First Inspection: Weak Colony

[nmesmeric]

Hey Guys,

I performed my first inspection yesterday. It is the first time I have ever overwintered bees. I think the colony looks quite weak, however there is a laying queen which I guess is good news.

The brood box contains no bees and contains quite a lot honey. It looks like they haven't used it over the winter!

I left a super on over the winter. What is left of the colony is on 2 super frames including a queen and just half a frame of eggs.

I have now moved the super to underneath the brood box, and replaced 7 of the old brood box frames with fresh new foundation frames. I'm hoping that the queen moves up and starts laying now there is a lot of room. I have also added a syrup feeder, however they don't seem to interested in it at the moment.

Do you have any advice of how I can help the colony along?

I'm hoping that the warm weather might speed up growth.

Thanks for your help and advice,

Felix

 

[enrico]

Too few bees to heat such a massive space. If you have a nuc then put the two super frames, two empty brood frames and two food frames in it. If not then for the moment take the brood box off completely. Swap a few food supers frames for empty ones and go with that until they get stronger. That is what I would do.
Just because it is a super box doesn't mean you can't use it as a brood box for the moment
E

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Loads too much room and too little bees. They're not interested in the syrup as they still have loads of stores.
As Enrico says - move the shallow frames with brood on, some stores and drawn brood comb (foundation, fresh or not is the last thing they need in their current condition) into a nuc placed in the position the hive occupies at the moment, leave the colony build up in there until it's packed then move back into the hive.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Do you have a mentor?

 

[Erichalfbee]

And
If the brood box is honey spin a couple of frames out. You might as well have it. Then you have two drawn brood frames which are invaluable

 

[nmesmeric]

Do you have a mentor?

I don't have a mentor. I am however a member of the local bee association and have access to a messaging group to help with questions and issues which is really handy!

Thanks for the help guys, I will reconfigure the hive and fingers crossed in a couple of weeks things will have picked up. Should be some good weather between now and then