bees eating stores already?

[Nakedapiarist]

Hive 2 is doing great but I'm having issues with hive 1 - I gave them a third super last week as they were just starting to cap the first and the second was filling fast.

We've had a couple of damp days but there's plenty of forage and both hives have had plenty of activity.

I checked on the supers today and hive one has started uncapping and eating the stores from the first super - the central cells are totally dry.

They've never been brilliant at storing on the brood combs and lazy about drawing out the outer frames but what's going on? Queen was seen three days ago, she's this years and I've seen eggs. Mite drop was 14 over eight days. Single brood chamber.

I'll be replacing her ladyship next spring with a queen from hive 2

 

[Millet]

I'm having the same problem.. my frames are shrinking instead of expanding.. i have started a thread on my problem's but i have had few replies..the ones who did reply are good people..

 

[Finman]

.
If they do not get nectar from flowers, they use stores. A big hive about 1/2 kg a day.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Yup: major dearth here. Crop forecasts shrinking.

 

[Tremyfro]

I made a post about this a few days ago...they store...then eat it...store it ...eat it. Just not getting any settled weather at all. Even at this moment it is raining...which doesn't matter too much as my girls will all be at home but will it be fine again tomorrow? I am pinning hopes on the HB....a good flow during August would be great and would help my nucs lay in enough too. This year seems to be constant weather watching!

 

[Nakedapiarist]

Why just the one hive though? They're on the same site though hive 2 is double brood and indoors. I know there are going to be differences but this quite dramatic.
At least i know why there was so much crud on the sticky board.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

They may just be moving it. A large proportion of their space is in the brood area, the brood nest iself is shrinking and they're preparing for winter. I'm confused by "inside" but it suggests differing signals to the colonies.

 

[Erichalfbee]

This year seems to be constant weather watching!

Now that you are a beekeeper, Tremyfro you will be forever weather watching.
I have six weather apps on my phone

 

[Tremyfro]

This year seems to be constant weather watching!

Now that you are a beekeeper, Tremyfro you will be forever weather watching.
I have six weather apps on my phone

I guess you are right. Usually I am weather watching as to when I can ride.....now I am on constant watch...our weather can change dramatically in a few minutes...you can see it rolling up from the Bristol Channel....and you know you have about 20 minutes to get everything under cover!
AND...it's rained all night ...AND ...it's still raining.....gloom and doom!

 

[YorkshireBees]

It can be surprising and worrying when it happens the first time but I still remember when I built a large population up in a colony and had 3-4 supers on most of which was capped or being capped. Then came a dearth and they empties almost all of it!!

In terms of hives in the same apiary performing differently, it can be that they are off different strength or just that the under-performing colony has just not found the same nectar sources.
I have 1-2 hives in a couple of my apiaries that constantly out-perform all the rest by 2-3 supers usually!

 

[Nakedapiarist]

I'm confused by "inside" but it suggests differing signals to the colonies.

Colony two is in my workshop with a short tunnel to the outside world - that was the plan anyway, the sheer weight of a double brood and three supers has shifted the stand enough that there's a massive gap and the bees now use every air vent, crack and hole as an exit, took a bit of getting used to but I'm now quite comfortable with the steady flight of insects over my head as I'm tinkering.

 

[Tremyfro]

....AND ...it has rained almost all day. Just got home from holiday...hoping to check a few of the hives but it is so cold and windy...can't bring myself to do it! Well let's hope Sunday will be a good day. I am going to put on a warm jacket and stand and watch the hives instead....I have been reading Storch...At the Hive Entrance.

 

[Swarm]

Do whatever it is you need to do tomorrow, Sunday is supposed to be pants.

 

[REDWOOD]

Do whatever it is you need to do tomorrow, Sunday is supposed to be pants.

That will be work then lol

 

[Swarm]

That will be work then lol

I'm counting but it seems I have to suffer for quite a while yet.

 

[Erichalfbee]

It can be surprising and worrying when it happens the first time but I still remember when I built a large population up in a colony and had 3-4 supers on most of which was capped or being capped. Then came a dearth and they empties almost all of it!!

Yes mine are being emptied and two colonies....the brood parts of Pagden ASs are on the verge of needing to be fed.
We seem to have a sunny day then three or four of rain repeated ad nauseam this "summer"

 

[Tremyfro]

Got something to do all day tomorrow...OH has told me Sunday is supposed to be OK....so keeping fingers crossed! I doubt the bees will get seen though as have electric fences to move and horses to move to fresh grazing. Water troughs to scrub out. Docks to clear from fields, harrowing and Graze on to apply.....hey ho.....also the briars have gone mad...they are like triffids...out to catch the unwary.
I had a look in through the clear cover boards of a couple of nucs I had hived a couple of weeks ago....Chocca with bees....all the girls at home today. However was pleased to see they have been building lots of comb on the plastic frames I waxed for them. So time not entirely wasted.

 

[Tremyfro]

OH was definitely wrong about his weather forecast! It is steadily raining. So no hive inspections today.
A beautiful day yesterday so at least they did get some stores.

 

[enrico]

OH was definitely wrong about his weather forecast! It is steadily raining. So no hive inspections today.
A beautiful day yesterday so at least they did get some stores.

Made me laugh in last weeks telegraph. Apparently bees can bring in to one hive 20lbs a day so if a hive produces 60 lbs then it may have been collected in three days. I wish!
E

 

[YorkshireBees]

Made me laugh in last weeks telegraph. Apparently bees can bring in to one hive 20lbs a day so if a hive produces 60 lbs then it may have been collected in three days. I wish!
E

I think their source must have been Finman!