Is this the queen telling me she needs more space

[beesleybees]

Hi guys, had a nuc that lost the queen, gave them a frame with BIAS, they have raised a queen and I've left it alone for 3 weeks since my estimated emergence of the queen. Took a look in today and found this at the bottom of a super frame as I didn't have a deep frame available

 

[mark s]

I would say they are just filling the space that's there very natural thing to do

 

[Hivemaker.]

Laying workers, have you seen a queen?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Laying workers, have you seen a queen?

Yes, look at the number of eggs

 

[Heather]

? not laying workers... eggs at base, not on sides...maybe very new queen not yet got act together. Over enthusiastic.

 

[Finman]

? not laying workers... eggs at base, not on sides...maybe very new queen not yet got act together. Over enthusiastic.

300% clear, laying workers.

 

[Bosleeu]

Laying workers.

 

[Heather]

Thought the 'yes' meant you had seen queen.. if 'no' then agree laying workers. Shake out colony well away from original site. Requeen

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes, look at the number of eggs

I meant..yes,( Hivemaker I agree with you)
Look at the number of eggs!!! Loads!!!!

 

[Finman]

.
Shaking is not needed. It helps nothing. Join to another hive. Laying workers will disappear if you give a larva frame to the colony. Then it is not any more "desperately queenless".

 

[oliver90owner]

You might consider, before shaking out the bees, whether there are receiving colonies within 'range' - or they will just to go back to the original site?

Those eggs could be a queen, but surprising if there are other cells available but no other eggs Eggs in the bottom by laying workers might mean those cells are rather shallow? Just leave them a few days and you will find out.

Another remote possibility is SHB. I did say remote. Very remote.

As a matter for considered answers, what else is in this nuc, framewise?

As an aside, that is about 5 weeks wasted on those bees, IMO It would have been better to unite and be rearing a decent queen about now. Quite likely a scrubby queen anyway - being raised in a nuc.