healthy colony.
--- Quote from: charentejohn on February 22, 2021, 10:13:10 am ---I can clean it up and await a swarm rather than from a Nuc again as should attract other bees I hope.
--- End quote ---
Generally swarms will not prefer a location right next to another colony, but swarms pick weird locations all the time, so anything is possible.
Ben Framed:
>. The other one was always less active so I wonder if it was queen failure,
John from your older post and discussions; Just adding two and two together. I would say mites and the problems associated with mites brought to a hive, did them in. Sadly many new beekeepers do not grasp the deadly effects that mites can have on our bees.
Bill Murray:
I should probably start a new post but the question is Has anybody say south of NC. tried the Saskatraz Bees?
The15thMember:
--- Quote from: Bill Murray on February 22, 2021, 11:35:53 am ---I should probably start a new post but the question is Has anybody say south of NC. tried the Saskatraz Bees?
--- End quote ---
You should definitely start a new topic. No one is going to see that here.
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