No queen

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Joined
Oct 30, 2019
Messages
25
Reaction score
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Location
West Midlands
Hive Type
National
Hi all I need advice again. I have a hive that is queenless I found the queen on the floor a few weeks ago, iv checked to see if there is a new queen but no signs. While I'm awaiting the delivery of a new queen how do I stop them producing laying workers.
 
Laying worker colonies as such don’t normally develop over night it’s normally a last gasp. It’s unusual for a colony to just dump the queen though. There’s a good chance there’s another/virgin running about. At least try a frame from another hive first. Ian
 
Put an open brood & eggs frame from another colony. It’ll suppress any laying workers and also confirm if there’s a Q in the hive or not (Q cells created or not)
 
Just a tip. Next time you put a frame of eggs in chose an area with eggs near the centre of the frame and scrape back the cells below the eggs to the foundation. About 3cm wide by 2 cm down. I use a j type hive tool. If the bees want to build queen cells that is where they will do it. They will build two or three nice straight ones that you can use if you want. It works a treat!
 
Did you check for torn down QC's or remnants of fresh looking ones when you found the dead Q ?
 
Just a tip. Next time you put a frame of eggs in chose an area with eggs near the centre of the frame and scrape back the cells below the eggs to the foundation. About 3cm wide by 2 cm down. I use a j type hive tool. If the bees want to build queen cells that is where they will do it. They will build two or three nice straight ones that you can use if you want. It works a treat!
Hi have heard about this a few times now, seems a v good idea & I’d like to try it. Is it as effective as a Miller frame in a colony set up as a cell raiser? Just thinking if it is, the comb can be more easily repaired by the bees afterwards....?
 
Hi have heard about this a few times now, seems a v good idea & I’d like to try it. Is it as effective as a Miller frame in a colony set up as a cell raiser? Just thinking if it is, the comb can be more easily repaired by the bees afterwards....?
Isn’t this being referred to as ‘notching’? As in OTS (on the spot) queen rearing?
 
Hi have heard about this a few times now, seems a v good idea & I’d like to try it. Is it as effective as a Miller frame in a colony set up as a cell raiser? Just thinking if it is, the comb can be more easily repaired by the bees afterwards....?
I have no idea where it came from. I was given the tip many years ago and it always seems to work. It certainly isn't my invention!
 
I have no idea where it came from. I was given the tip many years ago and it always seems to work. It certainly isn't my invention!
Good tip Enrico, can you cut them out easily that way? I have to add a frame in a queenless hive today so will give it a go. If they can be cut out I can make a couple of apidea with the extra cells.
 
Good tip Enrico, can you cut them out easily that way? I have to add a frame in a queenless hive today so will give it a go. If they can be cut out I can make a couple of apidea with the extra cells.
Really easily yes
 
I checked yesterday and they had built and capped of six nice big queen celks iv knocked them back to just two at the bottom of the frame.
 
No for some reason iv been unable to log into the site until yesterday so did not see the replies from other people. Will give it a go next time as I did have a few in the middle that didn't look the best. Luckily some good eggs at the bottom. Just need her to hatch and get mates fingers crossed
 
No for some reason iv been unable to log into the site until yesterday so did not see the replies from other people. Will give it a go next time as I did have a few in the middle that didn't look the best. Luckily some good eggs at the bottom. Just need her to hatch and get mates fingers crossed
No problem, it does work well!
 

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