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BUCKS COUNTY BEEKEEPERS ASSOCIATION

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Confused Bees? Bad queen?

  • August 10, 2023 7:23 AM
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    Message # 13239077
    William

    I have 2 hives, one from a nuc and one package. The in the nuc hive, the bees make perfect comb and the hive seems well organized

    However, in the package hive, the bees don't seem to know what they are doing. They don't seem to know how to make proper comb.

    The first brood box was filled out well, but when I put on a second brood box they struggled to make comb. Using Kurt's suggestion, I moved a few frames from the lower box to the upper box. These frames still look good in the upper box. But the empty frames in the upper box were never filled out correctly. (See pictures). I am continuing to feed this hive.

    Any suggestions? Is this a sign of a bad queen?

    Thanks,

    3 files
  • August 11, 2023 8:47 AM
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    Reply # 13239613 on 13239077
    Ignatius

    I think it depends on the time of year when you add the additional box. I live in Yardley, and my experience has been that there is a significant slow down in the production of comb as we move into the summer months. I noticed this last year, and I am seeing it again this year. The bees just aren’t building out my frames the way they were in early and mid-spring. I am getting the sense that the flow of natural nectar has a lot to do with comb production. I’m sure there are other factors that play into it , so I hope that some other folks weigh in. . 
  • August 17, 2023 11:09 PM
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    Reply # 13242485 on 13239077
    Kurt (Administrator)

    I agree.   This is why you keep feeding as much as possible during the first year.   The bees need a nectar flow ( or simulated flow through feeding) to build comb.   Comb building is very resource intensive.  /kurt
  • September 09, 2023 9:36 PM
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    Reply # 13252342 on 13239077
    William

    It is now a month since my post. I examined the hive yesterday after a 14 day treatment with Formic Pro.  I stopped feeding the hive when the Formic Pro treatment was started. There is no change from the pictures previously posted. No comb building, and I don't see any capped brood or eggs. The queen was observed alive. Should I re-queen the hive now, or any other suggestions?
  • September 10, 2023 12:42 AM
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    Reply # 13252362 on 13239077
    Kurt (Administrator)

    William

    Since you are just coming off a formic treatment, and we are in a dearth;   I think I would reintroduce feeding 1:1 and check back in a week.  My thought is to see if you can restimulate the queen to lay.  
    I’m curious to what others think?

    k
  • September 10, 2023 8:16 AM
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    Reply # 13252397 on 13239077
    Todd

    This is just me. When I have experienced comb production or lack there of like this it’s because my foundation had only a thin layer of wax. Whenever I buy foundation now I use a foam roller and melted cappings wax or any wax I have on hand and load up the frames. They seem to take to it more readily.
  • September 10, 2023 3:33 PM
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    Reply # 13252505 on 13239077
    William

    Thanks for the input! I will try rolling wax on the frames and see how that goes.
  • September 10, 2023 4:02 PM
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    Reply # 13252514 on 13239077
    Debi

    I too have experienced similar issues with comb development and lack of eggs, capped brood, etc after formic pro. I was ready to requeen!   Started feeding immediately after formic pro treatment and about 2 weeks later noticed a big improvement with my queen (good brood pattern, larvae and eggs).  I have not had success like others with regard to honey production. I put my first honey super on about 1 1/2 months ago and nothing.  I noticed last week, they just started building comb out.  I think the feeding has helped and giving the queen some time to adjust after treatment.
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