The weekly inspection with all it's surprises

[Tremyfro]

But not on this thread....we would welcome the advice of more experienced beekeepers. That is why we post. We read a lot but it doesn't always answer all the questions and experience is something that many people already have and we don't have.
We only found one QC. It was hanging on the bottom bars amongst a lot of drone brood hanging down. We considered supercedure. Which is possible. The Q is last years...but probably a late one so only laid for this season. She has been laying really well so far. Give her space and she lays in it. We think it may be a QC they started when the main BB became very congested and the weather was poor. We gave them more space to expand.
If we do a demarree, and remove any QC in the top brood box....then we are relying on the original Q to keep laying. If she is failing we will soon know and can allow a QC to develop....allowing the bees to choose. Does that sound right?
Or we can scrap the idea of demarree and go for AS.
We will have QC for the bees to make a queen.....and a nuc but will have a hiccup in nectar collection during this flow.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have to agree with pargyle. RAB is always spot on and I'm sure now might just post when he gets incensed with some of the drivel.
Tremyfro, why don't you drop him a PM. He has always been exceedingly helpful.

 

[Swarm]

Have you been back in to check? Until you know there are more cells you will just be going over things in your mind. If you find more you will have to choose the best option to suit your predicament, ie limited kit.

 

[Tremyfro]

Today the weather has been iffy.....so we postponed the second look inside the hive. Hope if tomorrow is more settled to check through again......or Monday at latest. I want to have as much info as possible before making a decision....but dont want to procrastinate either. I will try a message to Rab after that too.
Thank you so much for all the help from you all.

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

Same story here, I am also checking again tomorrow weather permitting, then probably doing an AS. I wanted to go into winter with two hives anyway, just didn't think my nuc would get this far in 8 weeks - filling a 14x12 BB and two supers, the second one in less than a week!

 

[BeeJayBee]

If you do decide to AS (@ Blue Spinnaker & Tremyfro) it might be best to use a nuc, because laying will begin to fall off from now on. After the solstice etc.. You want a good box of bees for winter, and can overwinter a smaller colony in a nuc because it's easier for them to keep warm.

The Q is last years...but probably a late one so only laid for this season. She has been laying really well so far. Give her space and she lays in it. We think it may be a QC they started when the main BB became very congested and the weather was poor. We gave them more space to expand.

Separate issue from your question, I know, but a fair number of last years queens were poor - in this area. They disappeared over winter or have been replaced earlier this year. Possible reason was late spring, too much wet, poor quality pollen and poor quality drones etc.

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

What news Tremyfro?
I had a really good search just now and didn't find anything that I might have missed yesterday, I have replaced 2 frames of pollen with empty frames in the hope that they will think twice now. Can't believe what a prolific Queen this is!
Thanks BeeJoyful, that was my intention

 

[Tremyfro]

Weather very windy today and threatening to rain so put off til tomorrow. I have a nuc ready if we have to do AS but prefer to demarree. I won't get the BB til later in the week. Depends on what we find. You sound as if you have all under control again. Another sleepless night for me....however, comforted by eating their honey on toast!

 

[Tremyfro]

Weather good today. We were able to have another rootle through Hive 1 this morning. We found another smallish Sealed QC, which we removed. Several slightly elongated QC but nothing in them as far as we could see yet.
On balance, since there were so many bees in the BB and the half BB we decided to use the nuc and took out one frame of brood, one frame of brood plus a lot of stores and a frame of just stores.. We replaced the empty frames amongst the brood. Hopefully that will give them something to think about. We were thinking that we could still do the demarree when the new hive arrives, if necessary.
Now we need to ensure the nuc survives and we hope we did it all properly.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Give them a shake of extra nurse bees. I do this by leaving a brood frame out for a few minutes during which all the flying bees go home then shake in the adherent bees. I would go back tomorrow to repeat as some of the bees you transferred would have gone home to their original hive.

 

[Tremyfro]

That sounds like a good idea. We can do that tomorrow. Thank you

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

Weather good today. We were able to have another rootle through Hive 1 this morning. We found another smallish Sealed QC, which we removed. Several slightly elongated QC but nothing in them as far as we could see yet.
On balance, since there were so many bees in the BB and the half BB we decided to use the nuc and took out one frame of brood, one frame of brood plus a lot of stores and a frame of just stores.. We replaced the empty frames amongst the brood. Hopefully that will give them something to think about. We were thinking that we could still do the demarree when the new hive arrives, if necessary.
Now we need to ensure the nuc survives and we hope we did it all properly.

Did you put the Q or the QC in the nuc? Thought I might have headed mine off at the pass, but no such luck. Two more cells with RJ and eggs. Will sort out my nuc and get it ready to do what you did Tremyfro with Eric's advice on the extra bees.

 

[Tremyfro]

I left the Q in the hive as I may do a demarree if QC reappear. We know she is in there as we saw her....marked with a green crown. I am adding more bees to the nuc. Will look to see what the QC situation is in due course. Hoping they will make their own Q. Imagine.....a 'Tremyfro Queen'....a first. If all goes wrong I will reunite. Really hoping our new equipment arrives soon. Good luck with your AS.......it's a bit like seeing the kids off for the first day at school! You know it's good for them and the right thing to do for their future but they are leaving their Mum and all their mates behind.

 

[Blue Spinnaker]

These are definitely more trouble than the kids!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I left the Q in the hive as I may do a demarree if QC reappear.

No - Demarree before QC's appear - once they are there it's too late, you then have to A/S

 

[Tremyfro]

An update. We have a queen cell....Ta Daa. We had left an open Queen cell in the nuc, from Hive 1, and today when we looked....it was sealed. There were plenty of stores and quite a few bees, with lots more to come from the sealed brood. If all goes well she will soon be heading up our first home start bees.
In hive 1.....honey stores being capped. Small brood box.....most brood capped. Lots of stores. Left main BB as not due to inspect til Monday.
In Hive 2....there were 3 frames of sealed drone cells....which we removed for varroa control. Honey frames being capped. Queen seen.....so we think that giving the Queen a bit extra room to lay has helped, at least she is still in residence and laying.
The bees were working ...full on today.
The bees were quiet...even the nuc. No smoke used. OH is no longer using gloves but as his hands are fairly numb from carpel tunnel syndrome......he probably wouldn't feel a sting!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Your first home grown queen is never forgotten. Hope she turns out well

In Hive 2....there were 3 frames of sealed drone cells.

I'd be a bit worried about three whole frames

 

[Tremyfro]

Well it was 3 frames but they were small frames from the half size BB that we put above the main BBC to give HM more room to lay. They drew out the whole box as drone size plus. Most of the frames are honey stores. Some which were laid in became drone. Probably barely the equivalent of one side of a 14x12.....
Really excited waiting for her to emerge. As long as she does and has a successful mating.....the nuc should be good to go.

 

[Tremyfro]

Great and good news. We have a Queen in our nuc. After much anxious waiting we succumbed to a peek in the nuc. There she was...our very first Homebred Queen.....so exciting. She is long and black and fat. We had eggs and babies and lots of bees covering 5 frames. Bees were bringing in nectar and pollen. It is a wonderful feeling ...to know this young hive has a chance to succeed.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Well done! Your initial description was a bit worrisome so well done indeed!