Winter Preparation
It is not uncommon for a beekeeper to see this kind of spotty pattern in their brood this time of year. It shows that there is a problem and if not taken care of quickly this hive is more likely to die in the next few months as winter sets in.
As of this writing I have put Apivar in some of my hives (no honey supers on) and I have Formic Pro in others. I am trying to see if the Formic Pro will be harsh enough to cause any queen loss. I know that Apivar is a much more subtle treatment. It works well for overwintering.
Right now I am feeding with 2:1 syrup and I am putting pollen patties on if I don’t see any pollen in my weaker hives. My stronger hives have enough pollen stores so I let them feed naturally.
Around the bay area I am seeing a dramatic variation in honey storage. Some hives are robbing others. Hives next to each other can have very different amounts of honey. I am closing down entrances to make sure that robbing is minimized and I am feeding hard to get at least 30 lbs or 6 frames of capped honey in the hive before the weather gets below 50 deg F.
Contact me if you would like more information on how I am managing my hives this time of year.