What would u do ????

[backyard warrior]

Hi all hope all is well and you are excited for the new season.  I was wondering, i have a few hives that have no brood but a queen and low population.  Should i feed a little bit of fumigilian syrup to see if i can get them laying???  I treated middle of last summer for mites with quick strips had good results overwintered very well except for two nucs and a production hive.  Thanks for the info in advance. Chris

[Vance G]

I doubt the medication will make them start laying.  more bees might unless it is the pathetic handful hanging on and then it is pretty grim.  You could try shaking some nurse bees on their little cluster and see if they can get enough bees together to keep warm a patch of brood.   If they were big enough to benefit from a frame of brood, they would HAVE some brood so it might be pretty hopeless.  You could also try switching them to the location of a stronger hive, the influx might be the boost they need and the stronger hive doesn't need foragers right yet anyway.  Good luck.

[Hemlock]

... i have a few hives that have no brood but a queen and low population.  Should i feed a little bit of fumagilin syrup to see if i can get them laying???

I have a few of those but i don't see how Fumagilin is supposed to help.  Just feed them regular 1:1 syrup.  I don't know much about your weather but i guess your winters are colder than ours.  Would they normally be laying by now?  They may not be laying if the cluster is too small.  (she could be laying but losing all of it to chill!)  Make sure they are right spaced for their size.  

You can also give them some pollen patties and a 25 watt heat lamp under the bottom board if you want.

[backyard warrior]

thanks for the info they are actually laying brood now the warmer temps got them started along with a shake or two from a few other hives have seem to help them keep the brood warmer. Chris