Checking On Neglected Bees

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

I'm sorry you're friend is no longer able to work with the Bees. But when you bring back some honey I'm sure he's going to appreciate it. Don't worry about that drone frame. It's in the right place and not overly full. A good healthy hive will produce drones like that. The brood looks good. You might want to start maybe checkerboarding in some new frames and Getting ready to cycle out some of the old frames. Might add a second deep and pull up every other frame and get some new fresh comb in there. If the super was mostly empty just shake out the bees and leave it off till they get some new comb's for you. I'd definitely get a feeder on them. Good luck brother 👍 can't wait to see the other colony. Good health and God bless

[@samiam7]

Great ideas! I hadn't thought that far ahead. Do you think I need to treat for mites? I think I have lost bees (overwinter) due to mites for several years. I want to break the cycle

[@houstonsheltonbees814]

@@samiam7 everyone has a different opinion on this. They could be a survivor stock who can deal with the mite's, or not. Or maybe the count is low enough for them to manage okay. I would try to get a sample and count the mite's and if it's high I personally would treat then. But like I said, everyone has different opinions on that. I've lost a bunch trying for survival stock. So now I don't play around with it. I treat. But I'm still new with all the mite management. Maybe get another opinion on it too from someone who knows more about the mite's. Hope this helps brother. Best of luck to you man 👍 good health and God bless