Should I combine?

[Do224]

I’ve got a colony that’s never really got going. It was a swarm that arrived in a bait hive in early July. I put it in a hive with all drawn comb and it covered 7 frames. It still covers 7 frames. They’re extremely dark bees.

I have a nuc I could combine with the hive if it’s not too late in the year to do so. Is this the best plan? I guess I would keep the queen from the nuc and squash the other

 

[The Poot]

I’ve got a colony that’s never really got going. It was a swarm that arrived in a bait hive in early July. I put it in a hive with all drawn comb and it covered 7 frames. It still covers 7 frames. They’re extremely dark bees.

I have a nuc I could combine with the hive if it’s not too late in the year to do so. Is this the best plan? I guess I would keep the queen from the nuc and squash the other

I’d leave them alone; do what I can to get them through the Winter and let them surprise me in the Spring.

 

[enrico]

I’d leave them alone; do what I can to get them through the Winter and let them surprise me in the Spring.

if you think they are both viable to get through the winter then don't combine. you never know what spring will bring with queenless hives!

 

[Erichalfbee]

I’ve got a colony that’s never really got going. It was a swarm that arrived in a bait hive in early July. I put it in a hive with all drawn comb and it covered 7 frames. It still covers 7 frames. They’re extremely dark bees.

I have a nuc I could combine with the hive if it’s not too late in the year to do so. Is this the best plan? I guess I would keep the queen from the nuc and squash the other

I would dummy them down with insulation to those frames and assess in spring

 

[ericbeaumont]

swarm ... put it in a hive with all drawn comb and it covered 7 frames. It still covers 7 frames

May have had a slow start if it superseded an old swarm queen; may have been ******** by a lack of income in August which would otherwise have kept the queen laying; may have been better off to begin with in a compact 6f nuc than rattling about in a BB. All in all, stick it in a 6f nuc and watch it grow in spring.

 

[Do224]

May have had a slow start if it superseded an old swarm queen; may have been ******** by a lack of income in August which would otherwise have kept the queen laying; may have been better off to begin with in a compact 6f nuc than rattling about in a BB. All in all, stick it in a 6f nuc and watch it grow in spring.

She was laying soon after arrival so I expected them to grow fast but alas they never did. Gave them a feed when they arrived and a little since but nothing doing. Haven’t inspected them since early August so not sure what the situation is now. No spare nucs so would have to dummy down.

My other nuc that I was thinking of combining them with is in a wooden box so I think I better transfer them into my only poly nuc box for the winter. Should probably have done it sooner really

 

[Curly green finger's]

She was laying soon after arrival so I expected them to grow fast but alas they never did. Gave them a feed when they arrived and a little since but nothing doing. Haven’t inspected them since early August so not sure what the situation is now. No spare nucs so would have to dummy down.

My other nuc that I was thinking of combining them with is in a wooden box so I think I better transfer them into my only poly nuc box for the winter. Should probably have done it sooner really

Just wondering what the brood pattern was like? And if you treated them.
Most prime swarms unless they superseded? With good income should of been bursting I would of thought even if they were black.
They had drawn comb as you said which would of helped them, did they become honey bound?

 

[Do224]

Just wondering what the brood pattern was like? And if you treated them.
Most prime swarms unless they superseded? With good income should of been bursting I would of thought even if they were black.
They had drawn comb as you said which would have helped them, did they become honey bound?

I know, it’s weird. I vaped them on day 5 after they arrived before they capped any brood. Solid floor so couldn’t see the mite drop. The brood pattern looked fine on the couple of occasions I inspected them. About 3 weeks after they arrived they had I think three frames of sealed brood and probably another one of open brood. They also seemed to have plenty stores, having been fed. Certainly not honey bound as the unused frames are drawn but empty.

I took this pic on the first inspection after they arrived, just after I marked the queen…

 

[Swarm]

Arrived early July. Even if she started laying on day one it would be end of July before you had new worker bees. Why would you expect them to be bursting with bees at the time of year when colonies are beginning to prepare for Winter? During July and into August, I see laying tailing off and even complete brood breaks, certainly by end of August.

 

[The Poot]

I know, it’s weird. I vaped them on day 5 after they arrived before they capped any brood. Solid floor so couldn’t see the mite drop. The brood pattern looked fine on the couple of occasions I inspected them. About 3 weeks after they arrived they had I think three frames of sealed brood and probably another one of open brood. They also seemed to have plenty stores, having been fed. Certainly not honey bound as the unused frames are drawn but empty.

I took this pic on the first inspection after they arrived, just after I marked the queen…

View attachment 41337

They’re certainly dark!

 

[Do224]

Arrived early July. Even if she started laying on day one it would be end of July before you had new worker bees. Why would you expect them to be bursting with bees at the time of year when colonies are beginning to prepare for Winter? During July and into August, I see laying tailing off and even complete brood breaks, certainly by end of August.

Fair point. I think around the time they arrived (9th July) I was reading posts where people were saying they were hiving nucs and expected them to fill the box before winter. But I see what you mean about the lack of emerging bees for a few weeks after they arrived

 

[Do224]

They’re certainly dark!

Most of the swarms I catch around here are dark but this one is particularly so. Quite keen to keep them and see how they get on compared to my others

 

[Curly green finger's]

Arrived early July. Even if she started laying on day one it would be end of July before you had new worker bees. Why would you expect them to be bursting with bees at the time of year when colonies are beginning to prepare for Winter? During July and into August, I see laying tailing off and even complete brood breaks, certainly by end of August.

Same as you Steve, I didn’t realise it was a July swarm - if it was earlier in the swarming season you would expect them to be flying.
@Do224 nucs made in July would have brood present and even into august they would be made strong 6 frame preferably.

 

[Swarm]

21 days so from day 1 to emerging bees would already be July 30th. Next cycle would be end of August. All is fine and normal IMO, they won't go making masses of mouths to feed as they prepare themselves for Winter.

 

[Do224]

21 days so from day 1 to emerging bees would already be July 30th. Next cycle would be end of August. All is fine and normal IMO, they won't go making masses of mouths to feed as they prepare themselves for Winter.

I’ll dummy them down to 6 or 7 frames and hope for the best

 

[Sutty]

You could also clad your wooden nuc with wingspan or similar rather than putting it in a brood box.

 

[Do224]

You could also clad your wooden nuc with wingspan or similar rather than putting it in a brood box.

Transferred the wooden nuc colony to a poly nuc today. Will dummy down the black bee hive with kingspan tomorrow

 

[Do224]

Dummied down the black bee hive to seven frames. Could have probably left them with six. Anyway they’ve got lots of stores and they’re losing interest in the syrup I’ve been giving them for the past week. Only one frame of bias…is this normal for this time of year? Expected to see more.

Meanwhile, I fed the other nuc 2 litres of 1:1 last night as I’d added a frame of foundation into the middle of the colony when I transferred it yesterday from the 5 frame wooden nuc to the 6 frame poly nuc. I had a sneaky look just now and was amazed to see they’ve drawn out the majority of the frame since yesterday.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Only one frame of bias…is this normal for this time of year?

Pretty common