Re. Success with split and swarms.

[Mikey N.C.]

Last weekend i had 4 Q's not laying good , thought Q's could be weak . i was using community feeder ( 1 split and 3 small swarms) ( Q's were laying shotgun pattern) so i added quart jars of sugar water and a 10 empty an tele cover,  and a 3×3 pollen sub.
Inspected today and all Q's were laying like gangbusters so my problem wasn't a weak Q it was not enough stores for Q's to lay.
Lesson learned.

[apisbees]

You seeing this and riverbee will see this kind of behavior in your hives during a dearth. But I do not even though I have been a a dearth since the first week in July. Bee genetics of your race of bees has such an influence on how the colony will react to the environmental conditions. My bees still have a lot of Italian traits in them. Where Riverbee's is Russian Cari's. It is a good lesson but for all of us beekeeper, in how much different genetics can influence beekeeping and a shift in management technique for different races.
Riverbee by her posts I know that she understands the Russian bees and has adapted management practices that work with that race. But the neighbor down the road that has bought packages with Italian queens hive can react differently and may need a totally different approach to management.

[Lburou]

However things happened this year Mikey, you can depend on next year being different.  Over time, you will learn how to hedge your bets in your hive management at your location. 

[Mikey N.C.]

Haven't had to add robbing screens yet .thank goodness.
Thinking very seriously about 2 outyards next year,  1 being all nucs.  and 1 being honey yard, but I'm still learning.

[riverbee]

mikey.........

we are all still learning.............., well at least i am...........
the bees are still teaching me and whipping my butt sometimes...........
great observation of what was going on and your management to bring them around!
also, a great post by keith, very true!

[Lburou]

...Inspected today and all Q's were laying like gangbusters so my problem wasn't a weak Q it was not enough stores for Q's to lay.
Lesson learned.

About four years ago I bought an instrumentally inseminated queen and installed her in an established eight frame hive.  She did not lay for a week until I started feeding her and added a frame of open brood.  A trickle or a flood of sugar syrup at the right time can make all the difference in success or failure.  :high five:

[Mikey N.C.]

Thank's , I'm really hoping those 4 hives can build enough so they make it through winter.
And as said different situation call for different attempts to hopefully at least correct the problem.  And i was at the crossroads as of what to do, and think i got lucky in my decision. Thank's to all of ya'll for the info. on all subjects of beekeeping.  In 2 yrs. of reading here i was able to make a somewhat educated guess .

[Mikey N.C.]

Hey everyone.  Got wifey to snap some pics. She wouldn't come out unsuited.  But this is 1 hive that i though was weak Q after sugar water on top look



That's 1 frame and she was laying shotgun pattern. The other 3 are laying same way.
Makes me wonder what if Q's are VSH Q's, or i got lucky ?

[Lburou]

I would keep any queen with that pattern Mikey...it looks good to me!

[riverbee]

mikey, very cool! like lee said i would keep the queens on these!  great pattern! who cares what they are?  would like to say though that a little feed goes a long way, and a good management decision on your part to do so!

[neillsayers]

Very nice Mikey!