dead bees

[jenkinsbrynmair]

thanks JBM....the nuc i think i will just leave....or as its a double story nuc may mean i could put it into a single bb

I would leave it as is - overcrowding is another catalyst for the virus, so it's better they have too much space than 'just enough'

 

[Cuckmere couple]

and stop feeding the hive with no floor....

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

and stop feeding the hive with no floor....

If you think robbing is going to be an issue yes, if not, crack on. You could always try feeding fondant instead if you think they're still light.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Good luck. Let us know how you get on

 

[Cuckmere couple]

will do...thanks folk

 

[Cuckmere couple]

moved them onto a super on stand with no floor...no entrance except underneath and the mass of bees (look strong) they will find their way underneath

contemplating taking the nuc base away from the nuc and leave an open extension box as the base

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

contemplating taking the nuc base away from the nuc and leave an open extension box as the base

If you have got a modular nuc, do it, but as ever, be mindful of robbers

 

[Cuckmere couple]

yup....just need to find a stand to raise it from ground

 

[holmbee]

yup....just need to find a stand to raise it from ground

Oh, and just check that you still have the queen in the remaining colony. She was probably the first to die when I had a similar problem earlier this year. Hard luck I feel sorry for you.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Oh, and just check that you still have the queen in the remaining colony. She was probably the first to die

That is not usually the case - quite the opposite

 

[Erichalfbee]

The last colony I had to destroy still had its queen

 

[Cuckmere couple]

queens are both fine....the nuc has 1.5 frames capped brood

 

[Murox]

queens are both fine....the nuc has 1.5 frames capped brood

there is hope then.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks Murox....just feels a bit cold and wet to leave with no floor but they were on OMF anyway i guess

 

[Erichalfbee]

thanks Murox....just feels a bit cold and wet to leave with no floor but they were on OMF anyway i guess

That’s why there is the suggestion to raise them up quite a bit

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

That’s why there is the suggestion to raise them up quite a bit

It's also essential in that the bees, if the bottom of the hive is too near the ground, might take the ground to be their new 'floor' and still continue to clear the corpses from it, by elevating the hive on to a 'proper' (say 18") stand they just take the ground to be 'outside' and so are happy to leave the dead there

 

[Murox]

thanks Murox....just feels a bit cold and wet to leave with no floor but they were on OMF anyway i guess

Raise them up!

 

[North End Bees]

It's also essential in that the bees, if the bottom of the hive is too near the ground, might take the ground to be their new 'floor' and still continue to clear the corpses from it, by elevating the hive on to a 'proper' (say 18") stand they just take the ground to be 'outside' and so are happy to leave the dead there

Would it work to put the BB on top of two spare BBs directly on the ground and put an eke with entrance cut out directly under actual BB?

The ground would be 18" away but the entrance would be where they'd expect it and no separate access for wasps.

 

[Jules59]

That is not usually the case - quite the opposite

Yes, mine had a healthy looking Q right up to near the end. To me its a paradox - why isnt the Q affected when its a disease of adult bees and she's the oldest bee ?

 

[Jules59]

If you have got a modular nuc, do it, but as ever, be mindful of robbers

In another CBPV thread on here - someone attempted to make a sort of "catch can" to collect the dropping bees, allow healthy bees to get back up and also reduce the chances of robbing from outside. I don't know how successful it was. Worth a search maybe.