Queen cup with egg in it

[GJUK]

Hi guys,

I'm new here, just had a new hive of bees recently installed, it has been in place about 7 days now.

The bees seem happy, gathering food.

I did my first inspection on Friday and noticed a few 'play cups', today I had another look at the bees and found a 'play cup' with an egg in the bottom of it.

The queen was there, she is a 2015 queen and laying find as far as I can see, they appear happy and have made up a lot of comb.

On Friday I added a super though they still have 2 frames in the brood box to fill (these are brand new with foundation).

Can anyone help , I was not expecting queen cells this soon!!!

 

[Millet]

Hi guys,

I'm new here, just had a new hive of bees recently installed, it has been in place about 7 days now.

The bees seem happy, gathering food.

I did my first inspection on Friday and noticed a few 'play cups', today I had another look at the bees and found a 'play cup' with an egg in the bottom of it.

The queen was there, she is a 2015 queen and laying find as far as I can see, they appear happy and have made up a lot of comb.

On Friday I added a super though they still have 2 frames in the brood box to fill (these are brand new with foundation).

Can anyone help , I was not expecting queen cells this soon!!!

From my limited experience once you have reached 8/9 frames of brood and food they are starting to run out of space, mine tried to swarm with that amount and one frame was still untouched at the front of the hive (warm way) , some one will come along with a solution, i know what i would do but i am not for the life of me trying to explain through a keyboard.. lol. a picture of the so called play cup might also help the more experienced folk. Good luck

 

[taurus]

My mentor was with me going through my hive last week - a rather prolific bunch they are as well. There were several play cups and his advice to me was that until they contain a larva and are starting to be drawn out they aren't a problem. Eggs in play cups may be removed by the bees so they don't necessarily develop into queen cells.

I am sure glad he was with me or else I'd have panicked.

 

[Poly Hive]

He is right but be wary.

PH

 

[GJUK]

Thanks guys, so nothing to really worry about at this point in time, just keep and eye on things?

Am I right in thinking that as long as you have no queen cells sealed your hive will not swarm?

 

[Millet]

He is right but be wary.

PH

I ignored empty play cups a week later they was swarm cells.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Thanks guys, so nothing to really worry about at this point in time, just keep and eye on things?

Am I right in thinking that as long as you have no queen cells sealed your hive will not swarm?

No. Bees frequently swarm before the QC is sealed. If you see an open but populated QC, don't wait until tomorrow. Deal with it there and then.

 

[Millet]

Thanks guys, so nothing to really worry about at this point in time, just keep and eye on things?

Am I right in thinking that as long as you have no queen cells sealed your hive will not swarm?

Fling the 7/10 day inspection recommended remedy out of the window at the moment, but use your common sense and check earlier than 7 days, them play cups in 3 days will be Queen cells pretty quick unsealed but Queen cells all the same, theres a fine line which i'm dealing with three handed at the moment.

 

[GJUK]

Fling the 7/10 day inspection recommended remedy out of the window at the moment, but use your common sense and check earlier than 7 days, them play cups in 3 days will be Queen cells pretty quick unsealed but Queen cells all the same, theres a fine line which i'm dealing with three handed at the moment.

Thank you all.

Just to help my basic knowledge.

No queen cups = no swarming?
Queen cups are created for reasons such as congestion/poor queen/expanding the colony...

Thanks!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Queen cups are created for reasons

Not always - some colonies just build them because they can and the never come to anything.

 

[GJUK]

bloody bees

being a beekeeper is alike being an expert in feelings of panic, relief and despair interspersed with brief moments of deep joy and contentment

I like that . Day 7 and I feel this!!!