First mistake of the year .

1376 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Beeonefarms, Apr 23, 2014

GLOCK

Discussion Starter · Apr 20, 2014

Well my first mistake of 2014 was I had a DBL. nuc that made it through the winter and had no stores left but had about 2 frames of bees and a queen. So I broke it down to one box{5 frames} 2 frames of bees, 2 frames of honey, and 1 frame with comb.
That was like 2 weeks ago . Well checked that nuc 3 days ago and it had swarmed .

No honey left and a hatched queen cell and half the bees.I didn't even think of that .
So I am sure the swarm froze and the queen that's in the nuc now can not mate .
So I guess first learning curve of the year. Sure glad I only did it to one of my nucs. Live and learn.
I did it to make it easier for the bees. I was wrong.

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WBVC

· #2 · Apr 20, 2014

Would they have swarmed when you still had freezing ambient temperatures? Were there any drones or drone brood?
I just made up 4 nucs with brood but I hope no queens as I was planning on leaving them in the hives...do I have to worry about them swarming in the near future? Each has 2 frames of undrawn wax foundation.

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jmgi

· #3 · Apr 20, 2014

GLOCK, pretty hard to believe that small of a nuc could have swarmed in just two weeks, seems a bit early for swarming in your area anyway.

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Mike Gillmore

· #4 · Apr 21, 2014

I would agree, it's a little early for swarming right now. Especially for a nuc with such a small population.

My guess would be that the queen was superceded in an emergency effort to keep the colony alive. Maybe she was injured in the downsizing, or was already failing. "About 2 weeks ago" ... the timing is just about right.

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GLOCK

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 21, 2014

jmgi said:
GLOCK, pretty hard to believe that small of a nuc could have swarmed in just two weeks, seems a bit early for swarming in your area anyway.

I do agree but I seen the Hatched QC and I was in the nuc 14 days earlier and there was twice as many bees and a nice fat queen when I checked a few days ago no queen and 2 QC not hatched and 1 that was hatched out so I'm guessing a virgin is in there and no honey.
I put the nuc back together and plan on looking at it again on TUES.
I have been open feeding and all my other hives are doing well.
I think my actions caused the swarm.

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tommyt

· #6 · Apr 21, 2014

I'm betting when you tore it down and put in into 5
You rolled the queen
That's why your see q'cells they are emergency cells

Jmo

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GLOCK

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 21, 2014

Mike Gillmore said:
I would agree, it's a little early for swarming right now. Especially for a nuc with such a small population.

My guess would be that the queen was superceded in an emergency effort to keep the colony alive. Maybe she was injured in the downsizing, or was already failing. "About 2 weeks ago" ... the timing is just about right.

You may be right that does sound right. I don't think I did any thing to the queen but I did make there space smaller and the might of triggered a superceded queen the QCs where in the middle of the frame. Sounds right to me good call.:thumbsup:

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Beeonefarms

· #8 · Apr 23, 2014

PICKING UP ON alot of what to do and what shouldnt have...thank you..I wont be ungrateful for any pics .To help my with subtle education

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