Colony Losses

[Do224]

Only you can answer that question.


Weather is weird and it's best to react to colony status and not the calendar. Not so long ago in London we had swarms out in January; Spring had begun in December and we were in shirt sleeves after Christmas.


Weather will be 9-10C in Carlisle leading into March and if they fly between now and then and bring in nectar, where will it go? Into the brood nest, diminishing laying space just when it's needed.

Next week I have to move a couple of DBB contract colonies off a construction site for a fortnight, and one is so heavy I'll have to go in, take out stores and give combs. Lot of ivy, I reckon, because they weren't fed.

Fair enough…so if I were to add a bb should it go above or below? Presumably it would need to have all drawn comb and no foundation at this time of year

Or could I just add qx and super? I have to say it feels very counterintuitive to be doing anything at all with them so I might leave them another month or so depending on the weather.

 

[Swarm]

A brood chamber is far more important early in the year, the queen needs access and the bees will keep any nectar close around the nest. Maybe consider a dummied brood with 6 - 8 combs centrally placed, extra combs can be added at a later date.
But do all this according to weather conditions and bee activity.

 

[Sutty]

Fair enough…so if I were to add a bb should it go above or below? Presumably it would need to have all drawn comb and no foundation at this time of year

Or could I just add qx and super? I have to say it feels very counterintuitive to be doing anything at all with them so I might leave them another month or so depending on the weather.

If you feel the need to add another brood chamber I'd put it underneath as the current nest will then be in the warmest spot, and bees naturally extend the nest downwards.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

to be honest, before long you will see a sudden and substantial drop in bee numbers as all the 'winter bees' work themselves to a standstill and drop dead, you will then see a hiatus as all the younger new bees take over nursing duties and more brood emerges to allow a progression to foraging and expansion. so I wouldn't indulge in panic yet
There's a big difference between planet London and the wild and wooly steppes of Cumbria

 

[ericbeaumont]

substantial drop in bee numbers

Yes, and that occurred to me this morning as I walked home from the print shop in Spring sunshine. Colony survival is governed by the changeover from dying Winter bees to emergence of new Spring bees, the timing of which is fluid and dependent (mostly) on the freedom to fly regularly to collect income.

leave them another month or so depending on the weather.

Your photo shows comb on the underside of the perspex CB and though most is brown, some is white, suggesting the recent presence of young bees able to produce wax. This might influence your decision, and Sutty's suggestion to put a BB under (rather than on top) will reduce risk of stress should colony numbers drop. Yes, drawn comb best, esp. if the box goes under, where it will be cooler.

Am I wrong to be leaving them alone?

After at least 5 years of keeping bees you will have the insight to make a decision based on what you see in the field. Often I make decisions instinctively, a quick distillation of hive set-up, previous hazy history, weather, hefting, looking at what is in front to me. May not be the right decision, but that's beekeeping for you, and as neither book nor forum can provide a recipe, be robust and concoct your own.

 

[alancooper]

I was not able to communicate electronically for a month following storm Eowyn so this reply is a belated response to the early parts of the “colony loss” thread which got me thinking about climate warming and the susceptibility of insect populations to small climate changes.
Greater cloud cover and rainfall amounts, more intense storms and shifts in seasonality are a feature of the one-ish degree warmer regional weather we have in the west of Ireland. Discussion of the issue seems relevant when discussing beekeeper observations on colonies and how we manage them.

Observations from my 10 colony apiary are that it seems to becoming more difficult to get Queens mated, Queens seem to be laying well for longer in the autumn and Workers are more active over the winter. My management response has been to be more vigilant on winter feeding and varroa control.
Is this thread the place to carry on with discussion or is a separate thread needed?

 

[Do224]

Yes, and that occurred to me this morning as I walked home from the print shop in Spring sunshine. Colony survival is governed by the changeover from dying Winter bees to emergence of new Spring bees, the timing of which is fluid and dependent (mostly) on the freedom to fly regularly to collect income.


Your photo shows comb on the underside of the perspex CB and though most is brown, some is white, suggesting the recent presence of young bees able to produce wax. This might influence your decision, and Sutty's suggestion to put a BB under (rather than on top) will reduce risk of stress should colony numbers drop. Yes, drawn comb best, esp. if the box goes under, where it will be cooler.


After at least 5 years of keeping bees you will have the insight to make a decision based on what you see in the field. Often I make decisions instinctively, a quick distillation of hive set-up, previous hazy history, weather, hefting, looking at what is in front to me. May not be the right decision, but that's beekeeping for you, and as neither book nor forum can provide a recipe, be robust and concoct your own.

Was actually hoping to do my first ever demaree on this colony (since they’re so strong) but now I’m wondering if it’s going to be possible

 

[ericbeaumont]

wondering if it’s going to be possible

Why not?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Was actually hoping to do my first ever demaree on this colony (since they’re so strong) but now I’m wondering if it’s going to be possible

not at this time of year certainly

 

[Do224]

Why not?

I’d rather do my first demaree on a single brood colony. If they were already on double brood I think it would be a complication I could do without

 

[Do224]

not at this time of year certainly

No I was intending to super them as soon as the weather turns, I imagine around the start of April….and then expected to demaree them around the start of May. But from what people are saying it sounds like they’ll be swarming before I get the chance to demaree anyway

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

But from what people are saying it sounds like they’ll be swarming

that's newws to me - I just thing it's the usual late winter w3ishful thinking generated by idle minds

 

[Penninetrader]

It is clear we live in completely different worlds in this small land and one size most definitely does not fit all. It is best imo to read and observe your own colonies and make your best judgement. Nobody gets it all correct. Plans are great but opportunities almost always turn out better. If you have kit ready and allow for disaster things will go ok

 

[Do224]

I’ll sit on my hands and aim to demaree as planned

 

[ericbeaumont]

around the start of April….and then expected to demaree them around the start of May.

Throw away that calendar! Look at what is in the hive, balance that against what the buds are telling you, add a little local instinct and make a decision, even if it means doing nothing.

from what people are saying it sounds like they’ll be swarming before I get the chance to demaree

Not necessarily, but my feeling is that you're allowing side info. to dominate your thoughts rather than merely provide input that may help establish parameters of possibilities. Be bold, and disregard or include it as you see fit.

 

[Do224]

Throw away that calendar! Look at what is in the hive, balance that against what the buds are telling you, add a little local instinct and make a decision, even if it means doing nothing.


Not necessarily, but my feeling is that you're allowing side info. to dominate your thoughts rather than merely provide input that may help establish parameters of possibilities. Be bold, and disregard or include it as you see fit.

I know I know, bees don’t work to a calendar. That’s just my rough plan…as I say it will be my first demaree so will just be ‘best guess’. I’ll super them as soon as the weather is warm enough for it not to set them back and I’ll demaree them as soon as there’s a decent flow and temps are ok for comb building

 

[Curly green finger's]

I’ll sit on my hands and aim to demaree as planned

What’s your inspection board telling you for brood capping etc?