Drone layer

[simonforeman]

Checked my 4 hives at my out apiary yesterday. 3 were good and 2 had supers added. The other has allot of capped drone brood and no worker brood. They have made around 10 QCs that will be capped very soon. Allot of bees still in the hive but could not find the queen.
Should I shake them out or something else?

 

[Ian123]

I united a drone layer to a small nuc last week, checked yesterday and all good. You could knock out or unite to your smaller colony but I am inclined to find the old queens first little point in taking a chance.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Checked my 4 hives at my out apiary yesterday. 3 were good and 2 had supers added. The other has allot of capped drone brood and no worker brood. They have made around 10 QCs that will be capped very soon. Allot of bees still in the hive but could not find the queen.
Should I shake them out or something else?

almost sounds as if they have swarmed - if all the QC's were sealed I'd be even more convinced.
Sounds as if the queen has turned her toes, personally I wouldn't take the chance they are viable and shake them out.

 

[simonforeman]

Thanks both.... think I will be shaking out tomorrow.

 

[simonforeman]

Quick update:
Shook out the drone laying colony in front of the other hives. By the time I had sorted out all the empty equipment allot were going into the other 3 hives.

 

[Swarm]

It doesn't take long