What did you do in the Apiary today?

[Erichalfbee]

Stood and scratched my head today!
6 days after I nuc’d the queen I removed all unwanted queen cells and left my chosen one.
3 days later I was checking another colony and thought I’d just check the queen cell.
More queen cells there. They were all rubbish ones but nevertheless....
So the frames were shaken free if bees to get every single one........again!
I got to the marked queen cell and ooops........open
The queen cell I left 9 days ago was 2 days off being sealed.
Oh well..... at least I still have the nuc’d queen

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Inspected both colonies. Buckfasts annoying - brood in brood box and both supers! Frames ignored in all three boxes - the queen has laid the central frames in all three.
Hive 2 from a swarm going really well and queen laying in second BB added a fortnight ago. Super getting filled and will need a second one by the weekend. BUT - odd debris on the varroa tray - not seen it before - can any of you tell me how to embed an image as I would like to ask for identification please?

 

[Wingy]

Inspection of the nuc I made up and left 2 QC. Due date to emerge today, so as expected 2 open cells but couldn't find a VQ. Confident there will be 1 of them there but so full of bees difficult to see.
Checked main hive now filling 2nd super and in BB a bloody charged QC so made up another nuc using QC frame, another BIAS, stores & 2 x foundation, left Q in main hive with 3 more frames of foundation
Think I may need to make / read up on Snelgrove boards

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

To identify hive debris

Any ideas what this debris on the varroa tray might be?

 

[Angry_Mob]

Chalkbrood?

 

[Millet]

..

 

[Millet]

Any ideas what this debris on the varroa tray might be?

Dead brood being cleaned out, by the sound of things you have put too many boxes on too soon and the bees can not keep up and keep the brood warm.

 

[Roola]

looks like chalkbrood to me.

 

[thibault]

Chalkbrood

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[Millet]

You get chalk brood if the brood has been chilled..

 

[Curly green fingers]

You get chalk brood if the brood has been chilled..

Could this happen after they've swarmed.. My thinking not so many bees in the hive but lots of brood to look after.?

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Thanks for your replies - it makes sense if chalk brood is caused by chilling - I added a second BB recently and the night temps have been very low. Another lesson learned, thank you. An attempt to avoid swarming has resulted in another issue...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

you get chillbrood if the brood gets chilled. Chalkbrood is a fungal infection. Some genetic lines seem more susceptible than others.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Today I just cecked on a few Demarree's in progress and had a quick look at the first of the nucs I made up from earlier manipulations - queens mated and just started laying - so much for the oft repeated mantra from some that new queens in nucs won't start laying until all the brood from the other queen has gone - still capped brood present and yet to emerge.

 

[Curly green fingers]

you get chillbrood if the brood gets chilled. Chalkbrood is a fungal infection. Some genetic lines seem more susceptible than others.

Does the location of your hive position ect.. Make a difference when chalk brood is concerned in a damp/shady position..

 

[maddydog]

Does the location of your hive position ect.. Make a difference when chalk brood is concerned in a damp/shady position..

Only time I've seen chalkbrood of any significance was at a training apiary that was shaded by trees. Frames of brood pulled on a regular basis and gawked at for minutes on end. Don't know how they produced their queens but if they reared their own then you can throw Jenkins's suggestion about genetics into the mix aswell.

 

[Dadnlad]

Hived a BShoneybees bought in queen that has filled her nuc, saw her on the last frame but as I lowered it back into the bb she scooted off onto the floor !
Luckily she walked back onto my proffered finger and rejoined her daughters

Checking through a Q- double nuc that was merrily backfilling everything with nectar, thinking 'I'll have to add a frame of eggs from elsewhere to test before uniting' when again on the last frame are eggs and a lovely fat busy queen ! Duly marked and getting back on with it - happy days

I'll be doing the lottery this weekend

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

Only time I've seen chalkbrood of any significance was at a training apiary that was shaded by trees. Frames of brood pulled on a regular basis and gawked at for minutes on end. Don't know how they produced their queens but if they reared their own then you can throw Jenkins's suggestion about genetics into the mix aswell.

The colony in question is in a position that gets quite a lot of sun and is on gravel, so not damp. It is of dubious genetics / origin, being a captured swarm. I reckon chilling might be the cause as suggested - I moved two frames of brood into the added bb, which I placed beneath the original. So the cold nights (which I didn't account for) probably did the damage. The good thing is the colony is really strong despite the losses. Thanks again.

 

[user 6228]

loaded AT 2 & AT 3 with bees , Many thanks to the member of the BDBKA who donated the bees.

 

[Swarm]

Does the location of your hive position ect.. Make a difference when chalk brood is concerned in a damp/shady position..

None.