Author Topic: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present  (Read 4130 times)

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Offline Jen

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Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« on: August 17, 2016, 12:43:59 pm »
This nuc has been queened for about 3 weeks, marked pink.

Not very many bees, but very gentle. Lots of drone brood. Some larvae. Lots of pollen. Not so much nectar, back to drought condition here in Calif.

Have been feeding my nucs last years frames of honey.

Should I give her another 10 days or so to see if she gets the fertilizing thing down?

In addition maybe add a frame of brood from another nuc to help boost population?




















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Offline tecumseh

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2016, 03:57:07 pm »
she should be kickin in by now.  all the above + feed just a wee bit of thin syrup.




Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #2 on: August 17, 2016, 07:29:02 pm »
Okay Tech, and should the frame of brood include the nurse bees on the frame?
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Offline apisbees

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2016, 01:58:06 am »
By the looks of the frames that hive nuc is dry. It needs Feed NO NECTAR COMING IN AND THE QUEEN WILL NOT LAY A LOT OF BROOD.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2016, 11:47:09 am »
Good morning Apis  :) My conclusion as well. Tech agreed with putting a frame of brood in, should that frame also include the nurse bees on the frame?

Hey Apis, hoping to get a reply so I can accomplish this task this week, Thanks  :)
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2016, 05:51:27 pm »
Tech "she should be kickin in by now.  all the above + feed just a wee bit of thin syrup."

Okay, and the frame of brood that I also will add to this nuc, should I include the nurse bees on the frame?
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Offline Perry

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2016, 06:05:02 pm »
If you do, just give them a light spritz with syrup with a drop of lemongrass oil to help.
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2016, 06:39:25 pm »
Thanks Perry, I like that. I also remember someone said to prop the frame of brood with bees on it.. on the top bars of the hive they are going into for about 1/2 hour, watch how they react. Think I'll do all three, wouldn't take much more time really  :)
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Offline Perry

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2016, 07:19:27 pm »
Thanks Perry, I like that. I also remember someone said to prop the frame of brood with bees on it.. on the top bars of the hive they are going into for about 1/2 hour, watch how they react. Think I'll do all three, wouldn't take much more time really  :)

Not something I would do, especially with open brood or during a dearth, and certainly not for 1/2 an hour!
"It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."      
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2016, 09:28:36 pm »
Okay, I'll just nix that idea  :yes: Sounded good tho thinking that it would be a gentle introduction...

Then, I'll simply make up some 1:1 syrup with one drop of lemongrass oil, shake it up. Then mist the brood frame with the nurse bees on it, say about 3 sprays across the face of each side of the frame, and insert it into the needy nuc.

I got this! However, I'm hesitant because I did a similar procedure earlier this summer and went to check a week later and there was an inch of dead bees on the bottom of the nuc floor...   :'(

Thanks Perry  :)
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2016, 12:04:03 am »
jen,
is this the same nuc/queen you are asking about?

new thread started here:

Nuc Might Be Queenless
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #11 on: August 23, 2016, 12:22:14 am »
Nope, different nuc  :)
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #12 on: August 23, 2016, 12:41:18 am »
lol, thanks............ :D
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Offline riverbee

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #13 on: August 23, 2016, 12:53:43 am »
okay jen,

serious deficit of feed (as apis and tec mentioned) and there is no pollen!........neither pollen or nectar is coming in. you won't and wouldn't know the queen's capabilities unless you have both.

so in my HO, you need to feed nectar and pollen sub to this nuc...........
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Offline Jen

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Re: Nuc Lots Of Drone Brood But Still A Queen Present
« Reply #14 on: August 23, 2016, 01:09:53 am »
Okay, now I have never used a pollen sub before, what would be the quickest way to get pollen sub in there?
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