Failed Queen from late superceedure

[Floyd]

Morning Guys,

Had an opportunity to have a look in both hives yesterday, as it got to a rather pleasant 13 degrees after lunch.

First hive, is progressing well, brood and eggs over 5 frames. Lots of stores

Second Hive, no sign of eggs or queen, bees over 4 frames.

Should I leave this hive alone and see whether, she is there and starting late, buy in a new queen, or simply unite the hive with hive 1, so I can split again in a few weeks.

Many thanks and have a good day

Lee

 

[jeff33]

Morning Guys,

Had an opportunity to have a look in both hives yesterday, as it got to a rather pleasant 13 degrees after lunch.

First hive, is progressing well, brood and eggs over 5 frames. Lots of stores

Second Hive, no sign of eggs or queen, bees over 4 frames.

Should I leave this hive alone and see whether, she is there and starting late, buy in a new queen, or simply unite the hive with hive 1, so I can split again in a few weeks.

Many thanks and have a good day

Lee

If you are going to unite, I would double and triple check a) to make sure there isn't a queen, b) you don't have laying workers. If either are present your uniting will fail and your good queen likely to be killed.

 

[ericbeaumont]

leave this hive alone and see whether, she is there and starting late, buy in a new queen, or simply unite the hive with hive 1

Find the queen!

She's a dud and is in there mooching around and laying nothing. If so, kill her and shake out the bees on a flying day; they'll join the Q+ colony and give a boost, but as they're winter bees, the boost will be temporary.

If there is a Q but you can't find her or you have the beginnings of laying workers, adding an expensive bought Q will be a waste, as they'll kill her.

When your Q+ colony is v strong you could take advantage and split to return to two colonies.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if you can't find the queen - just shake them out into a nearby clump of brambles

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you find the queen why shake out? Squash her and pop the brood box over a sheet of newspaper (or use air freshener ) on top of the other colony

 

[ericbeaumont]

why shake out?

Less work, quicker result.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Less work, quicker result.

Fair enough but if you have only one other hive and there is no flow on you can get an awful lot of fighting.

 

[ericbeaumont]

I've not experienced fighting after a shake-out (swapping hive positions during a dearth, certainly) and did a couple recently where I dumped the Q- lot onto a board leading up to the Q+ colony. Happy ever after.

 

[Erichalfbee]

did a couple recently where I dumped the Q- lot onto a board leading up to the Q+ colony. Happy ever after.

Now that seems much more sensible.