New hives - urgent advice

[beesleybees]

Hi guys, going to keep this short and sweet, I will explain in more detail later what has happened but for the time being could you please advise

I have just bought a couple hives from guy. Wanted to examine them, found loads of swarm cells on the bottom of the frame. Anyway, it then starts lashing it down, no way could I do a inspection on the others. Rain didn't let up so have ended up bringing the home. They will be placed at my aipary tomorrow morn.

Now, I'm worried about these swarm cells and I'm betting the other hives are the same. Last time guy did an inspection was 8 days ago. I intended to put the hives at my aipary and allow them to settle in before inspecting them but I'm worried they will swarm. He has given me swarm guards but can you please tell me what my best course of action is?

Please don't drill me! I just want a bit of advice and the I'll explain everything in more detail regarding the whole situation.

 

[Midland Beek]

1/ Do you know the difference between a queen cell and a queen cell cup? Queen cell cups mean nothing and do not be surprised that a frame might have zillions of queen cell cups on it, typically down by the bottom bar.

2/ It might help to say that a (prime) swarm will generally not leave unless there is at least one sealed queen cell in the hive. Meaning ... find at least one sealed queen cell in a colony and it might have already swarmed.

3/ Read the chapter of your bee book called 'Swarming' over and over again.

 

[drstitson]

hope you negotiated a good price if buying unknown. you may have laying queens in any of the colonies.

 

[Poly Hive]

IF they were swarm cells then there is a good chance that the move will have disturbed the bees enough to tear them down.

Inspect though at first chance preferably with someone who knows what they are looking at.

PH

 

[iombeeman]

just because 1 hive has q cells,others may not have them.never tried swarm guards myself,dont like the sound of them.you could always inspect hives with a brolly.you say you found swarm cells are they sealed or empty?

 

[beesleybees]

Thanks guys for the advice.

I got in really late last night so written my question quite quick

anyway, yes I do know the differance between queen cells and play cups. As I said, I was all ready for inspection but once the rain started, it just wouldnt give up. It was making the bees really angry so no chance of inspecting them. The guy I bought them from is a gentlemen so anything wrong and im sure we will come to an agreement.

anyway, i have just put the hives in position. When is the soonest i can inspect and destroy any queen cells to buy me some time? i guess they will be doing a far bit of oirentering (sp?) now.

regards to swarm guards, ive never used them but im desperate at the min so have put them on just in case. now i sure the idea behind them is just to let the workers out but keep the queen in.
Can you tell me, should a swarm decide to leave, it should leave without the queen. Is it right that it will return to the same hive by itself? also what happens if a queen hatches a day or 2 later when the old queen is still there?

 

[oliver90owner]

also what happens if a queen hatches a day or 2 later when the old queen is still there?

It is inappropriate to have swarm guards on the hive a week or so after the cells have been capped. Pointless, really. The beekeper will have had time to sort them or should be considering an alternative to calling him/herself a beekeeper.

 

[Swarm]

First reasonable break in the weather I'd say. A big umbrella (fishing/golf) may help if you can get someone to hold it, I wouldn't fancy struggling in wet and windy conditions unless I knew it was not going to blow away.