Bailey Change question

[BernardBlack]

Ok so, Queen put upstairs in new box. Workers in bottom box tend to sealed brood, then when brood emerges they all move upwards, and eventually you remove bottom box.

What's the deal with the pollen and honey stores that are in the bottom box though?

Will the bees have used that up by the time the bottom box is ready to be removed? Or do they abandon those stores below? Or should the beekeeper remove old box as soon as possible regardless of pollen/honey stores contained?

Any thoughts?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Do you have a top entrance and have you blocked off the bottom one?

 

[BernardBlack]

Do you have a top entrance and have you blocked off the bottom one?

Yes, that's the plan (not done it yet).

Just wondered about the pollen/honey issue.

 

[Madge]

What's the deal with the pollen and honey stores that are in the bottom box though?

What was the purpose of the BE?

If the pollen and honey combs are in good condition, I’d just give it back to the same colony. Perhaps you can move it up now.

 

[BernardBlack]

What was the purpose of the BE?

If the pollen and honey combs are in good condition, I’d just give it back to the same colony. Perhaps you can move it up now.

Just monitoring things. Not sure if a Bailey is required.

Got bees tested a few weeks ago, had some nosema spores. Faecal matter outside hive on a couple of occasions, including last weekend (during somewhat wet weather). No real faecal matter on comb nor dead bees outside hive, and colony is building up well.

Anyway, need to phase out a few frames in main brood box as they're aging, so if a bailey was needed, I could do two tasks at once.

But as I say, don't think it's severe so probably not needed. But it's good to be prepared.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Just monitoring things. Not sure if a Bailey is required.

Got bees tested a few weeks ago, had some nosema spores. Faecal matter outside hive on a couple of occasions, including last weekend (during somewhat wet weather). No real faecal matter on comb nor dead bees outside hive, and colony is building up well.

Anyway, need to phase out a few frames in main brood box as they're aging, so if a bailey was needed, I could do two tasks at once.

But as I say, don't think it's severe so probably not needed. But it's good to be prepared.

If they have nosema spray them with Thymol. It works really well and the bees bounce back. Nosema is endemic so a few spores probably signifies little unless there are other symptoms. A Bailey is a nuisance to do at this time of year because you have to keep letting the drones out of the bottom.

 

[BernardBlack]

If they have nosema spray them with Thymol. It works really well and the bees bounce back. Nosema is endemic so a few spores probably signifies little unless there are other symptoms. A Bailey is a nuisance to do at this time of year because you have to keep letting the drones out of the bottom.

Yeah that's why was monitoring lately, as the other symptoms weren't really there (dead bees at entrance, soiled combs, colony not building up etc).

Didn't think there was any other treatments other than a Bailey change. Think it was Fumidril B or something, but it's off the market apparently.

Re: the drones - do they not gradually move up to the new box above, along with the newly hatched brood and nurse bees?

 

[Swarm]

Not through the excluder.