Bees in a Compost bin!

[Newbeeneil]

I got a call today from a guy who had lifted the lid on his compost bin and heard a crash as the colony that was attached to the lid crashed into the bottom of the bin!
He swiftly replaced the lid and called me. On investigation the six combs had no brood or food but the bees seemed queen-right but I didn't see Her. Is she likely to have gone of lay due to lack of food?
I shook the bees into a nuc with some combs with stores in and started feeding 2:1 syrup.
The bees covered 3 frames and seemed very happy with the food.
What are the chances for the colony, will they have time to take enough stores to over winter, is she likely to start laying?
I know I will probably have to combine with one of my other nucs but just thought I would ask the question!

 

[Ian123]

Well if you got the queen and she gets up and starts laying then theres a chance they will survive. Still plenty of time for them to take down syrup. Give them a few days and inspect. Treat if you find brood ASAP

 

[beeno]

Too late in the year to mess about particularly since she is not laying. I would dispatch the queen and combine if they seem healthy

 

[Newbeeneil]

TBH Beeno that was my first thought but I'm an old softy at heart and wondered if there was a chance.....
Difficult to assess for foul brood without brood, though they apppear pretty healthy from my hour or so with them yesterday.
I'll feed them up and see where they get to.

 

[Ian123]

Neil it all depends if there’s a viable queen. There are plenty who have been making up nucs the last couple of weeks and you have loads of time to get some feed on. If you inspect soon and find eggs then go ahead and keep there is every chance they will make it through. You may want to consider a frame of sealed brood if you have any that can spare it even a small patch. Let us know what you find

 

[beeno]

I have done it once. You can feed them sugar, but they need to get their own pollen. They should have had some brood though? You can always wait a week and see as it will give you a chance to evaluate their health a bit longer. I used to be a softy, but have toughened up a bit. I guess if you do all the work for nothing then you are not that keen the next time! Good luck and let us know how you get on.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Colonies often have brood breaks at this time of the year - especially as, in this case they were also low on food. Judicious feeding and (hopefully) ivy foraging in your area should trigger laying again and resolve your pollen issue.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Give them a pollen patty
Order a couple of ultrabee from beekeeping equipment. It’s good stuff. Don’t bother with Candipolline which is just coloured fondant

 

[masterBK]

When called out to bees found in compost bins they usually turn out to be tree bumbles but about one or two a year are the real deal.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I would feed; if the colony is viable - i.e. the queen is laying after a few days, then a frame of sealed brood stolen from another colony will be easily covered by the bees and boost them enormously. You could also steal a frame of sealed stores from another colony too - a big colony could be fed and re-make a frame of stores much more easily than your compost bin swarm. With a decent October in Surrey, the nuc could then be winterable.
If you site the colony next to another one, if it is no good, then uniting it is quite easy.

 

[Ian123]

Once had a call for bees in a manhole from water company, sure to be bumbles i thought. But no swarm had gone in though key holes in top of cover and set up below. Simple cut out and very gentle carnies

 

[Newbeeneil]

I'll feed them for the next week then inspect to see if she's laying. If not I'll add a frame of bias as a test frame to see if She's around. If they are queen right I'll see if I can nurse them through, if not I'll throw them outside a box with another small queenless colony and a queen right nuc - that should unite them quickly.

 

[DaveG23]

My brother in law had hornets build a nest in his compost bin this summer, he hadnt realised and got quite a few stings when he put something in the bin.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Update

Took advantage of the warm weather today to have a look at the bees I removed from the compost bin. They have been taking syrup for the last week and have filled almost 3 frames in the last week or so. The "almost area" is now filled with eggs! So it appears the queen is there. Horay!!
I'll feed them until they fill the box then tuck them in for winter.
Thanks for your imput folks

 

[DaveG23]

Took advantage of the warm weather today to have a look at the bees I removed from the compost bin. They have been taking syrup for the last week and have filled almost 3 frames in the last week or so. The "almost area" is now filled with eggs! So it appears the queen is there. Horay!!
I'll feed them until they fill the box then tuck them in for winter.
Thanks for your imput folks

Great news for you and the bees

 

[Erichalfbee]

Took advantage of the warm weather today to have a look at the bees I removed from the compost bin. They have been taking syrup for the last week and have filled almost 3 frames in the last week or so. The "almost area" is now filled with eggs! So it appears the queen is there. Horay!!
I'll feed them until they fill the box then tuck them in for winter.
Thanks for your imput folks

Great result.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Took advantage of the warm weather today to have a look at the bees I removed from the compost bin. They have been taking syrup for the last week and have filled almost 3 frames in the last week or so. The "almost area" is now filled with eggs! So it appears the queen is there. Horay!!
I'll feed them until they fill the box then tuck them in for winter.
Thanks for your imput folks

A quick OA treatment would be effective now - before the brood is sealed

 

[beeno]

That's a great result. Well done you!

 

[Newbeeneil]

Ooooops forgot to mention AO treatment. That will be done this week!