On Tue, 13 Dec 1994, Keith Cutting wrote: > As a bee-ginner, I would appreciate any suggestions on how to > approach this problem. > > I had a hive swarm on me in September. I captured the swarm and > boxed them. I fed them all the sugar water they would take. They put > honey up in one shallow super and layed some on the frames in the > deep. They were also able to put in a fair amount of late season > goldenrod pollen. In New Hampshire this will probably not get them > through the winter. > > I should also note that the queen did produce brood that matured. > > Most of the "old" beekeepers in the club I belong to tell me that there > is little I can do to insure their survival. I would like to prove them > wrong. > > Keith Cutting [log in to unmask] > Likely the "old" beekeeers are right but here is an idea. Prepare a division board that will be used to separate a strong hive from this swarm that will be placed on top of it. This board can be as simple as a piece of plywood that has a screened hole in the middle - say 6" x 6". Fly screening should be OK. The idea is simply that the upper colony will share the heat - and perhaps some of the food, with the lower strong colony. Further, anything you can do to prevent heat loss from this now double colony should be helpful. My climate is different but I have had no success feeding during the winter and it is surely winter here in Alberta. If there is still some warm weather - use a hive top feeder or inside feeder and get as much syrup into them as you can. You might also move some emerging brood from another colony to get the population up. Having said all that - an alternate plan is to set aside any money you might spend on sugar and insulation and use this to purchase a new queen in the spring. Eric Abell Gibbons, AB [log in to unmask]