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ocba - Re: [ocba] To pinch or not to pinch - additional info

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Subject: Orange County, NC Beekeepers

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Chronological Thread  
  • From: James Latimer <PipesNC AT live.com>
  • To: Robert King <robk2.mindspring.com AT gmail.com>, "ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org" <ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [ocba] To pinch or not to pinch - additional info
  • Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2017 14:42:00 +0000

Robert,

Based on this photo, the queen has no room to lay.  The foundation has not been fully drawn out for her to lay more eggs.  The spots you are seeing is where the bees are being hygienic and removing bad eggs\larva\pupa prior to hatching.  Based on the past 2-3 weeks we have had 1-2 days each week where temps got below 40.  On those nights, depending on the size of your cluster you may have lost more bees.  If they were not capped and not covered by the cluster, they probably have been removed.


A laying worker is the opposite of this image,  Brood laid in spots, funny clusters, with more empty foundation then filled.  This queen has laid a nice pattern, and the workers have come behind her to clean up house.


Based on the amount of drawn comb.  There is decent pollen and no room for nectar.  My guess is the nectar is stored mostly on one or two frames at this point. 


Suggestion: the Queen is fine, save your money for Sugar.  You need to feed so that they can make wax for comb.  Takes 8 time the amount honey to produce wax.  Looking at your frame, it needs to be drawn out still.   The bees need 1:1, or a little thinner, of sugar water.  When they run out, give them more.  Do this until late fall, for a hive ready for winter.  Bees are collecting now for winter.


Keep on Keeping on,

Jamie




From: ocba-bounces AT mailman1.ibiblio.org <ocba-bounces AT mailman1.ibiblio.org> on behalf of Robert King <robk2.mindspring.com AT gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, April 14, 2017 9:40 AM
To: ocba AT lists.ibiblio.org
Subject: [ocba] To pinch or not to pinch - additional info
 
Here is a picture of her best frame.  I apologize for the orientation of the picture.  As you can see, lots of holes, minimal pollen, and zero honey.  Eggs, larvae and pupa go all the way to the top of the frame.  I am buying a new queen next week and will pinch her shortly after unless there are other suggestions?




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