Queenless Colony

[Ash1962]

Just checked my 8 Hives today and one of them is Queenless ,No Brood Nothing it’s dwindled down to a small Colony of a Couple of Frames
I live in the North East
Do I combine or Buy a Mated Queen tomorrow ? Thanks

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Just checked my 8 Hives today and one of them is Queenless ,No Brood Nothing it’s dwindled down to a small Colony of a Couple of Frames
I live in the North East
Do I combine or Buy a Mated Queen tomorrow ? Thanks

cu our losses and shake them out

 

[steve1958]

A weak queenless colony.
I would combine.
Unless there are signs of disease.
One less to treat and feed.

 

[hemo]

Shake out.

 

[ericbeaumont]

Shake out.

 

[Simon Mills]

Shake out? So meaning shake the frames of bees from the weak hive over the brood box in a strong hive and put the crown board and roof back on?

 

[Erichalfbee]

No.
Take the box of bees a few yards away in front of the other hives/s
Shake all the bees into the grass
Take the box roof and floor away
OR
You could give them a helping hand by shaking them onto a slope in front of another colony so they go in via the entrance. Some people smoke them first. Don't know if that makes any difference

 

[ericbeaumont]

smoke them first

On the basis that bees are likely to respond by eating honey, and by bringing that useful gift, more likely to be accepted by their new family.

 

[Erichalfbee]

On the basis that bees are likely to respond by eating honey, and by bringing that useful gift, more likely to be accepted by their new family.

Yes, so they say
I see bees with heads down into honey whether I smoke them or not but on balance of probabilities if you are shaking out it’s likely best to smoke them anyway

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

On the basis that bees are likely to respond by eating honey

ah, that old fairytale

 

[ericbeaumont]

ah, that old fairytale

Harmless, unlike Little Red Riding Hood...