New Hive is Weak - New Keeper

[Alt]

I bought two Nucs locally this June and suddenly one hive is very weak compared to the other, and I don't know why. I think it may be a bad Queen because I'm seeing very few eggs in that hive.

It has lots of honey, maybe two frames of capped brood, but only about 1/3 of a frame of eggs at last inspection. I counted 20 drones as well. I'm not seeing any evidence of Varroa mites, but I did notice a few bees with tattered wings. Not deformed, just a little frayed at the edges.

I took a frame of mostly capped brood from my strong hive and put it in the weak one, so hopefully I can sustain them until I figure out what's wrong, but I really don't know what to do.

I think I've attached an image of both hives, and the difference. (Today was very hot and humid)

I would really appreciate some advice!

 

[Erichalfbee]

As a start I would do a proper varroa count on both colonies with an alcohol wash
It might be a failing queen, in which case you might expect supersedure cells.
Do a Quick Squash for Nosema too.
Don't ask me why, but I have seen it happen, sometimes bees migrate to neighbouring hives (and I don't mean drifting....abandoning more like)

 

[enrico]

Sometimes queen's go off lay. Usually a room problem. They look quite small hives. How many frames do you have in the brood with nothing in?
E

 

[Alt]

Thanks for the advice! I'll look into those tests. I had read about migrating, but I didn't think it would happen that drastically. It would be nice if that's all it is.

 

[Alt]

Is off lay a permanent thing? There are ten frames in each box, and all the frames in the brood chamber have something, but mostly honey. The top box is partially drawn out and looks like their putting honey in them too.

 

[Ian123]

My first question would be why are all those bees bearding on the front of the left hand hive. I would check for space and swarming prep if they are that crowded!!!!

 

[enrico]

Is off lay a permanent thing? There are ten frames in each box, and all the frames in the brood chamber have something, but mostly honey. The top box is partially drawn out and looks like their putting honey in them too.

Sounds to me like the queen has gone off lay because she has nowhere to lay. Consider adding a second box for her to lay in or remove some of the honey frames and add drawn comb for her. When she has room she will start laying again.
E

 

[pargyle]

Sounds to me like the queen has gone off lay because she has nowhere to lay. Consider adding a second box for her to lay in or remove some of the honey frames and add drawn comb for her. When she has room she will start laying again.
E

It's a hope ...but I've got one that lays for a week and then stops for 3 or 4 weeks .. if I was a proper beekeeper she would be for the gatepost ! She's not laying at present and this is her last chance ... she's there before anyone asks .. nice big red spot on her back and she's the one queen I can always find.

 

[Alt]

I thought they were bearding because of how hot it was that day, but I will definitely check for space today.

 

[Ian123]

Sure have a look...I have hives with 3 times those boxes in full sun and still not bearding. So worth checking

 

[Alt]

Update

I inspected the hive again and noticed that the frame of brood I took from the other hive is rather checker-boarded. I'm not sure how I missed this when I took it to begin with. I will treat both hive for mites, as I did spot one, but I'm not sure this explains why the one hive is so weak.

I added another box to both colonies, and took a frame of honey from the bottom of weak hive and replaced it with a frame of foundation.

I was seeing a lot of empty brood cells. Does anyone know why they might be empty? Is this an indication of a bad queen?

I really appreciate everyone's help!

 

[Beefriendly]

Your "empty " frames picture shows a frame full of pollen stores.
Your chequer board frames are just brood emerging (I hope).

 

[Alt]

Really? I couldn't see anything in them besides the odd larvae. And I'm glad to hear that about the checkering. I wasn't sure if it was a normal amount or not. Thank you!

 

[Millet]

Did you shake those frames before pictures..the only reason i ask is you have few bees in there and normally brood frames are covered with bees..

 

[Alt]

I smoked them a bit so I could see. They were both covered.

 

[drex]

Totally agree with bee friendly. That one frame is full of pollen, and that pattern of empty cells does look more like brood emerging than traditional" pepper pot" , but could be wrong. Anyway that frame was from your strong colony and is no indicator of what is going on with the weak one.

A queen is in a dynamic state with the workers. If you do not have enough nurses to tend to young brood, the queen will not lay like she would in a strong colony. I would nurse them along. Certainly treat for varroa. Possibly adding a frame of brood from time to time, but do not forget that by so doing you will be weakening your strong colony. Can it afford it, is it worth it. I would just have ensured there were enough empty frames for queen to lay in ( swapping honey bound out ) rather than adding a full box, which they will need to heat, although in present heat wave that is not a great worry.

Have you considered nosema? There is a field test anyone can do, but to be certain you need a microscope

 

[theeggman]

Totally agree with bee friendly. That one frame is full of pollen, and that pattern of empty cells does look more like brood emerging than traditional" pepper pot" , but could be wrong. Anyway that frame was from your strong colony and is no indicator of what is going on with the weak one.

A queen is in a dynamic state with the workers. If you do not have enough nurses to tend to young brood, the queen will not lay like she would in a strong colony. I would nurse them along. Certainly treat for varroa. Possibly adding a frame of brood from time to time, but do not forget that by so doing you will be weakening your strong colony. Can it afford it, is it worth it. I would just have ensured there were enough empty frames for queen to lay in ( swapping honey bound out ) rather than adding a full box, which they will need to heat, although in present heat wave that is not a great worry.

Have you considered nosema? There is a field test anyone can do, but to be certain you need a microscope

But the OP is in Canada therefore our minor "heatwave" probably doesn't have anything to do with the problem.

 

[Poly Hive]

Canadian conditions are so different to ours and vary so widely over such a vast country that I honestly think our advice is pretty much a waste of time. They would be far better asking on a local forum and or getting a visit from a local mentor.

I will remember what it was like in Ontario in late Sept when I was there and it was very warm indeed and a couple of days later I was shivering in a Scottish October. There is pretty much no cross over at all.

PH

 

[Alt]

That's good to hear. I didn't think it looked quite like the checkerboard pattern I've looked up. If I remove frames of honey, should I put them higher up in the hive, or store them else ware for winter? Even though they seem weak, they had nearly filled the their second box, that's why I added a third.

I'll be looking into Nosema, certainly.
Thank you for the suggestions!

 

[Alt]

We are actually in quite a heatwave here. With the humidity it was feeling like 48° last week.