Packages swarmed... have a question

[JoeMcc]

Hi again,

Two of my packages swarmed. I took a look insde and it was obvious why. There was brood in every frame in a 10 frame single. They are 2 of 14 packages I installed this year. They are also at a different location. I would say they are 50% stronger than all the other hives. My first thought was that it had something to do with the location of these 2 compared to the rest that are in another location. The only difference is that I was not able to get to there to take the entrance reducers off. Is it possible that the entrance reducers kept the internal temp higher so they were able to raise more brood? Why else would 2 hives be so much stronger?


JoeMcc

[xC0000005]

I suspect you just got a couple of much better queens. I have one hive where the queen does the same thing. Also, sounds like they need more space. :)

You catch the swarms?

[JoeMcc]

I suspect you just got a couple of much better queens. I have one hive where the queen does the same thing. Also, sounds like they need more space. :)

You catch the swarms?

Yup I got them back...

Yeah Im thinking of raising some stock from these 2 queens. So you think its just coincidence that the 2 I took to the other location are better queens? Im not sure thats 100% the problem because all 14 packages were on foundation. So the house bees also would have been of better stock to pull that much wax right?

As far as space goes I was basing it on the hives at the other location. I put the second deep on them last week and was wondering if it was too early. For some reason these 2 were explosive.

JoeMcc

[carbide]

Rather than think that the two queens were so much better than the other 12 queens, I would suspect that its a simple matter of those two hives being in a better location for forageing. Or maybe the fact that those two hives didn't have to compete with the other 12 hives.

[Michael Bush]

>Why else would 2 hives be so much stronger?

Probably a lot of reasons. Side by side hives often differ greatly. Side by side packages, though, often have a lot of drift to a hive with a queen who smells better.

[tecumseh]

small differences can add up to make significant and noticeable differences. to note a few... a few extra bees in the original packages, a hive placed in a spot (usually the down wind side of a yard) that catches more drift, a queen with a bit stronger queen pheromone,.....

how long was the time between package installed and swarming? a ten frame single... is that a standard deep body?

[JoeMcc]

small differences can add up to make significant and noticeable differences. to note a few... a few extra bees in the original packages, a hive placed in a spot (usually the down wind side of a yard) that catches more drift, a queen with a bit stronger queen pheromone,.....

how long was the time between package installed and swarming? a ten frame single... is that a standard deep body?

Packages were installed late April. The 2 that swarmed were in a location by themselves about 5 miles away from the main apiary. Yeah they were in a standard deep. It's just odd that they pulled foundation and filled all 10 frames with brood in the same amount of time that the other hives pulled out 6ish. Ive never seen brood all the way to the insides of frames 1 and 10 before.

The reason I had not added the second deep is that I was gauging them off of the progress of the other hives at the main apiary. I guess thats not a good idea...lol

So if it absolutly had nothing to do with the fact that they were the only 2 that I left the entrance reducers on, then I would have to conclude it more to do with less competition in the area. Which would have stimulated them even more i suppose. well, we all know one thing....that sometimes we never know.

:)

JoeMcc

[Dr.Wax]

It would be interesting to conduct an experiment next season to see if there is a correlation. You might have something there.

But like the others my hunch is the rapid buildup was due to other factors.

[Moonshae]

Move one of the home yard hives to the outyard and see if its pace picks up.

[newbee 101]

I have rapid build up in a few hives. I wonder if its due to all the drawn comb that I started them on. 1 swarmed already, the other I made 2 nucs from the frames with Queen cells.

[JoeMcc]

Move one of the home yard hives to the outyard and see if its pace picks up.

Good idea.... I will have to try that. Better yet bring 2 equal strength hives and leave a reducer in one.

JoeMcc