[SwedeBee1970]

2 of 3 hives didn't make it through winter, the last remaining one has a few hundred Russian bees left in the honeycomb box. No brood in hive and no queen either. Is it worth a re-queen or are they too small numbers ?

 

[Michael Bush]

Do you have another hive? Do you want to make a split? Would you rather just combine?

 

[SwedeBee1970]

Hi Mike,
This hive is the last of the Russian colony. The other 3 new hives r just installed recently.

 

[Michael Bush]

You don't have a lot of resources to work with. A frame of emerging brood with attached bees would help them a lot, but you probably shouldn't take that from any of your packages that are just getting started. You could give them a little (like a cupful of bees from each of the other packages) and see if they can get going again... or just combine them if you don't want to mess with it.

 

[SwedeBee1970]

Is there anyone in my area that's willing to do a Russian split?
That's likely my only solution. Can't see other bees helping out. Is it possible?

 

[SwedeBee1970]

Am going to try a re-queen. There are many bees from the other hives going in/out of the entrance on their own. Wonder when it's re-queened if they'll step up and go help ??

 

[grozzie2]

if they are entering from other hives, then going back, they are robbing it out.

 

[SwedeBee1970]

Then why would putting some bees from other hives into it help the cause?
Wouldn't they return home?

 

[WBVC]

I think if you add a frame with capped and open brood...especially if you do so during the day most of the clinging bees will be young nurse bees that have not yet oriented to the original hive. The field bees will likely head back to their original home.

 

[Vance G]

Sorry for you loss, put a fork in it, it is done! Shake the bees out and let them beg into a new home. Store the equipment for replacement bees when you can find them.

 

[ChuckReburn]

Sorry for you loss, put a fork in it, it is done! Shake the bees out and let them beg into a new home. Store the equipment for replacement bees when you can find them.

That pretty much sums it up.

I went over to help a neighbor who had ordered a queen and found it in the same condition. The queen would have been a waste of $. I installed an under performing nuc and we requeened it a few days later.