[Hoxbar]

I've noticed the last few weeks my hive has been getting weaker. Today I decided to to an inspection. I found empty cells! No eggs, no or few capped brood cells. The bottom hive body was void of any eggs, or brood. There was very little honey and a little pollen. My second brood box has some uncapped honey and pollen stored. Should I combine this hive with another of my hives or add a few frames of capped brood from another hive? It's getting kind of late in the year and I don't know if there will be enough time for them to make their own queen and make brood and still survive the winter. What should I do?

 

[Hoxbar]

I've never done this before. I guess just a good frame of eggs not sealed brood. Should I give them some sugar syrup, not much nectar flowing right now?

 

[Hoxbar]

True, but if they can make their own I'd rather do that. Plus, I'm on a super tight budget. If it was spring I would get a new queen, but here our fall honey crop is not edible.

I also found varoa mites in my hives today

 

[Hoxbar]

Since this hive also has mites should I treat it with strips at the same time as trying to raise a queen? I did a sugar shake test today and with a 1/4 cup of bees I found six mites. All the hives I checked today had mites, but that's another topic in itself.

 

[Hoxbar]

Not saying if you should or should not treat - that's your call - but they all have mites. You just found them today.

If you were of a mind to treat though it's generally best to do so when there's as little as possible capped brood.

They all have mites???? Really???? So I'll never get rid of them? If I will not get rid of them then why treat?

 

[Hoxbar]

What is sbb?

 

[Hoxbar]

Thanks......