I have one colony that does not behave well .
The environment and my techniques are identical across all the other hives and the all others are ok with my inspections,which are done in teeshirt weather.
The colony in question is a bought nuc while the others are swarms.
They are all fed 2:1 syrup
There doesn't appear to be much pollen being taken in on any hive.
One of the swarms has eggs, larvae and sealed brood and stores.They don't take much feed
The nasty lot are last out of the hive in the morning and are not taking much feed either.
I have done these lot last so I can complete the other swarms without anaphalactic shock.
Maybe I should do them first so there's less pheromone in the air.
I approach from a long way round the back and smoke lightly before lifting any woodwork. but the are around me straight away.
By the time I have the first frame out they're on the veil howling and by the second frame I'm getting stung through leather gloves.
I can't tell what's going on because I haven't managed to get to the third frame yet -I have to abandon the job.They then harass me until I leave the site.This can be for hours.
There is some new comb.but that's all I can see.
Other than a missing queen what could be wrong or what am I doing wrong (the others behave quite well )
I mention this to an elderly beekeeper and obviously apart from a missing queen I said should I requeen ?
He said it was always a last resort but smiled ,nodded at me and said no more.
So what else ?
The environment and my techniques are identical across all the other hives and the all others are ok with my inspections,which are done in teeshirt weather.
The colony in question is a bought nuc while the others are swarms.
They are all fed 2:1 syrup
There doesn't appear to be much pollen being taken in on any hive.
One of the swarms has eggs, larvae and sealed brood and stores.They don't take much feed
The nasty lot are last out of the hive in the morning and are not taking much feed either.
I have done these lot last so I can complete the other swarms without anaphalactic shock.
Maybe I should do them first so there's less pheromone in the air.
I approach from a long way round the back and smoke lightly before lifting any woodwork. but the are around me straight away.
By the time I have the first frame out they're on the veil howling and by the second frame I'm getting stung through leather gloves.
I can't tell what's going on because I haven't managed to get to the third frame yet -I have to abandon the job.They then harass me until I leave the site.This can be for hours.
There is some new comb.but that's all I can see.
Other than a missing queen what could be wrong or what am I doing wrong (the others behave quite well )
I mention this to an elderly beekeeper and obviously apart from a missing queen I said should I requeen ?
He said it was always a last resort but smiled ,nodded at me and said no more.
So what else ?