[hivesalive]

We got our first bees this Spring. We got an established double hive from a beekeeper friend and he said we should split them soon or they would probably swarm. We did split them and the hive body that was originally
on top has been doing extra good, they filled both their deep hive bodies, 1 super is full of honey and they are working on the second super. The other hive, the one that was originally the bottom, has never done well. We gave them a second deep box and they are not really doing anything in it, now I have been watching them and they are trying to rob from the strong hive. Not really sure what to do and how to help the weak hive to get better.

 

[Bees In Miami]

Did you just take one box off the other and consider it 'split'? Did you divide the brood, eggs and other resources, so that both boxes had the ability to make a queen? Have you checked the weak hive to make sure it is queenright? I've not heard of a weak hive robbing a strong hive...seems to be a suicide mission for them IMO.

 

[ruthiesbees]

You can help equalize it by giving the weak hive one of the supers of honey. Sounds like they need a new queen though. Now if you want to buy one in. It would get them in a good position going into winter.

 

[hivesalive]

Thank you ruthiesbees, that is pretty much what we were thinking. we will try that. I think when we did the split, this is the hive with the old queen, she is about 3 years old.

 

[Michael Bush]

Anytime you have robbing you need to stop it immediately. Even if that means closing up the hive with screen and staples. After the robbers stop coming, open just enough of the screen for one bee at a time. If you think they are going to starve, give them dry sugar or better, steal capped honey from a strong hive for them. A frame of emerging brood will boost them the quickest.