what the hell is going on here!

[Clemcook]

Here I am again

So, I have performed an AS split, moved old hive to a new location on Tuesday all seemed to be going well, more bees returning to the new queen right hive, less to the old hive with QC's present.

I just get home and think I will take a walk down the garden to see them and before I leave the house I can hear them buzzing loudly and there is literally bees flying everywhere around the old hive, around the new hive, they are frantic and flying in all directions like something from a horror movie!

Not normal at all for my bees..

Any ideas on what this behavior could be? if no one has any ideas I can try and send a link

Thanks

 

[B+.]

Any ideas on what this behavior could be? if no one has any ideas I can try and send a link

It could be the mating flight of a virgin from the new hive. Did you give them a mated queen?

 

[Clemcook]

I wondered this also however, there was a QC I would say half to three quarters of the way to being capped in there on Saturday so it can't be this queen which has emerged as the timing doesn't work out?? I haven't given them a queen. Unless I missed another QC but I'm pretty sure I would of spotted it...?

Thanks I would like to know so I k ow what to do but also so I can use the end of the garden again

 

[Erichalfbee]

Could your queenright hive tried to swarm?
I can't remember whether your queen is clipped.

 

[Clemcook]

Ohhh.... The swarm was definitely gathered around the old hive and not the new one? I will check

Thanks

 

[Clemcook]

Calm has now resumed, guess I will find out whats going on over the weekend when I inspect for the last time for 2 - 3 weeks (for the new queen to hopefully do her thing) and hopefully there will still be a queen in the QR hive!

 

[Swarm]

Go and have a stroll down the garden and survey the surrounding area thoroughly, it sounds like your old queen has gone anyway. Some times it happens, if you see this again, keep your eye on them.

 

[Clemcook]

Go and have a stroll down the garden and survey the surrounding area thoroughly, it sounds like your old queen has gone anyway. Some times it happens, if you see this again, keep your eye on them.

They have done similar before so hopefully not so serious, but I expect you are right! Will check tomorrow

Thanks for the help
Clem

 

[Clemcook]

Seems as though this 'episode' is going to be left unexplained, I checked the QR hive and she was still home - hive going strong, the QC hive has been thinned to one QC and all seems well for now.

I'm just wondering whether it would be best to reduce the QC hive to one brood box and add the second to the QR hive along with the super I've already addes, to keep the heat in and help things along a bit when she emerges??

Thanks

 

[Anduril]

Have you checked for Queen cells in the queenright hive, as it may be going through the process of supersedure.

 

[Clemcook]

Hello, yes checked her hive yesterday, all seemed well, hive has plenty of bees, just deciding whether to put the additional brood box onto this hive and remove from the QC hive?

Clem

 

[Erichalfbee]

Seems as though this 'episode' is going to be left unexplained, I checked the QR hive and she was still home - hive going strong, the QC hive has been thinned to one QC and all seems well for now.

I'm just wondering whether it would be best to reduce the QC hive to one brood box and add the second to the QR hive along with the super I've already addes, to keep the heat in and help things along a bit when she emerges??

Thanks

No.
The brood needs to stay with the requeening hive.
The queenright box needs the supers as it has all the foragers and it needs to draw some comb to quell the swarming urge. If you have a part filled super and the brood box in the requeening colony has few stores then you might as well leave it there. An empty drawn brood frame into the AS won't go amiss

 

[Clemcook]

Yes all done, all is fine, thank you just unsure on my last question above thanks

 

[Clemcook]

No.
The brood needs to stay with the requeening hive.
The queenright box needs the supers as it has all the foragers and it needs to draw some comb to quell the swarming urge. If you have a part filled super and the brood box in the requeening colony has few stores then you might as well leave it there. An empty drawn brood frame into the AS won't go amiss

Hello,

I've left the brood in the QC hive however the top brood box is getting filled with stores so I didn't know if I should put it on my QR hive to make use of or leave it where it is??

Thanks

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ah ....... if it had little or no brood in it then it's up to you. Just make sure thebrood half of the split has enough food. If you put it on the queenright hive they may top it up and cap it. Do you have an extractor that can handle the frames? Or leave it for them for winter?