How late for drone production?

[user 20297]

Please can you guide me. I've got some solid areas of drone brood placed outside the worker brood area, I've done a lot of splits this year, so this is the first known patch of drone since May. It seems odd when others are reporting drones being kicked out; the queen is laying worker brood well and it's my busiest hive. I presume, as usual, I should be worried.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Is she laying in areas that have had drones already?
I removed a free drawn comb last inspection because it was largely drone and the queen was laying in it

 

[user 20297]

Is she laying in areas that have had drones already?
I removed a free drawn comb last inspection because it was largely drone and the queen was laying in it

Yes, It's in a shallow frame above the main brood, where the bees had drawn a lot of drone cells in a foundationless frame earlier in the year. I don't think these got used at the time, probably due to my rearrangements due to splits; but about twenty or thirty cells in two locations are now capped.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes, It's in a shallow frame above the main brood, where the bees had drawn a lot of drone cells in a foundationless frame earlier in the year. I don't think these got used at the time, probably due to my rearrangements due to splits; but about twenty or thirty cells in two locations are now capped.

Then take it out

 

[user 20297]

Then take it out

Thanks. Will do

 

[Ian123]

Not quite sure why your worried or why you will take it out. Plenty of hives with drones and drone brood.

 

[user 20297]

Not quite sure why your worried or why you will take it out. Plenty of hives with drones and drone brood.

The "worry about" bit was tongue-in-cheek as everything that happens with bees seems to have an angle where, (as a newcomer), you could worry about it.
This is getting like the "Fast Show"....I'll leave them be then and get me coat.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I took mine out because it was a whole 14x12 frame

 

[Boston Bees]

The "worry about" bit was tongue-in-cheek as everything that happens with bees seems to have an angle where, (as a newcomer), you could worry about it.
This is getting like the "Fast Show"....I'll leave them be then and get me coat.

I would certainly leave it in the hive (shame to kill brood and one super frame isn't much real estate) but one option would be to move it to the edge of the super box. That way the queen is pretty unlikely to lay more eggs in it, but the existing brood should just hatch out. Then they'll use it for honey storage.

 

[Erichalfbee]

That way the queen is pretty unlikely to lay more eggs in it, but the existing brood should just hatch out. Then they'll use it for honey storage.

That was my plan two weeks ago but the queen kept laying in it

 

[Boston Bees]

That was my plan two weeks ago but the queen kept laying in it

I think maybe with a super frame put right on the edge of the box, she might not, but who knows.

 

[Markthebuilder]

Could pull the grubs with a pin and count the varroa?

 

[drex]

You say you have done lots of splits. This colony has built up enough where it feels successful enough to start producing drones. Natural part of colony development in my book. Leave them alone. The bees know best

 

[Ian123]

Ironically today I’ll be trying to find some drawn drone combs to add into the brood nest on a few hives for next season