Couple newbie questions.

[Ohio Patriot]

Background:

I'm a second-year beekeeper in west-central Ohio. I have two hives of Carniolan bees. It's a simple setup... each hive currently consists of two deeps.

Current Situation:

Today I went to check on them. I opened the first hive and it was full of bees. They were even building comb on the inside of the top cover, and the comb contained brood. I decided to scrape the comb off. I installed a top feeder and filled it with corn syrup.

The second hive was much like the first, though it didn't have quite as many bees. I installed a top feeder and filled it with corn syrup.

Here are my questions:

1. Should I have scraped off the comb, even though it contained brood?

2. The first hive appears to be overflowing with bees. I'm concerned it will swarm! What should I do? Should I add another deep? Split the hive? Add a honey super? :confused:

3. Should I add any medication to the syrup?

Thanks!

[ April 18, 2006, 05:44 AM: Message edited by: Ohio Patriot ]

[tecumseh]

1. Should I have scraped off the comb, even though it contained brood?

tecumseh says most definitely since the top will come off easier next time. scraping burr comb is sop for me. some times the brood between the boxs provides an opportunity to do a routine check for mites. they show up real clearly on white fairly mature larvae. if you expect any kind of problem with small hive beetles capture the scrapings in a container for disposal.

2. The first hive appears to be overflowing with bees. I'm concerned it will swarm! What should I do? Should I add another deep? Split the hive? Add a honey super?

yes, yes and yes. adding feed will certainly add to your concern about swarming. although you might wish to make sure this hive has not simply moved to the top deep (with the bottom deep being empty).

3. Should I add any medication to the syrup?

some do and some don't. I personally see no need in medicating healty bees.

[Mike Gillmore]

My colonies are beginning to explode too in NE Ohio. If you have bees and brood in both deeps, and a few frames of capped honey, then it is probably time to stop the feeding and add supers to give them room to move nectar to. With spring really beginning to kick in here they need lots of room or you will be adding to the swarm problem.

[peggjam]

Spring is when the coloney builds up for swarming season. The first thing you have to do when inspecting your hives the first time in the spring is going through both boxes and checking to see if the bees do indeed fill both of them. If not, then you need to checkerboard your hive to give the queen more room to lay. You do this by alternating empty frames with full frames in both boxes. This will open up the broodnest and allow the queen to continue laying. This is an important part of spring mangement, and will allow your hives to build up to very strong colonies for the main honey flow. The other thing you can do is deciede if you want to make spring splits, and now would be a good time to start getting ready for this project. If there is nector available, feeding will not help the hive that much.

[Michael Bush]

>1. Should I have scraped off the comb, even though it contained brood?

It really doesn't matter.

>2. The first hive appears to be overflowing with bees. I'm concerned it will swarm!

They probably will.

> What should I do? Should I add another deep? Split the hive? Add a honey super? [Confused]

I'd definitely add some room. A super or another deep. How may deeps does it have now? I'd also look for swarm cells and look for brood nest contraction. If the brood nest is full of honey I'd put some empty frames in the brood nest.

>3. Should I add any medication to the syrup?

For what?