Bees agitated

[Celia]

I have one commercial hive. A Buckfast queen was introduced a few months ago. I noticed today the bees are very noisy and agitated, some dropping on the grass after arriving back at the hive, including some with pollen. Any ideas or advice? I’m a beginner but it doesn’t feel normal. Temperature around 14 degrees and overcast.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Not the time of year for pesticides.
Have they enough food? Are there dead bees on the hive floor or on the ground outside the entrance?
Any shaky ones in the top bars.
I’d have a look inside.

Tell us what you find?

 

[Celia]

Not the time of year for pesticides.
Have they enough food? Are there dead bees on the hive floor or on the ground outside the entrance?
Any shaky ones in the top bars.
I’d have a look inside.

Tell us what you find?

They seem to be recovering, none on the ground any more and lots of pollen going in. Possibly they were just tired earlier on and ran out of energy. There is a bit of sun now so hopefully warming them up. Fingers crossed.

 

[Beagle23]

I have one commercial hive. A Buckfast queen was introduced a few months ago. I noticed today the bees are very noisy and agitated, some dropping on the grass after arriving back at the hive, including some with pollen. Any ideas or advice? I’m a beginner but it doesn’t feel normal. Temperature around 14 degrees and overcast.

Some days will just be off days, humans have them and bees have them. If erratic behaviour persists then look into it, but don't worry too soon.

 

[BernardBlack]

I have one Queen from a buckfast strain and that colony are always agitated!

My other hives are Irish black bee and the difference in temperament is night and day.

I always inspect the buckfast hive last. Close it up and run like frig to the shed and hide. Buck mental, so they are!

 

[Hebeegeebee]

And I thought that Buckfasts were supposed to be well-behaved.
Is it a first generation queen?

 

[madasafish]

I have one Queen from a buckfast strain and that colony are always agitated!

My other hives are Irish black bee and the difference in temperament is night and day.

I always inspect the buckfast hive last. Close it up and run like frig to the shed and hide. Buck mental, so they are!

Must be the beekeeper: I have no issues with genuine Buckfast

 

[Erichalfbee]

Must be the beekeeper: I have no issues with genuine Buckfast

Me neither. My favourite bee.

 

[BernardBlack]

Me neither. My favourite bee.

She’s a great layer and they are a productive colony. They’re just mad!

 

[Erichalfbee]

She’s a great layer and they are a productive colony. They’re just mad!

Well I’d replace her.

 

[jeff33]

Me neither. My favourite bee.

I tried a couple of Peter a few years back, really gentle but didn't do well here, never managed 2 supers....they were great at wax building though, even the Qx was unrecognisable!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I got my first Buckies off Pete 13 years ago. I rang the order in about 11pm and finally got off the phone at 12.30.
I never had a bad one off him and none of them were really sticky.

 

[jeff33]

I got my first Buckies off Pete 13 years ago. I rang the order in about 11pm and finally got off the phone at 12.30.
I never had a bad one off him and none of them were really sticky.

Apparently he was known for this . I gave up with buckies after that and got most of my queens from Ceri and the late Ricky. Funnily enough, I have a another random hive which I swear are buckies and these didn't even fill a super this season. She has made the cut and will use it to provide brood for nucs or cell builder next year.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I keep Buckies and black bees. As a generalisation in a good year the orange bees far outperform the black ones. In a bad year it’s the other way round. I had two queens off Ceri last year. One has done really well the other less so. The Buckies romped away and gave me lots of honey.

 

[Celia]

Not the time of year for pesticides.
Have they enough food? Are there dead bees on the hive floor or on the ground outside the entrance?
Any shaky ones in the top bars.
I’d have a look inside.

Tell us what you find?

Hi, me again. I am new to this. The bees are all fine, very good, very active. No other issues. However, I went to remove the only super and find it is pretty much uncapped. There is quite a lot of, I believe, ivy honey. My question is, do I leave the super in place for the winter, or do I remove it with the combs uncapped. If I remove the super, should I throw away the combs with ivy honey. Or alternatively should I leave it with the bees for their first winter?

 

[jeff33]

should I throw away the combs with ivy honey

Why would you even contemplate that? Drawn comb is a highly valuable resource!!
Depending on the size of your colony you can either leave it for the winter but remove the Qx, put it under the BB (nadir) and the bees will move it back to the BB, or extract and feed back to the bees.

 

[ericbeaumont]

remove it with the combs uncapped

Problem is that ivy sets like concrete in about ten days, so the aim is to get it out of the combs before that happens.

I agree with Jeff: extract while it's runny and feed it back, or nadir the super and remove it in spring, by which time the bees wil have transferred the stores above and around the nest, where they can protect it.

 

[BernardBlack]

Well I’d replace her.

Yeah you’re right. I should have done.

 

[Hachi]

Yeah you’re right. I should have done.

Best option now is an overwintered Q next spring?