Queen not laying

[masterBK]

Photo of eggs laid by laying workers in early stages all laid on the base of the cells. Young queens sometimes lay more than one egg per cell when they first start laying. However with time more and more eggs appeared in each cell many on the sides of the cell clearly identifying laying workers were their source.

 

[beeno]

Photo of eggs laid by laying workers in early stages all laid on the base of the cells. Young queens sometimes lay more than one egg per cell when they first start laying. However with time more and more eggs appeared in each cell many on the sides of the cell clearly identifying laying workers were their source.

Well, thanks for that guys. That's a new one on me! Luckily I have only had laying workers once in my first year.

 

[Millet]

Well, thanks for that guys. That's a new one on me! Luckily I have only had laying workers once in my first year.

I have had three laying workers up to now through virgins not getting mated and i have witnessed with my own eye balls what MasterBK and Hivemaker are saying.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Photo of eggs laid by laying workers in early stages all laid on the base of the cells. Young queens sometimes lay more than one egg per cell when they first start laying. However with time more and more eggs appeared in each cell many on the sides of the cell clearly identifying laying workers were their source.

Ill save that picture for future arguments. Thanks.
As for single eggs, some don’t realise how these eggs are laid. A laying worker doesn’t sit down and pop twenty eggs down. She lays one and another comes along and lays another on top of it. At least that’s what I understand

 

[masterBK]

If the virgin queen goes missing on her orientation/mating flight from a mini nuc (set up with just a cupful of bees and no brood) you get laying workers in just a couple of weeks as there are no queen or brood pheromones to suppress ovary development and activation of laying behaviour in the workers.

 

[Millet]

Here is one of mine.

 

[Millet]

whoops

 

[beeno]

Yes, those pics are fair enough masterBK and Millet. However, I would not expect most of a whole frame to be laid with a single egg at the bottom of the cells and it being laying workers. I guess this is why one has to wait for the brood to be capped to be sure.

 

[BernardBlack]

Update:

Both queens are laying. One very well. The other less so, but on the right path

 

[simonforeman]

I'm going into my first winter but I would not be opening them up in these temps to check them at this time of year.... strap them up and leave them to it now till spring.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

if you need to go in - go in, no harm if it's just a quick status check.

 

[beeno]

Update:

Both queens are laying. One very well. The other less so, but on the right path

Fingers crossed then that she will go through the winter ok!