25 days from doing AS and not sure...

[Erichalfbee]

Test frame.....sorry

 

[Levitt53]

If you are on Facebook then see if there is a local page for beekeepers. I know social media gets a bad name often but the one for my local association is brilliant. Someone put on there tonight that they were desperate for a frame of eggs as queenless and they've got one straight away. I'm a new beek as well with a potentially queenless hive however I was given for free a swarm a few weeks ago (yes via the Facebook page) so I have the option and will do a test frame probably next week. Good luck.

 

[RogerJ]

If I manage to get a test frame - how long should it be before QCs are made? If they are not then I assume it means there is a queen there somewhere - but if that is the case she is seriously under performing. So what would be the step then if you can't find the "little devil"?

if QC's are made I assume I can then remove the frame and re-queen?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If I manage to get a test frame - how long should it be before QCs are made?

they'll start almost immediately - check after a few days then a week

If they are not then I assume it means there is a

no, not neccessarily, sometimes they ignore the rules and don't draw EQCs even though it's imperative for their survival

if QC's are made I assume I can then remove the frame and re-queen?

Yes - but don't remove the frame, just make sure that all QCs are removed - put the introduced queen in her cage next to that brood, it will make their accepting her easier

 

[RogerJ]

I've managed to get a test frame and inserted this morning. May I ask some "what ifs?

1) What if there is a virgin queen present (because the hive has swarmed and I missed a QC) - would QC's still be made or would the bees "know" it was there?
2) If there is a virgin queen and then introduced a new queen (because QCs had been made as though queenless) what would happen?
3) If no QCs are made, as Jenkins indicated this could happen, and I decided to "suck it and see" with a new queen anyway (definitely no larvae when I put the test frame in) what would the best way to do this be? Would using a nucleus with some of the bees be a way to go (thereby decreasing the chance of a queen being present) - in which case any advice as to how to accomplish this would be appreciated.

Thanks again all - and by the way I am going to join the local BBKA, this has taught me a lesson!!

 

[Erichalfbee]

1. NO
2. They wouldn’t make queen cells. If you put a mated queen in they would fight and the virgin, being thinner and more nimble would likely win.
3. Sorry but I wouldn’t suck it and see with a new mated queen as per no 2

 

[RogerJ]

Thanks Erica - so just to clarify if there is a virgin queen no QCs would be made on the test frame?

 

[Erichalfbee]

That's what usually happens.
BUT bees sometimes fail to make QCs even if they are Queen-less. Sometimes more than one frame has to be introduced.
I must admit that if three test frames didn't work I might try a mated queen in a cage and watch what the bees did with her.
The ONLY positive result is the making of queen cells if there is no queen.
Sorry, it's not easy is it?

 

[RogerJ]

Thanks Erica - here's hoping!!

 

[RogerJ]

Put a test frame in the Q+ hive last Saturday and checked just now (weather has been quite poor so didn't check earlier). There was one unsealed QC on the test frame - but either side of that there were frames with eggs and young brood that weren't there last Saturday. So therefore there must have been a queen - presumably I missed a QC when I did the AS and she has now hatched and mated and laying. I have destroyed the QC on the test frame - hope that was the right thing to do!

The Q- hive still has no sign of any eggs/brood - but I presume that if the Q+ hive has only just started then there is still time? Once the Q+ really gets going I presume I can take a test frame from that and put it in the Q- and repeat the process. If there is no Q (and accept that to truly verify this I may need to repeat the test frame) would there still be time and enough of the "right" bees to introduce a new queen or would I be best to forget about two hives for this year and re-unite?

 

[deanrpwaacs]

Put a test frame in the Q+ hive last Saturday and checked just now (weather has been quite poor so didn't check earlier). There was one unsealed QC on the test frame - but either side of that there were frames with eggs and young brood that weren't there last Saturday. So therefore there must have been a queen - presumably I missed a QC when I did the AS and she has now hatched and mated and laying. I have destroyed the QC on the test frame - hope that was the right thing to do!

The Q- hive still has no sign of any eggs/brood - but I presume that if the Q+ hive has only just started then there is still time? Once the Q+ really gets going I presume I can take a test frame from that and put it in the Q- and repeat the process. If there is no Q (and accept that to truly verify this I may need to repeat the test frame) would there still be time and enough of the "right" bees to introduce a new queen or would I be best to forget about two hives for this year and re-unite?

Could you have just transfered the queen cell frame into the q- hive instead of destroying it ?

 

[Millet]

Could you have just transfered the queen cell frame into the q- hive instead of destroying it ?

I thought the same but i am not experienced enough to give that advice.

 

[deanrpwaacs]

I thought the same but i am not experienced enough to give that advice.

Same here . Seems like a waste of resources .

 

[RogerJ]

I did think about that - but I got the test frame from another beekeeper and I know nothing about the bees he had; when we looked for a suitable frame his hives were not very prolific. And also I am still hoping that there is a queen in the Q- hive that has not mated/laying yet.

Right or wrong? - don't ask me - I'm a 1st year beginner!

 

[Millet]

I did think about that - but I got the test frame from another beekeeper and I know nothing about the bees he had; when we looked for a suitable frame his hives were not very prolific. And also I am still hoping that there is a queen in the Q- hive that has not mated/laying yet.

Right or wrong? - don't ask me - I'm a 1st year beginner!

I am in a similar predicament myself and i will find out over the weekend if i have a queen or not, good luck.