EMERGENCY langstroth crisis

[beeboybee]

Popped over to check a friends hive with a view to treating with oxalic and treating the bees to some fondant, Was shocked to see so few bees, most frames are empty of stores...... i took two frames out thinking the colony had died out, then i spotted a small cluster covering three frames soooo few bees compared with my hives, also the cluster was in the middle of the frames rather than at the top as in my hive? is this because the hive is colder and more drafty?
ACTION PLAN THOUGHTS....
given 500g of neopoll fondant as i had that spare rolled flat strait onto of frames.
the crown board had cardboard covering the feeding hole and looked like it was made of damp warped MDF. i am going to replace this with some kingspan first thing tomorrow......... As i am a Nation hive chap can i confirm sizes on a langstroth 508mm x 413mm
take out all empty frames and fill space with kingspan.

any other top tips to try and get them through... if i had a langstroth brood box i would consider moving them as its such a rescue...

 

[beebopalula]

Neopol this early may prompt them to start brooding too soon with few bees to keep the brood warm. Fondant would be better and spare combs of stores if you have any.
Filling some of the brood box with kingspan to reduce the area they have to heat, plus more above would be wise.

 

[drstitson]

what is the history of the colony? did it go into winter with adequate stores and how big a colony was it when closed up for winter?

 

[Norton]

Yes dimensions are correct. Better if you put fondant on as neopoll has pollen in it and is used later in spring.

 

[beeboybee]

yep agree with the noepolla stuff, but i had it to hand and still waiting on my fondant delivery....

 

[beeboybee]

History... Very small colony all summer, lack of feeding in late summer autumn,
Considering treating for nosema in spring as it just never expanded after a supercedure queen.

 

[drstitson]

"Very small colony all summer, lack of feeding in late summer autumn"

sounds as if it should've been in a nuc all along (and a poly one at that).

can't really expect a small colony to manage rattling around in a large empty box.

lack of feeding or poor taking down feed given (latter another red flag re nosema).

 

[beeboybee]

small update......... owner does not have a nut box, i checked frame sizes to see if langstroth would fit in my 14x12 poll nut but No Go.....
currently took out 4 frames and filled void with kingspan flush to top of brood box, then kingspan crown board on top, also placed completely empty super(no frames) under brood box to help shelter cluster in brood box, as the hive is not in a very sheltered position.....

 

[Skyhook]

Sounds as though their situation is improving.

Have they got any stores at all? If not they may not have the energy to get to the fondant, in which case a small amount of heavy syrup squirted into the cells around them froma squirty bottle may be appropriate: but this would be an emergency measure, you don't want to introduce any more water than you have to.

If you have any thymol mix for syrup, then thymolising it would be beneficial with nosema suspected.

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