Egg Laying Workers

[Forester Doug]

Hello I was wondering if anyone could give me some advise. I got my bee colony last June from a swarm collector, as such I do not know the age of my queen.

Today I conducted my first inspection of the year. My bees have survived the winter but do not look in a good way. There is no capped brood. Although the queen is present and laying, there is also signs of egg laying workers with cells on the outside of the frame containing multiple eggs.

The number of queen laid egg cells is far greater than the worker laid ones but with the absence of capped brood I'm worried the bees do not know the queen is present. To make this worse the colony would barely cover one side of a frame.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Does this mean the death of my colony?

 

[Hivemaker.]

The number of queen laid egg cells is far greater than the worker laid ones but with the absence of capped brood I'm worried the bees do not know the queen is present. To make this worse the colony would barely cover one side of a frame.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Does this mean the death of my colony?

It is most likely the queen that is laying the multiple eggs, she wants to keep laying, but there are not enough bees to cover/take care of the eggs she lays.

 

[Forester Doug]

Thanks for your reply. Even though they are tending to the very extreme edges of the frames? The queen has plenty of empty cells, but isn't utilising them. I'm reassured that you think it may be the queen, I hope so, there's a chance they can pull through if so.

 

[Ian123]

No capped brood and half a frame of bees...If i was you i would get a nuc on order or stick some bait hives up. Sorry to be direct but your chances are remote in the extreme

 

[For want of a better word]

Dummy down with Kingspan to 3 frames and give them a kilo of Candipol!

Yes get an overwintered nuc from a reputable supplier.... I would never buy a swarm from a "collector"... however cheap!!

Chons da

 

[Forester Doug]

Dummy down with Kingspan to 3 frames and give them a kilo of Candipol!

Yes get an overwintered nuc from a reputable supplier.... I would never buy a swarm from a "collector"... however cheap!!

Chons da

I think this pollen substitute may be an option, they have loads of stores of honey, but little to no pollen which will be a problem for growing the colony size.

The swarm was free, as a beginner I didn't want to spend a lot of money on bees which I may struggle to keep alive.