need advice

[Todd Jones]

I recieved my ladies on may 25 2011, I purchased hive and bees, They are not doing well I don't think. They have 1 or 2 frames of brood and 2 honey. Should I start feeding or just be patient?
I don't see them getting enough for winter.

[Andrew Dewey]

What exactly did you purchase? A full hive (double deeps, 3 mediums?) with just a few bees? A nuc? A package? With the quantity of bees you describe I would have been feeding from day 1 - so yes, start feeding them NOW! Sugar water 1:1. Is there natural pollen available in your area? Pollen gets used as food for baby bees, so if there is not an abundant source of natural pollen, you should feed some pollen supplement too.

[Todd Jones]

I purchased 2 hives, 1 deep brood box and 1 medium super box per hive. They are bring in alot of pollen, and I am seeing smaller bees with larger one so I am assuming brood is hatching.

[LtlWilli]

Are the small ones kinda fuzzy looking? --especially on the head. ...Sounds like a good start to me.Congrats on a good purchase.
LtlWilli

[Acebird]

It sounds like you purchased one hive and put two colonies in them to make two hives. If this is all the equipment you have I wouldn't be in a hurry. I think that you should purchase more equipment though. Had I known what I know now I would have started with all mediums. If you are a young stud you can go with all deeps. It makes me wonder why the bee equipment suppliers don't offer a start off kit with same size equipment.

[StevenG]

Hi Todd, and welcome!

You purchased two hives May 25, in NC, consisting of one deep brood box and one medium super. They have 1-2 frames of brood, and 2 of honey. If this is correct, seems to me you've got some problems. Remember, all beekeeping is local, but by this time your brood box should be overflowing with bees, and they should be packing honey into that super, and maybe even swarming.

You need to examine the brood nest, and look at the pattern of brood. Is it compact, sealed brood rimmed with larvae then eggs? Or is sealed brood scattered about, with larvae and eggs scattered about? A lot of drone brood? Drone cells extend beyond the surface of the comb, kind of like a bullet, compared to the rest of the brood. The looks of the brood nest might tell you that you have queen problems.

Personally, I would do two things: First, I'd put on a syrup feeder. IF they are bringing in lots of pollen, good. If not, I'd feed a small cake of pollen. Also, I'd put in small hive beetle traps - you probably have them in your area, and with those weak hives, you don't want the beetle to get a toe-hold in your colony. Second, I'd watch the queen. Is she marked? What color? That would reveal the year she was installed. And third,
(I know, I said two, but...) I'd start shopping for some new queens.

You also ought to determine when the honey flow is for your area. That will tell you whether and how much you need to feed to get them ready for winter.
Good luck!
Steven

[Todd Jones]

Okay, I looked in the hives for the first time pulling each frame. One hive is doing well I think two frames of capped brood with honey in the corners, I seen larva uncapped and capped, two frames of honey, drawing two more. The other colony was very spotty I did not see very much activity with the queen, one and a half of very spotted brood and one and a half frames of honey. The person I bought the bees from said to give it two more weeks and if I do not see any day old eggs, He will make it good. So we will see in two weeks, thanks for all of the advice.

[StevenG]

Todd, one more clarifying question. How many frames of comb, and how many frames of foundation in each hive? Without looking at them, it almost sounds as if your provider made up some nucs in ten-frame boxes. At any rate, it sounds like the one queen is failing, with the spotty brood. You ought to simply plan on replacing her, or letting him make good on her in two weeks. At any rate, if there's foundation in the hives, feed them. If they need it, they'll take it. If they don't, they won't, but at least you'll have done what you can to help them.
Regards,
Steven

[Todd Jones]

they are 10 frame hives.
2 comb and drawing out 2 more with 2 brood frames heavy in 1 hive.
the other, 1 1/2 brood, 1 1/2 comb, looks like drawing 1 other frame, also a 10 frame hive.
Also how long do I leave the quart jar on before the sugar water goes bad?

[saltcreep]

Any Idea how many bees came with your purchase?
I setup 2 hives with 2 3lb packages of Italians on May 27 and they have most all of the comb drawn on the 10-frame medium, and have started on the one I just placed above it. I've been feeding 1:1 Sugar water the whole time though to help w/ the comb building.

[Todd Jones]

Maybe I should have been feeding the whole time, oh well live and learn.
I will be feeding until winter, to try to keep them strong.
I have no idea how many bees I bought hive and all.

[hpm08161947]

Maybe I should have been feeding the whole time, oh well live and learn.

Sounds kind of early to be feeding for winter here in NC. Might need a little feed to get them over the derth.. but sounds like they have some feed. We do not start worrying about packing a medium for winter until about sept. and late sept at that.

I am suspecting you have queen problems in your 1 hive and your buddy is right... wait a week or so and look for eggs.

[Michael Bush]

If they don't have any capped stores I would feed. If they do, then they are bringing in something and have enough to put it in long term storage (capped).

[Todd Jones]

Thanks for all of the advice. I have alot to learn.

[Todd Jones]

Hey everyone, I waited 2 weeks to see if the queen was working or not. What I found 2 weeks ago was very little bees and no sign of a queen, also found 2 supercedure cells. So I guess they made another queen and she has already mated and is laying eggs, Oh yea, I also seen her for the first time. The 2 cells were not there yesterday. They are doing great. Thanks for the help and the advice.
I am also feeding and the weak hive is eating the sugar water hard, the other hive not so much.