Here's an update for that swarm from Sept 21.
They have since been given a Hive Top Feeder from Brushy Mtn. It was filled with a gallon of 1:1 Syrup with a drop of Thyme & Peppermint oils each plus a tbsp of Apple Cider Vinegar. The bees took to it quickly. Their population is so small that after a week they still haven't finished the gallon of syrup. They did, however start drawing comb IN the feeder. All of which was removed.
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| One nuc box & a HTF |
They are drawing out comb and filling it up with nectar & pollen like champs. If it were April or May these bees would be able to establish a full hive before Winter. Sadly it's October. They would have to go through Winter in a 2 or 3 frame nuc. They might be able too but I've not the experience to set them up for it. I still plan to combine them into another hive but we'll see. So I'm not counting them amongst the other colonies yet.
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| Eggs, Larva, & Pupae |
The Best news is that the queen is laying in every good cell she can find. There's even a few capped worker cells. The bees must like her since there are no Supersedure cells to be found. She not the biggest queen I've seen but the attitude of the bees and their productivity do rate well.
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| New Good Queen |
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1 comment:
She looks like an unmarked queen...did you mark her after this picture or am I missing something?
Glad to hear I hope you can keep them alive through the winter.
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