No Brood Virgin queen

[David G]

I collected a small swarm a week ago and have housed them in a new hive, the problem is there are no brood in the frame cells, I have spoken with friends and we presume the queen is virgin and needs to mate as she left the hive today.
She is back in the hive now but I guess she will leave tomorrow in the search for a mate.

If I manage to get hold of a frame with brood on will this help if yes is there any body near Newhaven that has some frames with brood on.

Please forgive any use of the wrong terminology I have just started and this is my first post.

Thanks

Dave

 

[drstitson]

no need - presume you have on okay number of bees? just leave to draw wax while she makes like a geordie lass on friday night.

how small? are they in a full hive or nuc?

 

[oliver90owner]

If they are drawing comb and she is actually going on mating flights, she should be laying within the week. Just be patient. Feed with some sugar syrup (1 sugar : 1 water) if they are not bringing in a good excess.

They don't seem as though they are going to abscond at this stage.

Welcome to the forum BTW

Regards, RAB

 

[beeatshellards]

welcome to the forum from me too ..

 

[drstitson]

welcome - we don't bite - unless you provoke us!!!

 

[gatley]

or you dowse

 

[David G]

They are in a National hive but as the swarm is small i have about half the frames in with a blanking plate, the workers are busy "Drawing wax" (I presume this means honey and wax on the frames). I can't believe how much they have produced in a week, oh yes I have a green feeder on top with 1:1 syrup in.

Lets hope you are right, the trouble is the hive is outside the office window and I can see what is happening all the time I am in the office at home.

Thanks for all the replies

Dave

 

[Arfermo]

If they are drawing comb and she is actually going on mating flights, she should be laying within the week. Just be patient. Feed with some sugar syrup (1 sugar : 1 water) if they are not bringing in a good excess.

They don't seem as though they are going to abscond at this stage.

Welcome to the forum BTW

Regards, RAB

Some Qs don't start laying for 3 weeks or so!!!

 

[oliver90owner]

Some Qs don't start laying for 3 weeks or so!!!

Not 3 weeks after the mating flights. Not at this time of the year.

When she has been mated the workers will feed her to lay. Of that I am very confident. If it doesn't happen they are likely to be a doomed colony at this time of the year.

 

[drstitson]

if you're seeing mating flights then laying not far away.

the problem earlier in the season was getting queens out and mating.

 

[mark s]

will there still drones out there for her to mate with then ???

 

[drstitson]

queens get superceded (succesfully) in sept/oct.

so long as pollen coming in then drones will be around.

 

[madasafish]

My hives have enough drones for about 5,000 queens... or so it looks and sounds on a sunny afternoon...

 

[sjt]

I collected a small swarm a week ago and have housed them in a new hive, the problem is there are no brood in the frame cells, I have spoken with friends and we presume the queen is virgin and needs to mate as she left the hive today.
She is back in the hive now but I guess she will leave tomorrow in the search for a mate.

If I manage to get hold of a frame with brood on will this help if yes is there any body near Newhaven that has some frames with brood on.

Please forgive any use of the wrong terminology I have just started and this is my first post.

Thanks

Dave

Hi there, I live about 3 miles away from you so can help out if needed. Have you joined the Sussex BKA? We have a meeting this Saturday pm
Sue