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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers
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Re: [ocba] Fwd: New hive struggling (North Carrboro)
- From: Just Bee <marty AT justbeenc.com>
- To: Randy Dodd <dodd.randy AT gmail.com>
- Cc: "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
- Subject: Re: [ocba] Fwd: New hive struggling (North Carrboro)
- Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 09:37:27 -0400
Morning Randy, This is the perfect example of why we suggest to newbies to get 2 hives. You have something to compare. With just 1 package, say the weaker you'd just think bees take a long time to build up. Great job reminding folks why 2-4 hives are important. This single larger cell...was it in the middle to top area of the frame? (Google supercedure cells). Queen cells will end up looking like a peanut shell, both in size and texture. With weak or poorly mated queens in new packages it's normal for them to try and replace her. Sounds like its a good thing. What to do? 1. Here is the tricky part that comes with lots of opinions. You can verify its a queen cell and if so just let it play itself out. Sounds like they are on the job. 2. You can also take a frame from the stronger hive with mixed brood and put in the weaker hive. We call this equalizing our hives. It's a good strategy for the weaker hive, not do important for now but mid summer when they are still behind and placed beside a big thriving hive they'd be more susceptible to robbing. I'd equalize if it were in my yard. This is year one for the hives and you want/need this year to be about them. They need a boost in numbers soon. Laying workers: if you can not spot a queen you'll never see a laying worker do just look for irregular egg pattern and multiple eggs per cell. Lastly all the cells will be larger or elongated like a pencil eraser. These are drones ...unfertal used eggs. You can message me personally if you need eyes on it. I'll be in Carrboro today from 1-4 at the market. You can swing by there. I'll have an observation hive and we can talk more. Good luck Marty Sent from my iPhone
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[ocba] Fwd: New hive struggling (North Carrboro),
Randy Dodd, 05/04/2014
- Re: [ocba] Fwd: New hive struggling (North Carrboro), Just Bee, 05/04/2014
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