View Full Version : I still have drones
I still have drones and a bunch of eggs in one hive. I have been feeding them heavy syrup for the last three weeks. They have lots of uncapped syrup and what seems like a lot of bees to me. I am a first year beek' so I have only one other hive to compare with this one.
Am I feeding them too much? Maybe stimulating the queen to lay. She is an open bred Italian, so the open brood nest is part of her nature.
How I can be sure that they have enough syrup to make it through the winter. They do not seem "organized" for winter if you know what I mean; brood scattered all over the place, not a lot of capped honey/syrup.
Should I stop feeding them? Would this encourage them to shut down for the winter or just open up more space for the queen to lay. I'm just a bit confused.
RKR
chillardbee
10-20-2009, 11:16 AM
it's normal for some hives to go into winter with a few drones from time to time especially if they are strong and rich in food or if they have an older queen. I don't know what the temps are there for your region but i would think that they would be forming their winter cluster about now, up here they are anyway but if the day gets a little warm its normal to have a few bees wandering around.
As far as feeding goes, if it's still warm enough for them to take feed and they seem light weight, then by all means, feed. nevertheless, keep an eye on it through the winter and if at some point they get dangerously light in later part of winter, you can alway feed dry sugar.
Last Sunday I checked my hives, a number of drones and quite a bit of Brood, and a few bees coming in with Pollen ! :scratch:
I'm about 122 nm Southeast Richter Field.
PCM
BigDru
10-20-2009, 09:46 PM
Watched the girls kicking drones out this past week.
Tom G. Laury
10-20-2009, 10:19 PM
Drones are awful good fish bait but you gotta keep em alive when it's cold.
Dave W
10-21-2009, 09:43 AM
>brood scattered all over the place . . .
>still have drones . . .
Is you hive queenless?
>seems like a lot of bees to me . . .
On a warm day, how may frames are covered w/ bees?
When bees are clustered, how many spaces between frames are packed w/ bees?
>Am I feeding them too much? Maybe stimulating the queen to lay . . .
Maybe.
>How I can be sure that they have enough syrup . . .
The best way for newbees; weigh hive or count frames of capped honey.
>>I'm just a bit confused . . .
We all feel that way sometimes :)
Is your hive queenless?
I saw lots of eggs/brood/larva of all ages, so I know she was there within 3 days or so. She is this years queen and it has been her habit to fill any available cell with an egg. The brood is not in one spot i.e not a text book brood nest. The brood frames have frames of syrup/honey between them. Like the 2-5-6-9 frames will have brood the other have honey/syrup.
When bees are clustered, how many spaces between frames are packed w/ bees?
I have not popped open the hive when it is cold. They are out every day when it gets warm so I don't think either hive is clustered permanently yet. I would guess there will be 10-15 frames of bees if they contracted into a cluster.
The best way for newbees; weigh hive or count frames of capped honey.
The weight is good although the syrup is not capped for the most part. I guess I am concerned that they will not have enough honey that is touching the other honey so they can move around like they should. This concern is due to the brood nest scattered through out the frames. I worry they will get stuck in a corner and starve with honey inches away.
I am also concerned that the syrup will crystallize if not capped
>>I'm just a bit confused . . .
We all feel that way sometimes :)
Good that makes me feel better. :cool:
The second hive seems like they are ready for winter. they have plenty of bees, two mediums full of capped honey and brood in one place.
Thanks to all for all of your help.
RKR
Dave W
10-22-2009, 09:55 AM
>I saw lots of eggs/brood/larva of all ages . . .
All of which are produced by a queenless hive when you have laying workers.
>brood is not in one spot . . .
Typical for laying workers.
>brood frames have frames of syrup/honey . . .
Lot of honey in brood nest CAN be sign of queenless condition.
>clustered permanently . . .
Bees "kinda" form a cluster around brood/brood nest, all year round. When it gets cold, they form a much tighter group, forming the "winter cluster". You can briefly open hive to observe the winter cluster w/o harm (dont distrub cluster).
>weight is good although the syrup is not capped . . .
If weight is good, I'd stop feeding. When feeding is done too late and cold weather sets in, bees have a hard time "clustering, drying nectar, and capping honey", all at the same time.
>10-15 frames of bees if they contracted into a cluster . . .
That would be a very large "winter" CLUSTER. Bees COVERING 10-15 frames on a warm day (w/fight) would be what I would expect (good "target" size for overwintering).
Still just a bit confused :)
I don't think it is a laying worker, although time will tell. The brood that is sealed is flat not bullet shaped and the eggs (which I did a poor job of explaining "lots of eggs") are upright, at the bottom and only one per cell.
I do understand your logic on this one:
Disorganized hive+ lots of drones+ "lots of eggs" = a classic signs of laying workers!!!
I saw her about 2 1/2 weeks ago when I re-combined the hive after the "two queens in one hive" fiasco. http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=234236
This is that hive and it's been busting with bees all fall. I re-combined them 1 week after the hasty split as that seemed to be the prevailing advise. When I went to do a news paper combine; the hive with the "new" queen had 5-6 emergency cells, no queen, and no eggs. I do not know where she went. The old queen is a very light "Cordovan" looking queen and the other queen was very dark. Arlo and I watched both of them for several minutes so I am sure there was two.
I should name this hive the "First Year Baptized by Fire" Hive. Though I have not had much trouble with mites or other problems yet, but there's always next year!!!:eek:
RKR
Dave W
10-24-2009, 09:13 AM
Given the "re-combined" info, I'd say they have not "orginized" the brood nest yet.
Maybe "all is well" :)
franktrujillo
10-25-2009, 10:12 AM
I have drones in my russian/carni hive thats the only hive that has them.Reduced the entrances as well they kicked some out but they leave some alone.I have there hive with deep box and 2 suppers above that the itall same set up no drones alot more worker bees as well.46 degrees russian flying and searching.all other hives no foraging seem too cold for them same front yard 50 ft. or so from front door.