Lost two colonies I am thoroughly disheartened, advice welcome

[Snootycat]

I have been beekeeping now for three years and this was the first season when everything seemed to be going well, until April that is.

I had one bereavement the beggining of April and another a fortnight ago. Just to lighten my mood I have had my redundancy letter, this is the seventh round of redundancies in five years (dont let anyone tell you working in the public sector is easy,I have been in it 45 years and never known life as grim as this)

Under the circumstances I am sure you will understand if I tell you that the bees have not been my top priority.

I did feed them with the bad weather, but obviously not enough. I checked today for the first time in three weeks and two of my 4 colonies have died of starvation.

I am left with one colony which is still numerous, although it hadnt gone into the super yet.No sign of swarming, but has an ageing queen. On my plans this year was to requeen, but as yet I havent been able to.

I divided my hives just before the deluge, not expecting it to be so bad. ..who would? In theory I should have had queen cells in the nuke matured by now and laying, as it was about 5 weeks ago.

I looked in today, no sign of a laying queen whatsoever and no sign of queen cells.

Is it worth buying a nice new queen for this second very depleted colony, which at present consists of three frames?

I dont want to unite with the first one as, if anything goes wrong with that hive, and its sods law that it will, I will be left with nothing.
I am trying to look on the bright side, at least I have some bees left..........for now!

Advice welcome. I fed them today.

Pam

 

[Poly Hive]

Assuming I have a handle on this you have one good colony with an aging queen, age unknown?

Also a nuc with a heading for stale virgin in it?

Yes?

PH

 

[Hivemaker.]

Just to lighten my mood I have had my redundancy letter
Under the circumstances I am sure you will understand if I tell you that the bees have not been my top priority.

Look on the bright side,you will now have more time to care for the bees.

 

[Luminos]

So sorry Snootycat, you've had a rotten time of it. I haven't kept bees long enough to offer any help there, but I've done the redundancy thing twice, and all I can say is, look at it as an opportunity.
Best wishes
L

 

[region2]

Just had to burn and bury the contents of three colonies due to EFB - a bit down during that but then collected the biggest swarm ever! Checked it a day later and it's in the hive (QE underneath), drawing comb, glugging on one2one and orientating.

My point - it seems that you will have highs and lows with beekeeping (as with life) but, in my limited experience, the ups outweigh the downs so persevere and things will work out somehow.

Chin up!

R2

 

[For want of a better word]

My point - it seems that you will have highs and lows with beekeeping (as with life) but, in my limited experience, the ups outweigh the downs so persevere and things will work out somehow

I thought I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.....

then the train hit me!

Good luck.

 

[MuswellMetro]

Just had to burn and bury the contents of three colonies due to EFB - a bit down during that but then collected the biggest swarm ever! Checked it a day later and it's in the hive (QE underneath), drawing comb, glugging on one2one and orientating.

My point - it seems that you will have highs and lows with beekeeping (as with life) but, in my limited experience, the ups outweigh the downs so persevere and things will work out somehow.

Chin up!

R2

i know a few beekeepers crawling along the ground at present the low is so low

 

[VEG]

there is always someone worse off

 

[REDWOOD]

Sorry about your redundancy I also have work for a local authority for 34 years and what a rubbish time we are having, I have been through competitive tendering with Mrs Thatchers crew but nothing like we are having with this lot, totally collapsing every department with no respect to public services and needs that we pay for.

 

[Polyanwood]

Sorry you are having such a tough time snootycat.

I lost a lot of bees this Winter. I was very said. I bought more bees and it does not feel so bad. When the bees are ready they will seek to replace the old queen. You can realx about that.

The weather is getting warmer. The nuc is small. Perhaps she will start to lay this week? if she does not, soon the bees will all be old in there anyway and not worth saving.

 

[Snootycat]

Hi, thanks for cheering comments..........................they say it never rains but it pours. How true. I feel guilty about the hives that died, but I honestly was so distracted with all my other woes.

The very small colony may still replace the queen then this week? I am absolutely 100 percent certain they died of starvation, not a drop of stores left anywhere and bees bums all over the hive, plus floor littered with all the bodies!

Pam

 

[Snootycat]

Correct.

 

[Snootycat]

Sorry, I meant it is correct I have one hive with an aging queen and one nuke with no sign of a queen whatsoever, no sign of laying or queen cells. I am trying to keep both my chins up.
Re work, I keep trying to tell myself at least this isnt Greece. But it is very galling when people go on about what a jammy time we have in the public sector, the past few years have been a nightmare. There are only a quarter of the staff we had two years ago, its decimating. I am on phased retirement, and in my plans I would find some part time work to prop up my small pension, but I know people who were made redundant a year ago who are STILL trying to find work.

Like everyone I would feel a whole lot better if only the sun would come out!+

 

[Ziggymole]

Hi Snootycat

I was "eased out" of the health service at Christmas - for being too ill to work!!! I was hoping to retire next year anyway, but now we're struggling to get through this year. On the bright side when you get over the hurt of being surplus to requirements life at home is really good and you will have time for your hobbies. I hope that your remaining bees pull through and give you a lot of pleasure now we're getting some decent weather, you deserve it.

 

[BBG]

Snootycat - buy a new Queen to replace ageing Queen

and

maybe buy a nuc?

As a veteran of three redundancies in five years while on my own bringing up children, paying a mortgage and life, you have my sympathy.

 

[drstitson]

"I was "eased out" of the health service at Christmas - for being too ill to work!!! I was hoping to retire next year anyway"

presumably you got retired out on enhanced ill-health retirement pension? if not you need legal advice re unfair dismissal etc etc. (although likely missed the boat at more than 3 months).

 

[itma]

.. I have one hive with an aging queen and one nuke with no sign of a queen whatsoever, no sign of laying or queen cells. ...

I'd be wondering about putting a test frame with some eggs/unsealed brood into the nuc.
Getting a second colony going, while sustaining the old Queen, seems like the best way of stabilising the situation.

You have an asset of plenty drawn comb. Can you preserve most of it from the dreaded moths?
And maybe the rest + a few drops of lemongrass oil (£5? for more than you will likely ever use - just make sure its the right lemongrass!) would give you a bait hive!
Have you got yourself on the Association's "swarm wanted" list? (Free bees, or near as dammit ...) Maybe you are now in a better position to volunteer as a swarm catcher yourself?
Is there anyone in your Association that raises Queens? If not, maybe you should have a go? Would you think the old Queen's line would be good to develop?

If the bees haven't been getting much attention, a Varroa check is possibly overdue. Reducing the mite level is likely going to be a sensible move to strengthen your stock, before thinking about a crop.


The bees may not change much, but they can provide plenty of worthwhile, and maybe overdue, distraction!

 

[Snootycat]

Hi everyone,

thanks so much for your support.

Firstly, I have just checked them, I now have one hive which is 1 deep full, no sign of queen cells, queen still laying. So thats OK for now.

The second one, well. No go really, I wonder if it has been robbed out as there are so few bees in there.
I will put my name down on a swarm list, trouble is when you are working it is not always convenient.
I cant justify spending out on a nuc, they are very pricey and I have other demands on my money at the moment.

Could I buy a queen and nick a couple of frames of brood from the first one?

That would be the most cost effective way I suppose, or I could try taking out a few frames of brood etc and try and raise a queen, although the first way would be quicker and surer. I really dont want to be down to one hive, knowing my luck I will end up with something going wrong with them and then I have to start all over again. Its very demoralising.

My daughter bought me a kitten to try to cheer me up, it is very sweet.
Still dont know about my job, either I get made redundant or I get twice as much work for the same amount of pay. Its a no win situation!

At least the sun is out.

 

[Snootycat]

An idiots guide to the way forward would be useful. I have so much on my plate, at times its hard to think straight...........

 

[oliver90owner]

Either way would get your increase.

Cost wise it is a no-brainer, the home produced queen is cheaper on the pocket (but may not be as cost effective as buying in a queen - lost time and little chance of any honey crop this year)

A bought in queen could be a better queen than one reared from your existing stock, (btw, I would encourage supercedure cells by splitting the brood within the hive, transferring the cell to a nuc hive with lots of house bees, not as you seemed to be suggesting).

Do it now to get an early mated queen and an expanding colony before the wasps become a nuisance.

Bait hives cost little and can be productive.

With a strongish colony, you have several options. List them out with pros and cons and take your pick. Fwiw, I have never needed to buy in bees after my initial start.

RAB