Plan of action

[Machonachos]

So.

4 weeks ago I killed my Queen by accident. 3 weeks ago I saw three nice emergency cells so I have left them get on with it for a few weeks. Went in yesterday and they are now hopelessly q- !! Assuming Queen failure.

So here’s my plan of action - opinions please

1. I have already put a frame of eggs in from another hive which i will check in a few days. If I see emergency cells then I know for sure they are Q-

2. I am thinking that there is no point in raising a new Queen this late in the year especially having no brood at all in the hive. So if I see QC then.

3. Pinch QCs and unite hive with weaker of my two other hives over newspaper. The Q+ hive is already on B+1/2 and they have done little with the shallow box so I’m tempted to remove that and leave united colony with double brood over winter and then feed hard to fill brood frames on old Q- colony up with invert. That way will be neater next year with box management and it will utilise the brood frames with lots of stores. (And as a by product all super frames with honey are mine to take off)

How does this sound for a plan? Any advice?

Andy


Cheers

Andy

 

[Ian123]

Well if you left behind 3 Qcells then I would guess there’s a virgin about. How long exactly since you saw the cells and had they been capped or not

 

[beeno]

Well, the test frame will tell you, but I would also think there would be a mated queen in there, but not yet laying. Most of us try to overwinter on single brood if at all possible.

 

[Machonachos]

Well if you left behind 3 Qcells then I would guess there’s a virgin about. How long exactly since you saw the cells and had they been capped or not

There were three cells, one capped and two being capped. That was 3 weeks ago. By my maths I was thinking 7 days to emergence, a few days getting ready to fly, a few days mating and a week laying would make 3 weeks.

As a side note, they didn’t seem Q- went in with little to no smoke and no aggressiveness at all.




Cheers

Andy

 

[Machonachos]

Well, the test frame will tell you, but I would also think there would be a mated queen in there, but not yet laying. Most of us try to overwinter on single brood if at all possible.

Will get into the hive again on the weekend so hopefully will see some eggs then.

Fingers crossed.


Cheers

Andy

 

[Swarm]

Most of us try to overwinter on single brood if at all possible.

Not sure I agree with that, a single national deep? Double brood is a good over Wintering option.

 

[Swarm]

Three weeks ago, one cell capped and two charged so allow maybe a week before emergence.
I don't think they are queenless. give them a couple of weeks and have another look

 

[Beefriendly]

Most of us try to overwinter on single brood if at all possible.

Strange lot you southerners...I always try to overwinter on double brood if the colony is big enough, most of mine are.

 

[beeno]

Strange lot you southerners...I always try to overwinter on double brood if the colony is big enough, most of mine are.

Yes, that is just the caveat "if the colony is big enough". IMHO that would not be now. You don't generally move to double brood in August?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Ideal time to get in with a vape. You’ll only need one treatment till next year.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

There were three cells, one capped and two being capped. That was 3 weeks ago. By my maths I was thinking 7 days to emergence, a few days getting ready to fly, a few days mating and a week laying would make 3 weeks.

In your dreams maybe. I'd give them another couple of weeks again before thinking about starting to worry.

Not sure I agree with that, a single national deep? Double brood is a good over Wintering option.

Rarely overwinter on a double brood.

 

[Machonachos]

Thanks Jenkins. Will give them some more time and see. Like I said, they weren’t behaving Q- so fingers crossed.


Cheers

Andy