Had a hive die from Nosema 2nd week of February with about 30lbs of stores still in top deep - pretty badly splattered with dark stuff and a lot of dead bees. Had a hive next 2 it, 2 deep setup where the cluster was on the top bars of the top deep. As I assumed they were probably on the point of starvation I moved the top deep over on to the top of the live hive figuring it would probably get them through to Spring
Did it ever!! Spring came a little early here in NE MA. Much pollen been pulled in since week 1 of March. Finally decided today the time had come to pull the presumably empty deep from the bottom and reverse the other 2. Slight problem is that there are bees in every one of the deeps. The top 2 weigh about 40 odd pounds each and the bottom is probably only about 10. Around that point in the investigation as I was being a little casual and using a little spray and no smoke a couple of them decided to join me inside the veil, after removing them and their stings decided to put it back together and work out what I should do. Got the heaviest box, which was the top to the bottom, the middle stayed where it was and the lightest, was bottom is now on top. There is definitely brood in the the bottom 2 boxes and possible some in the top also was some in the burr comb theyd's built between the boxes and between the old top box and the inner cover. I assume I should seriously consider splitting this. Any advice on how to proceed. never had to split anything this far North in the first week in April.
Did it ever!! Spring came a little early here in NE MA. Much pollen been pulled in since week 1 of March. Finally decided today the time had come to pull the presumably empty deep from the bottom and reverse the other 2. Slight problem is that there are bees in every one of the deeps. The top 2 weigh about 40 odd pounds each and the bottom is probably only about 10. Around that point in the investigation as I was being a little casual and using a little spray and no smoke a couple of them decided to join me inside the veil, after removing them and their stings decided to put it back together and work out what I should do. Got the heaviest box, which was the top to the bottom, the middle stayed where it was and the lightest, was bottom is now on top. There is definitely brood in the the bottom 2 boxes and possible some in the top also was some in the burr comb theyd's built between the boxes and between the old top box and the inner cover. I assume I should seriously consider splitting this. Any advice on how to proceed. never had to split anything this far North in the first week in April.