View Full Version : Brood this time of year ?
Jdlmax
09-23-2009, 09:30 AM
I am in northern NJ, I checked my hives this morning and found no brood, is this normal for this time of year? There are still a lot of bees in the hive. Does the queen stop laying this early or have i gone queenless?
Eyeshooter
09-23-2009, 06:45 PM
I'm in New Hampshire and I had brood in all 4 hives and the nuc last weekend. It's getting close to"quitting time" but still seems a bit early for a complete shutdown. Hard to imagine all of your hives going queenless at the same time tho'.
John
Jdlmax
09-24-2009, 06:17 AM
Well I'm concerned because I have a neighbor who threatened to have an exterminator come in and place poison around his pond (which he claims my bees are frequenting) that they would take back to the hive and wipe it out. Just wondering if he succeeded or if this is normall for this time of year. I would think that it would be illegal for the use of this type of pesticide on Honey bee colonies. Anyone Know if there are pesticides like this and if they are legal.
theriverhawk
09-24-2009, 06:21 AM
Not knowing all of the details, and with the neighbor/pond statement, I'd say there is a very good chance your neighbor did just that. The edges of ponds are a very likely watering source for your bees. Sounds like your bees are close enough to his pond for him to know you have bees. If that's the case, then no doubt they are watering there. He may have done it...if so, I'm sorry to hear it.
If you can sneak a sample of the water, I'd get it analyzed. Is it legal to poison honeybees where you are? I can't imagine anyone complaining about having honeybees on their property! Thank God, here in the rural areas of NC they appreciate honeybees!
JohnK and Sheri
09-24-2009, 08:19 AM
Brood production can also be a reflection of the nectar/pollen availability in your area. Here in Wisconsin many of our colonies had gone broodless early due to a late summer dearth. We are feeding syrup and pollen to stimulate brood rearing now.
Sheri
NC-Bee-Dude
09-24-2009, 08:33 AM
My queen shut down in late July -- it appears she may have stopped laying for at least two weeks. Mind you...it was JULY, and queens don't usually stop laying in July. It was an odd enough situation that the chief inspector for the NC Apiary Section came here to visit my bees.
The very day I was going to pinch her and requeen, I opened up the hive and it was full of eggs. She went back to work. And she was in overtime it seemed.
Why did she stop laying? Who knows? And its hard to try to second guess bees. But some things we figured that may have caused her to shut down were: Spraying vinegar around the hive for weed control (possibly the smell)...the powdered sugar dusting they received for varroa mite control, the weather, etc. Its been almost two months and I have one great hive and the queen is right on target.
In your case, my guess, and it is a wild guess -- is that it is the weather. After all, fall is here...and remember, the hive has a timing system, they know these things better than we do. Your neighbor? Who knows. People say and do crazy things all the time. But I would think that putting out poison or putting it in water, all in an effort to kill your bees, is a little extreme? I mean, isn't he defeating the purpose of being so protective over his precious water if he poisons it to get rid of honey bees? Weird...but people do crazy things all the time.
Good luck anyway! I hope you figure this one out.
I have the same question. My hive that was full of brood a month ago now has no brood. There are no signs of queen cells. The bees are busy and happy. How do I know if this is due to no nectar and pollen or if I have a queenless hive?? Our weather here is very dry and nights are now in the 30s. Should I worry? This is my only hive so I don't have anything to compare with.
BDJ
honeydreams
09-27-2009, 11:36 PM
I still have lots of brood end of september the knotweed is done flowing so my bees will hatch about two weeks plus pass the last necter flow.
Chick
09-28-2009, 12:28 AM
BDJ, if you rbees are working and bringing in pollen, the queen is still there OR, she is just recently dead, and her scent is still in the hive.
megank
09-28-2009, 02:38 AM
I have the same question. My hive that was full of brood a month ago now has no brood. There are no signs of queen cells. The bees are busy and happy. How do I know if this is due to no nectar and pollen or if I have a queenless hive?? Our weather here is very dry and nights are now in the 30s. Should I worry? This is my only hive so I don't have anything to compare with.
BDJ
Stick a frame of eggs inside.
If they build emergency queen cells...you have your answer