Queen Cells - options

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wessex4291

New Bee
Joined
May 12, 2022
Messages
13
Reaction score
6
Location
Somerset
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
4
We inspected one of our hives on Monday and found two charged queen cells. The hive is currently on broad and half and have two undrawn frames of foundation in the broad box, and four frames of stores in the half, so queen cells seems odd. To be safe we're trying to work out the best way to prevent swarming, clearly removing these QCs has bought us a few days but is not going to prevent them going if they want to.

Background is a hive picked up that we were told needed a super ASAP, so we added one on moving to our apiary without checking the broad box as it was dark. Subsequent inspection found loads of bees, the space was needed, but only 6 drawn frames. Novice mistake and one to learn from, should have checked first! Currently on broad and half, 8 deep frames and 7 shallow frames of broad, with 1 half full honey super. Hopefully flow will pick up soon as not a lot of nectar being brought into any hive at the moment.

There seems to be three options:
  1. Queen plus frame of broad and bees to nuc, leave hive to raise and mate QC. Increase not really required at the moment so option to reunite later but awkward as in Poly Nuc.
  2. Queen plus to National BB dummied down to 6 frames, easier to unite later. What are the drawbacks to this?
  3. Demare split with Queen plus and dummied BB on top of the current boxes with a QE and upper entrance?
We're thinking option 2 seems the simplest and the preferred option at the moment. Any thoughts or guidance welcomed.

Thank you,

Will
 

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