I think I have problems

[DrumBee]

This is my first year of beekeeping so still very much finding my feet. My first colony swarmed 4 weeks ago, we managed to capture the swarm and get it into a new hive.

I've let them settle in, when I checked them 2 weeks ago all seemed ok but today I cant see new brood in either the old or new hives, the old one has one swarm cell which I've left and the new hive seems to have two supersedure cells halfway up a frame.

Neither hive seems to have a lot of stores available.

Any ideas, could I re-queen both of them?

Should I consider feeding both hives?

Thanks

 

[drex]

Your first colony swarmed 4 weeks ago, so the first virgin would have emerged about 3 weeks ago. You do not say whether they cast swarmed. Anyway there is still just time for her t come into lay, assuming she stayed with the colony.

I prefer to call them all queen cells, rather than try to differentiate swarm and supercedure cells, as only the bees know their intentions and do change their minds at the last minute.

By the sound of it they are making their own queens. Yes you could buy in queens, but would have to make sure there is no queen in there already with a test frame. ( and would have to pull down the queen cells).

Hives do not often end up queen less.

If in doubt feed. Bees that die due to starvation are not good producers.

 

[DrumBee]

Thanks, I have a feeling they have cast swarmed, the number of bees seems greatly reduced and they were bearding a lot a couple of weeks ago, I may well have left more than one queen cell in the hive after the first swarm.

Maybe I should just feed both colonies and keep my fingers crossed that they produce new queens.

The upside is I have two new queens although it's looking unlikely like I'll have any honey this year.

 

[enrico]

A, feed and fingers crossed
B,we have only just started summer, plenty of time for honey!
E

 

[drex]

If wanting honey later and feeding now, best to do it little and often. You do not want a huge surplus of syrup ending up in your honey

 

[DrumBee]

Thanks for the advice I'll check again at the weekend and if it looks like they are starving I'll give a little syrup.

Its not the end of the world if I don't get honey, its a learning experience but I really would like even some just keep my spirits up.