One More Week and I Would Have Lost This Queen!. Part 3/8

Join me on a beekeeping journey as I open up a hive that was recently being fed, only to discover it teetering on the brink of swarming! Witness the incredible moment as I find a swarm cell containing an egg and share mesmerizing close-up footage. In an effort to prevent swarming, I demonstrate the technique of checkerboarding with extra frames and add a new box to the hive. Beekeeping is full of surprises, and this video captures the excitement of managing a hive on the verge of a natural phenomenon. 🐝✨ #Beekeeping #SwarmPrevention #HiveManagement
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[@tsor9]

Honestly, I would have let them replace their queen, it seems to me that she is not laying eggs very well. You will also have a new strong queen, those who change themselves are the best queens.

[@aussiebeekeeping]

Yep

[@robertcloosterman9336]

I'm new to this and learning as I go. I watch these to understand and identify what I'm looking for. 🙂🐝🐝🐝 Rob

[@aussiebeekeeping]

That’s my plan.

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

Lack of stores this side of the bay as well, way too much overcast again, for the third year straight, you know the saying, no sun no nectar, and it looks as though we have copped it yet again.

[@aussiebeekeeping]

Warm week ahead. :)I’ve heard there’s a redgum flow on in the Grampian so I’m contemplating taking them to our house there.

[@sentimentalbloke7586]

Sounds like a great idea. They are on a much different weather pattern to us, but watch out for hot weather.@@aussiebeekeeping

[@aussiebeekeeping]

@sentimentalbloke7586 good advice. Thanks.

[@opsydul0175]

hi sir my country is Bangladesh aapka madhumakkhi ka Jaat kaun si hai APIs Serena vs Apis mellifera kaun sa Jaat ka hai ❤

[@mmb_MeAndMyBees]

Tip :.
How old is that Queen ?
Swarm status is usually a Colony (Bee population) descision ! Maybe she's not a "good" as a layer than you the 'Beek' think. Queens here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 are only laying well say for x3 Seasons or so. We are well established in Varroa Mite management here.
Hear the 'dreaded' Varroa Mite are in OZ now ! 😕
[They are not as awful as you think !] More annoying and a hassel, that needs "prompt and regular Hive interventions" like doing x4 or x5 "different" types of Treatment or sequences of eradication techniques.
It's ignorance or laziness that 'kills' the Bees ! Yes, vectored by the presence of V.M. (Tips at End...)
Twenty or so Years ago, Queens were "good" for say x5 Years or more. No longer the case.
Suggestion :
I would of moved that Queen and say x4 Frames into a Nuc Split. And feed, feed with that intergrated In-Hive Feeder.
Reduce the remaining (now Queenless) Colony into a x5 over x5 Nuc Stack. Again with a good Supply of Feed by an Internal Feed Frame too. As those "charged" Cells with Eggs (mashed open) Eggs were still in an 'upright' position [laid say x4 Days previously] you would have x12 Days to go (before those Cells were Capped, and the "New Queen" would Hatch out (!)
Memo : Queens hatch on the 16th Day from Egg Laid ! So do the Maths thinking less than x16 days re "Hatching/Were did she Go !?! That way you have no surprises meeting you. on the next Inspection. 👀
In this Video Situation
Tip :
I personally would of left all those Cells in Situ (unharmed.) Remembering you have removed the Queen to that Nuc. (If all goes Ape, you can still reintroduce her back !)
Re those Cells, come back say x7 Days later. . .
Do another "Inspection", to then Choose the best "Cell." Aka a nicely placed 'Peanut' hanging down, of good shape and mid length : As the Monach to be in waiting ! . . AND Then carefully "Harvest" and cut out all those 'other capped Cells' with a good margin of Comb about each one of them. And add these to say "New Nuc" Splits with 'no Queens'. Or added Cell Protection via use of " Roller Cages" so Spare Queens could hatch (secured within Roller,) thus preventing a Hatch to Dispatch (Sting to Death Queen Fight on mass !)
The Queen on the Comb goes about in the Hive to Date & Mate with Drones as she chooses. Off in a local DCA, Nice !
While Beek : can Harvest those spare Caged unhatched Queens : Take them to another Colony, add as necessary. Or buy a cheap Chook Egg Incubator off TinterNet. 😂
Let them emerge in Capped Roller Cages within the controlled Incubator : Even 'Bank' them for a couple of Days, to do Prep etc of Splits etc.
And give these to other Outer Apiaries. Different Drone to Mate with. 🤭 Maybe a Beek Pal, in another Town has a better Drones (DCA.) You get Queen diversity and different Bee Genetics.
Give the Spare Queens to Queenless Colonies, a Split, (even an Ad in the Bee Club Sales Column Mag.) Or a Newbie Beek whose (lost/probably squished) their Queen. 🥺
You have FREE Queens of quality. 👍
So don't instantly think Eeeck : Mash them !
Just my thoughts. 😎
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Happy Beekeeping 2023
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Varroa Mite Treatment or Eradication Techniques.
Subject to your local State or Country Vet Med Laws*.
Here in Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 we can use "Oxalic Acid" via a Hive Heated/Vapour, or Trickle Method. But it's a Licenced "Vet Medication version of O/A" (Called Api-Bioxal)
A "UK Gov""Approved yet very Expensive V.M Treatment Sachet !) Doh !
Yet, in the USA many Beeks can just go down to the Timber Store and buy a bucket of eg "Wood Bleach" aka a Huge Tub of O/A Cystals [Powder.] For say about (USA$)15.00. . .
And add that to their Hives to "Treat" ! So unfair !!! 😢
Tips
[Approved by your local to your Area Laws ! Can be Fined or Penalties.]
So Check first & be Safe.
By DOING x4 OR x5 Different Treatments or Techniques Re V.M, they can't build up "Resistance" to using say only one or two repeated same product or method (!)
Examples : UK approved. .
Making a Split (Nuc.) = Queen Break in both Colonies : Means no "Brood" for V.M to crawl into and 'Breed' from.
Follow up by both Colonies having another Treatment. Say O/A by Vapour (Gas)
Or in a Sugar 1:1 Solution with "Your States" own Law(s) Approval of O/A Application !
By Thymol based Gel:
eg Apiguard.
By using Formic Acid :
eg Formic-Pro.
By using a Vet Med called "Api-Stan" (a Synethic Chemical Treatment with
'Fluvalinate.')
By Natural Methods :.
Doing a Sugar "Dusting" with Homemade "Icing Sugar" (not Store bought as it has Anti Caking Agent in it.) Tip. : Blitz White Sugar in a 'Sugar Only' Coffee Grinder ! Or a Food Processor. Bees 'hate' the powdery 'Dusting' and Groom their Hairs of Sugar Particles (and V.M too. . . )
By Doing : A Brood Break.
Confine the Queen to a Caged Queen Frame, Move a Queen to a Nuc, [Dispatch maybe an Old Queen] and add a NEW different Queen to the Colony. All mean V.M have several weeks of no Newly Laid Brood to 'crawl and hide with' pre Capping of Cells !
Also do a "Mite Count" using a inner under Mesh Floor Sticky "Board". Count the dropped down dead Mites.
Or better still : Doing a "Mite Wash."
Scoop up x1 Cup of Bees, say x300 Worker Bees [not your Queen !] And add a Dot of Dish Cleaning Liquid and some Water and Add a Lid & "Shake" for x 3 Mins.
Sieve Bees thru a large hole Mesh so to let Mites Wash and 'Drop Through.'
Count "How Many Mites" per x300ish Bees. Go on the Internet and find a Mite "Calculator" to ID your V.M levels.
Then DO AT LEAST x4 / x5 Different V.M Treatments or Techniques per Bee Season.
Eg:
Spring : Make a Split.
Summer : Treat with Formic Pro*
Autumn: Do a warm Day Thymol* Treatment.
Winter : At lowest Capped Brood laying Time (early to mid Winter use O/A* via a Vapour* or Trickle*.
* All Subject to your local Agriculture Vet Med Laws !
Good luck Beating those V.M into a Demise. 🤞
Aka a rolling Management Program : While keeping and Looking after your Bee Lifestock !
Hope this helps. 😎
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝
Happy Beekeeping 2023
🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝