The grotty hive seems to be struggling a bit with Varroa and now has significant quantities of chalk brood which I'm wondering whether might be related as it's a recent development over the past few weeks.

Given the time of year I'm tempted to put off doing anything about it until spring. The combs are into their second year so I was intending to bailey change it onto new comb next spring anyway though I'm more inclined to consider a shook swarm instead.

I've done another round of Drone brood culling on this colony to try and keep it vaguely under control until the supers come off, but it's a definite candidate for requeening in the spring if there was any shadow of a doubt before.