Skyhook
Queen Bee
- Joined
- May 19, 2010
- Messages
- 3,053
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Dorset
- Hive Type
- 14x12
- Number of Hives
- 5
Hi Tabby. Don't be put off by RAB- he's like that teacher at school who everyone complained about, but you realise afterwards taught you more than the matey ones.
I'm in the middle of queen cells at the moment, and every hive where I reduced the cells had secondary QC's on the next inspection- if there are eggs or young larvae they will do that. 5 days after the queens departure they have lost the chance, so you can pull down secondaries at that point knowing they can't build more. HOWEVER, you should now have a virgin in the hive who wants to be undisturbed. I would be tempted to go back in and pull down the ones you left (hopefully you marked the frames with drawing pins), then leave them alone for 2-3 weeks for the new queen to get mated and established.
.
I'm in the middle of queen cells at the moment, and every hive where I reduced the cells had secondary QC's on the next inspection- if there are eggs or young larvae they will do that. 5 days after the queens departure they have lost the chance, so you can pull down secondaries at that point knowing they can't build more. HOWEVER, you should now have a virgin in the hive who wants to be undisturbed. I would be tempted to go back in and pull down the ones you left (hopefully you marked the frames with drawing pins), then leave them alone for 2-3 weeks for the new queen to get mated and established.
.