Will my bees survive?

[lebouche]

Thanks ITMA.
Am all out of fondant now. Might have to melt some down into syrup. Hopefully they will go up in numbers quickly now it's a little warmer!
Thanks again,

 

[lebouche]

First and probably last inspection

Finally had good enough weather to open them up.
They were bringing in pollen.
Saw some capped stored but only 50-60 capped brood.
Amd very few bees. Looks like they've had it.
My fault really. Should have waited till spring to do the cut out.

 

[lebouche]

Pics

Queen is there on the bottom of one of the shots.
Must be only 200 bees plus those out foraging.

 

[lebouche]

Picture 2

Don't know why but have to post pics again.

 

[lebouche]

And is that a supersedure cell?

 

[Eyeman]

Hi
As you only have one hive then you have 2 options.
1. Ask if anyone needs a queen and donate her to a good home.
2. Buy or borrow an Apidea and cut the small piece of brood out and 'squash' it into one of the frames of the apidea, put queen in and put ontop of hive and wait for bees to join her.

Alec

 

[lebouche]

Thanks,
Guess I could only donate her if someone was willing to pick her up.
Think I will put her in an apidea. Any idea how long will they survive in the poly nuc?

Thanks v much!

 

[Moggs]

Well Lebouche, I certainly admire your perseverance. It's a shame that this colony has suffered such a lingering demise. Do you intend to re-stock your hive?

 

[lebouche]

Well I have a bait hive up at the moment. Feeling terrible for all that I have put these creatures through.
Really just want to help them. Never been interested in honey, just in them.
Any time I seem to meddle with nature, nature seems to come off worse.

 

[Outlander]

May be bees aren’t for you ay. I believe you did make a comment about nature not being your forte.

 

[thebhoy]

are they all dead now?
If not, make up a mating hive or small hive with feed and bring indoors...keep them in the warmth overnight with entrance closed then let them outside to forage on good days.
This may help them raise a few more bees without struggling to heat the hive etc.....worth trying just for saving them and giving an opportunity to the queen later in the year.

 

[Moggs]

Lebouche, may I suggest that you buddy up with an experienced beekeeper to help you nurture any swarm that graces your bait hive? By your own admission, your first experience has brought its pain. Beekeeping should not be like this. A fresh start with hindsight and forward planning may bring a better experience.

Beekeeping is a complex science. Bees are living creatures that call for at least a modicum of preparation.

Good news - there are many, many good books and good beekeepers out there!

 

[lebouche]

Lebouche, may I suggest that you buddy up with an experienced beekeeper to help you nurture any swarm that graces your bait hive? By your own admission, your first experience has brought its pain. Beekeeping should not be like this. A fresh start with hindsight and forward planning may bring a better experience.

Beekeeping is a complex science. Bees are living creatures that call for at least a modicum of preparation.

Good news - there are many, many good books and good beekeepers out there!

Thanks,
I've been reading lots and lots and lots.
The main mistake I made was removing them when I did.
If I had waited till spring they would have been fine.
I also think the brood was possible chilled during the cut out as they abandoned half of it.
It's not that I'm bad with nature. I've loved and kept all sorts of animals from a very young age. It's just an observation that wild creatures generally do better when not tinkered with.

 

[Cazza]

May be bees aren’t for you ay. I believe you did make a comment about nature not being your forte.

That's quite a harsh judgement. Unfair in my opinion. We all make mistakes.
Cazza

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thanks,
I've been reading lots and lots and lots.
The main mistake I made was removing them when I did.
If I had waited till spring they would have been fine.
I also think the brood was possible chilled during the cut out as they abandoned half of it.
It's not that I'm bad with nature. I've loved and kept all sorts of animals from a very young age. It's just an observation that wild creatures generally do better when not tinkered with.

yes, well you did hit the ground running on your first foray into beekeeping and tried to make the best of bad job (not of your making BTW, just a figure of speech) by sensibly asking for and following advice on here as much as you could. My advice now would be sit back, take a deep breath and start afresh, I'm with Moggs, try and find someone locally to mentor you, join an association if you like, either try and catch a swarm or get a nuc, put the last year behind you and treat it as a learning point and begin from square one 'normally' as most of us have done.
Oh, two more things - good luck, and enjoy!

 

[BeeJayBee]

Oh, two more things - good luck, and enjoy!

 

[lebouche]

Thanks all.
I will take the advice and try to find a mentor.
I have seen a hive just a few gardens away, will get in touch and see if that is an experienced keeper.
Have been reticent to join the BBKA because of the pesticide funding talk.
Thanks again,

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Have been reticent to join the BBKA because of the pesticide funding talk.

Dont believe all the propaganda from the anti-pesticide brigade, nothing wrong with joining your local BKA whatever your views on the national body

 

[Dusty Rhodes]

Dont believe all the propaganda from the anti-pesticide brigade, nothing wrong with joining your local BKA whatever your views on the national body

Agreed.

My local BKA is really friendly.
And you can be selective about your involvement there.

Dusty