how long will a queen take to start laying

smudger · Jun 26, 2011

I had a queen hatch out nearly three weeks ago and I looked in my hive today and I couldnt find the queen and there is no eggs or brood anywhere in the BB, but there is a lot of pollen and honey in the brood frames.

How long should I leave the hive till I do anything ?
At the moment I only have one hive but I know a beekeeper nearby who may be able to give me a frame of eggs and brood if this is the best way to go.

The weather has not been too bad lately we have has some rain but there has been quite a few sunny days, but im not sure if this weather was good enough for her to get out on a mating flight. Today has been really hot so maybe she will get out today on a mating flight or tomorrow as the forecast is good, thats if there is a queen in there at all.

Midland Beek · Jun 26, 2011

If there wasn't a queen in your box I think you might have noticed by now, like as soon as you open up ... bad temper.

smudger · Jun 26, 2011

They did seem ok, not aggressive or angry, so hopefully there is a queen in there somewhere.

Erichalfbee · Jun 26, 2011

A queen in a swarmed hive of mine took five weeks from emerging to 1st eggs seen. She is laying worker brood

oliver90owner · Jun 26, 2011

Well, in the past I have some found queenless hives to be rather more quiet than the poster is given to expect. Not always mind.

This topic has been covered a lot this year and most have simply had to be patient, watched for the signs of the queen coming into lay, if they could not keep out of the hive for long.

The normal rules re the queen and a limited mating window seem to have been stretched a little this year. All I would say is that three weeks is far too early to be doing anything. Be positive and do nothing is better. I am still of the opinion that a queen not laying in five weeks (four weeks to mate plus a few days to start laying) of emergence is likely a poor queen.

This is why commercial keepers do not raise new queens this way. Too long, too unreliable and a sure reduction of harvest. That is why imported queens are popular - immediate (nearly) laying, reliable and little loss in honey surplus collected.

I know a beekeeper nearby who may be able to give me a frame of eggs

After waiting up to a couple of months (your situation may be a little less) for a new queen that does not materialise, do you really want to wait the best part of another couple of months to raise a mated, laying queen if this attempt ends in failure? I would not be recommending that route as the best way forward at this time of the year.

RAB

kazmcc · Jun 26, 2011

I was going to say our queenless hive has been really well behaved! I don't even use smoke on them. I must admit, after all the tales of bad tempered bees while Q-, this has baffled me.

garethbryson · Jun 26, 2011

I wouldnt worry too much yet if its only 3 weeks. also all they need is 2/3 good days to get out and get mated. I collected a swarm about 5 weeks ago and there was 2 solid weeks or rain. then we had 3 really good days and then rain again. i looked into the nuc about 10 days after the really good days and there was HRH laying away.