Artificial swarm while doing Bailey change!

[Tomo]

Hi, as per previous posts my over-wintered hive is in week 3 of a Bailey change i.e. next Sunday I was due to remove the bottom BB which has had a QE above it and a temporary entrance (lower entrance blocked). Yesterday on inspection I found charged QC's with grubs and jelly in the top box. I then carried out an AS, so now have the queenless colony in a different position still waiting for removal of the bottom BB. Question: as I am going to move the original "swarming" colony to the other side of the "swarm" hive, am I still ok to remove the bottom box and shake the remaining bees into the top BB? obviously without disturbing new QC's ( I hope this makes sense....), also should I inspect the original colony and remove all but one QC or just let the bees decide? Thanks.

 

[REDWOOD]

QCs, Type, amount and position would give us a clearer understanding

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is the bottom brood box still on original site with the queen, i.e. the AS?
Then shake them in. There are no queen cells to disturb.
Your parent colony has the queen cells, reduce to just the one (then no need to move) and check for any new ones made six days later....destroy these.

 

[Tomo]

No, bottom BB i.e. national is on the bottom of commercial which is in new position without original queen (i.e. with QC on frame). Queen and her frame of brood and stores on original site in new box and super.
Three extended queen cups with grub in each in a pool of royal jelly at bottom of commercial box on top of national with QE between for bailey, before AS.

 

[beeno]

Hi Tomo,
Sounds a good plan to me. I would only leave one QC though. Also, check old queen after three days in case she starts over.

 

[Tomo]

Sorry Beeno. What do you mean "starts over"?

 

[beeno]

As Finman says, they may still have swarm fever and decide to make more QCs.

 

[Tomo]

I see, thanks. I will keep an eye out.
So just to clarify, next week, (after 7 days from AS) I will remove the bottom BB (national), put a new floor onto the remaining commercial BB which is Queenless at the moment, and shake the remaining bees from the national into it. Then I will move the whole hive to a new stand to the left of the swarm hive, more than 1m. Does that sound Ok and not to any detriment? I will then leave the moved colony for three weeks so that the new queen can emerge/mate/lay (hopefully).

 

[beeno]

Hi Tomo,
Personally, I would not bother moving it as it is another stress point for the bees. Best of luck.