Merging bees

[Newbeebeekeeper]

Hi everyone

So i have a hive with no queen and a nuc with a new laying queen and a nuc with what looks like no queen but a queen cell (not sure what happened to the queen it appears she hatched mated laid some and left.

I had hoped to merge the nuc with the queen cell with the hive using newspaper when i thought the queen was still there.

Can this still be done with the cell on the top box or should i just move the frame without bees into that hive and mix the bees with the other nuc?

My first year and i haven't got much drawn out comb and if im honest have struggled with the bees in my first year. They all are bringing in lots of honey and storing it in the brood frames which isn't leaving much room for laying in the hive and nuc with the queen cell. I go on holidays on sat and im trying to plan ahead to keep things sensible.

I am happy to go into this winter with a nuc and a hive so keeping the 3 isn't really a priority.

Withthe nuc with the queen cell all the eggs are on the one frame and i didnt see any fresh ones

Any help would be appreciated

 

[Beefriendly]

How sure are you are hive is queenless?
If absolutely certain merge them with the nuc with the laying queen...let the nuc with queen cell get on with it.
Bees can often tear down queen cells from different hives unless well protected.

 

[enrico]

Why do you think your main hive has no queen? Are there eggs or brood? How long have they been like that. Will help to make a decision
E

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

They have been without a queen for weeks. There was a queen cell which looked to have hatched maybe 3 weeks ago but no eggs or anything all hatched. The nuc and hive are about 4 feet away from each other. Do i just merge them with with the newspaper and will that force them to reorientate when they come out of the hive?

 

[Beefriendly]

You might need to add a test frame,,it's quite possible you have queen but take some the time to understand whats going on... but don't rush.

 

[Newbeebeekeeper]

The reason i was rushing is that i dont have that many frames of eggs only 1 nuc has 2 frames with eggs on it currently

 

[Madge]

The reason i was rushing is that i dont have that many frames of eggs only 1 nuc has 2 frames with eggs on it currently

You can cut a small area with very young brood (hardly bigger than an egg) and patch it into a frame in one of your problem hives.

Or ask a friendly nearby beekeeper for help.

 

[Eyeman]

The reason i was rushing is that i dont have that many frames of eggs only 1 nuc has 2 frames with eggs on it currently

Put that frame of eggs in the ? Q- hive. You can always return it to the donor hive after 5-7 days.

 

[enrico]

Put that frame of eggs in the ? Q- hive. You can always return it to the donor hive after 5-7 days.

 

[Beefriendly]

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