Jon
26-10-2011, 07:36 PM
The weather here has improved to sunshine and a balmy 12c so I checked a couple of colonies I had doubts about for one reason or another
The last time I checked these was about a month ago.
One which I hoped would be quite strong had dwindled to 2-3 frames of bees.
It had about 5 frames of brood a month ago and was covering 8 frames. It also had next to no stores in spite of being fed so I suspect a combination of nosema and robbing. There was a bit of brood and I saw the queen. I reduced it to 5 frames with dummy boards and combined it with a queenless nuc which I put on top above newspaper. Don't fancy its chances though.
Another which seemed to have little or no activity at the entrance and was taking down very little syrup had 4 frames well covered with brood both sides. No queen seen but obviously fine and dandy. Stores were not too bad bit it will need a little more.
I saw the marked queen in another which was attempting to supersede at the start of September. There were fresh eggs so I didn't look any further.
The last time I checked these was about a month ago.
One which I hoped would be quite strong had dwindled to 2-3 frames of bees.
It had about 5 frames of brood a month ago and was covering 8 frames. It also had next to no stores in spite of being fed so I suspect a combination of nosema and robbing. There was a bit of brood and I saw the queen. I reduced it to 5 frames with dummy boards and combined it with a queenless nuc which I put on top above newspaper. Don't fancy its chances though.
Another which seemed to have little or no activity at the entrance and was taking down very little syrup had 4 frames well covered with brood both sides. No queen seen but obviously fine and dandy. Stores were not too bad bit it will need a little more.
I saw the marked queen in another which was attempting to supersede at the start of September. There were fresh eggs so I didn't look any further.