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Liam C Ryan

House Bee
Joined
Jun 22, 2010
Messages
241
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0
Location
Tipperary
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
7
One of my hives was small enough going into the winter but today I saw bees bringing in pollen. Is this an indication that I have a laying queen.
 
From what I have read it could mean that, but not always. I had pollen coming in one time and turned out to be q-. I would open up and have a look for b.i.a.s as soon as the weather is warm enough as you seem worried. Our association doesnt advise we open hives until mid + April.
 
Liam

Nothing about our bees is certain but I'd say it's 95% likely you have a laying Q .....wouldn't do any harm to give them some fondant.
 
Pollen coming in means that there is pollen out there!

When you get a half-decent day, open up and check for the presence in appropriate quantity of stores, space and brood. Not a full inspection - you ought not even need to lift out the brood frames. No need to find HMQ, look for eggs, admire the brood pattern, etc. Minimal disruption, maximum reassurance.
Mainly check they aren't about to run out of food. As the colony expands, its rate of eating increases, and that is ideally just ahead of new forage availability. So the last scraps of stores could vanish surprisingly fast.
On the other hand, you don't want them to have so much stores that it restricts HMQ's space to lay eggs.

Food and space are about the only things you can do anything about at this time of year.
So they are the prime things you need to be checking when you open up.

If everything is all right, swiftly install your see-through top cover, and let them get on with things.


As a hobby beekeeper, you can afford the time and care to have a 'first look', when the weather gives you an opportunity, somewhat earlier than a large-scale keeper could schedule a proper "first inspection".
Carpe diem!
 
You're not too far away from me and up here we've been having a peek for the last month, temperature permitting.

Without having a look you are only speculating and so is everyone else! My strong laying queen is on her second round of brood on a couple of frames, my weaker one is still on her first and the non layer's colony is on the way out. I know this is by looking.
 
Liam

Nothing about our bees is certain but I'd say it's 95% likely you have a laying Q .....wouldn't do any harm to give them some fondant.

I'd love to be your bookie :)


I don't agree that bees bringing in pollen necessarily tells you much more than you've got flying bees and something giving up pollen. I've watched queenless and broodless hives happily bringing in pollen.
 
wouldn't do any harm to give them some fondant.

Heft it. No point in adding more stores if there is loads in there already. Laying space could be important. Don't just go adding fondant 'blindly'. Think carefully, of all the alternatives, before jumping in and getting it wrong.
 
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the coming week are to be warm so might have a quick look and make some fondant and feed them.
Thanks for all your replys
Liam C
 
Nellie

I've only been keeping bees since 1989 but have NEVER had a colony that didn't have fresh brood if they were taking in pollen.....I'd say means I'm posting from my personal experience.

Besides which - what's the point of assuming the worst at this time of year?
 
Fair enough, I wouldn't give them a 95% chance of having a laying queen based on pollen going in though.

I think Pollen going in = Laying queen is a fallacy.

I'm not even sure that I'd agree that Pollen Going in = Brood

Yet it's one of those beekeeping "facts" that constantly does the rounds.

It can be an indicator, along with other factors for sure, that things are going along ok, but I think to see bees bringing in Pollen and assuming from that there's a laying queen and everything is fine is stretching things.

I'd say Means you're giving your opinion, I'm just disagreeing with it :) (and we all know the saying about opinions)

As for not assuming the worst, fine by me, seeing flying bees bringing pollen in is certainly a better sign than not seeing them but in isolation at this time of year it doesn't really tell you anything else.
 
One of my hives was small enough going into the winter but today I saw bees bringing in pollen. Is this an indication that I have a laying queen.
I have a drone layer, and the foragers are returning with massive pollen loads, so it is meaningless. I am waiting for the opportunity to unite it to its neighbour.
 
I took on a Q- colony a few years back and their remaining mission in life was to fill the BB with pollen....
 
I have a drone layer, and the foragers are returning with massive pollen loads, so it is meaningless. I am waiting for the opportunity to unite it to its neighbour.

is that worth the effort....old winter bees will not last much longer and unless the weather is clement will be a drain on the hives resources
 
"Is this an indication that I have a laying queen."

probably - but no indication as to whether she's laying fertilised eggs or is a DLQ.
 

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