14x12 helping out a national?

[Blue Spinnaker]

My 14x12 is going great guns, 7 frames of brood and eggs and the rest stores left over from winter and pollen coming in like it's going out of fashion. My friend has a national with one patch of eggs from a new queen who is laying erratically as yet, and few bees. I've only been going less than a year and she not much longer - what can I do to help?

 

[drstitson]

couple of things -

firstly the small colony needs to be cosy in a nuc not a full national.

secondly could try a frame of emerging brood (edit: oops 14x12) and maybe a shake of perfume sprayed young bees.

do you have a 14x12 nuc spare???? and some kingspan

 

[Davelin]

Well the obvious would be to donate a frame of brood, except it won't fit! You could perhaps slot a national frame in your b/box and when it is full of brood put it in your friends.

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

Yes, dr, between us I think we have most bits and pieces! So put a frame of my brood into a 14x12 nuc with her national frame(s), insulate and should they be fed?

Perfume sprayed? ..... as in Chanel no 5

 

[drstitson]

"should they be fed?"

probably would help - do you have a frame feeder? i'd prefer to keep a nice solid sheet on top of hive.

"Perfume sprayed? ..... as in Chanel no 5"

no - cheapo stuff - couple of squirts into a water sprayer - masks the smell of the bees.

(not necessary if you had several colonies to donate from!!!!)

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

Thanks, will give it a go

 

[Rosti]

If this is a genuine donation between hives and it is that critical then surley you simply cut the bottom of the 14x12 frame off and use a bit of wire to support if necessary.

Bingo, fits a std national.

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

I'm not very bright - I just realised that one of my frames broke when I lifted it out at the first inspection and is now just a top bar - that would be ideal, thanks!

 

[itma]

... My friend has a national with one patch of eggs from a new queen who is laying erratically as yet, and few bees. I've only been going less than a year and she not much longer - what can I do to help?

It might be an idea to get a more experienced beek to visit for another opinion on the poorly colony.
It might well be that requeening early in the season, or some other treatment, would be the best way forward.

 

[Vergilius]

My 14x12 is going great guns, 7 frames of brood and eggs and the rest stores left over from winter and pollen coming in like it's going out of fashion. My friend has a national with one patch of eggs from a new queen who is laying erratically as yet, and few bees. I've only been going less than a year and she not much longer - what can I do to help?

Don't do anything! Why compromise the strength of your colony (and the size of your honey-crop)???


Ben P