Dewin Dwl
New Bee
- Joined
- May 24, 2010
- Messages
- 59
- Reaction score
- 1
- Location
- Ynys Mon / Anglesey
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 5
Last week I was gifted a small colony. Some varroa on inspection so hauled out drones and added a little chemistry. During this inspection the hive was quietly getting on with business, evidence of brood etc. A week later I went to prepare to collect the colony/hive to bring it home. Had a look-see and the bees were cranky, aggressive and seemed disorganised. The brood was nowhere, replaced with a random distribution of honey & pollen and brace comb in strange places. No evidence of queen cells, only some half dozen old looking cups.
Took them home, very carefully shook swarmed into new brood box with clean foundation, some part drawn from another healthy hive. Queen excluder at bottom, crownboard topped with feeder. Two days later, feed being taken, bee behaviour still seems a little disorganised and aggressive/roaring, comb drawn but randomly used for storing honey & pollen. Can't see any eggs, no obvious region being cleared for egg-laying. I have not seen a queen but the general behaviour of the bees charging about doesn't help.
Any suggestion of what is going on?
My thought is to place a test-frame in over the weekend and see what it indicates. I'd like some suggestions of what may have led to this situation from an OK small colony to something a little grim!
Cheers
Took them home, very carefully shook swarmed into new brood box with clean foundation, some part drawn from another healthy hive. Queen excluder at bottom, crownboard topped with feeder. Two days later, feed being taken, bee behaviour still seems a little disorganised and aggressive/roaring, comb drawn but randomly used for storing honey & pollen. Can't see any eggs, no obvious region being cleared for egg-laying. I have not seen a queen but the general behaviour of the bees charging about doesn't help.
Any suggestion of what is going on?
My thought is to place a test-frame in over the weekend and see what it indicates. I'd like some suggestions of what may have led to this situation from an OK small colony to something a little grim!
Cheers