QC question!

[Hux70]

I recently united a swarm with a failing queenless colony and after a bit of a scrap they seem to be getting along just fine. But.....there is still no queen. Last week i wired a piece of comb with eggs and young larvae into a frame and I now have 8 capped Queen cells. So the question is, how many should i removed and when should I do it. They are due to emerge around the 10th.

 

[enrico]

I would remove all but one now
E

 

[gmonag]

These QCs have been raised under the emergency impulse, so there should not be any need to thin them out, as the bees are not in swarm mode - yes/no?

 

[Erichalfbee]

These QCs have been raised under the emergency impulse, so there should not be any need to thin them out, as the bees are not in swarm mode - yes/no?

Theoretically

 

[Swarm]

These QCs have been raised under the emergency impulse, so there should not be any need to thin them out, as the bees are not in swarm mode - yes/no?

In situations like this I never reduce the cells. If not showing swarm intent beforehand, why should they suddenly decide to swarm when their main objective is to re establish the survival of the colony.
I had a horrid ginger colony that received the same treatment in early May, Queen despatched, emergency cells broken down and a frame of eggs from one of the beautiful black colonies was added.
I did a quick check and could see broken down cells on the frame.
No swarm but it's nice to see the number of black foragers returning to that hive now.

 

[Bakerbee]

I had a similar situation a few weeks back. I pinched out all but the nicest one and she emerged last week. Fingers crossed dhe mated well and before the weather turned. Time eill tell.