Quick help - maybe swarming

[oliver90owner]

but it's a hobby where you can never know anything

Funny that. I certainly don't know everything, but that statement is waaay off! Beekeeping is really very easy, once you understand how the bees organise themselves, and follow the sensible guidelines for inspections, etc.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

When I checked about 5 days ago I only seen cells on the side of the combs. I read that this was OK

I've never seen or heard that stated anywhere

it's a hobby where you can never know anything.

But you should never start until you know something.

The cells were in the middle of the comb doesn't that mean there supercedure cells?

No - Cells in the middle of the comb does not definitely mean supersedure - especially as there were multiple cells
read some better books, ask questions and start thinking things through was there anything not right with the queen to suggest supersedure? and in both hives?

I'll repeat, you need to go in and sort those queen cells out or risk cast swarms. No use ignoring the problem in the hope it will go away.

 

[greig1983]

I meant everything not anything. There's a lot of beekeeping sites that mention that about the cells on the sides of the combs.


Anyway back to it, if you can't find the queen and larva is only around 5 days old. Would you leave one cell or destroy them all?

As stated the queen wasn't marked, that's to say if the original queen is still inside the hives. Both hives appear to be looking the same, one hive a year older!

 

[Hivemaker.]

Would you leave one cell or destroy them all?

I would destroy them all.

 

[chrisb]

wow.. if youngest in there is 5 day old larve 6 by tomorrow, and the queen has done one going in and destroying all cells wouldn't that put the blinkers on everything

would it not be better to make 101% sure there is a queen first

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I meant everything not anything. There's a lot of beekeeping sites that mention that about the cells on the sides of the combs.


Anyway back to it, if you can't find the queen and larva is only around 5 days old. Would you leave one cell or destroy them all?

As stated the queen wasn't marked, that's to say if the original queen is still inside the hives. Both hives appear to be looking the same, one hive a year older!

Carry on sticking your head in the sand THE QUEEN HAS GONE! listen to HM if you will - but what he hasn't bothered telling you is that he has myriad new queens that he can pop in to the hopelessly queenless hive rather than wait for a new queen to emerge.
It's obvious you have made all your decision based on reading a few comics and listening to some rather ropey advice you have read on 'lots of beekeeping sites' so is there any point in us carrying on with this thread?

 

[alldigging]

http://www.wbka.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/There-Are-Queen-Cells-In-My-Hive-WBKA-WAG.pdf

P15

Step 6 - My hive has definitely swarmed and is left with the
remaining bees, brood and numerous queen cells.

 

[PaulCarroll]

I agree with Jenkins in regard to sorting out the QC ,s. We all learn from our mistakes, but your Queen has most definitely gone and you now face the prospect of multiple virgin queens successfully depleting your colony further by way of caste swarms. Whilst they may only locate to a nearby tree or bush and you may be able to recapture them, they are likely to swarm again or as the Queen will be lucky to mate successfully just be extra work for little reward. I am not aware where your bees are located, but mine are at the end of the garden and having experienced early in my days of keeping a hive caste swarming, I can assure you it can be a bit embarrassing having to apologise to neighbours when your caste swarm is flying over their fats is bush on their patio in the middle of their Sunday family BBQ. Once bitten twice shy, get some help and get your QC's sorted!!!

 

[Teemore]

During the Spring and Summer, if you inspect a colony of bees and there is an absence of eggs or larvae you need to ask yourself - Why? For most of the year you can expect there to be some eggs and larvae. If there is an absence of eggs and larvae, it may mean that the colony has effectively "shut down" due to a lack of pollen and nectar forage OR it can indicate that there is something wrong with the queen OR that the queen has left the house....
Where you find charged queen cells (forget all about supercedure or swarm cells for the moment) and there are no eggs or larvae in the colony, it is highly likely that the colony has already swarmed with the old, mated queen. Where the cells are already capped, you could have further cast swarms issue from the colony in short order.
To re-empahsise previous advice, you need to reduce the number of queen cells in these two colonies. Just leave a single, charged queen cell in each stock.

 

[Cussword]

To be honest, I believe that you should get in touch with Hivemaker, or any of the queen breeders on here. Buy a new queen, (or two) and destroy all the queen cells.
It will be weeks before what are now queen cells become laying Queens.

That's only if you don't lose any more.


.

 

[chrisb]

To re-empahsise previous advice, you need to reduce the number of queen cells in these two colonies. Just leave a single, charged queen cell in each stock.

thats what was going through my mind !

 

[Frenchie]

I would really try and find a local beekeeper who could give you a few pointers. Reading books is ok,but help from an experienced beek is invaluable. That's how I learn't, joined a local association and was overwhelmed by the help I was offered. As for spotting queens, keep trying. I spent my first few years looking,but never finding, then finally spotted her and now find it fairly easy. Good luck.

 

[EKBee]

Glasgow beekeepers

http://www.glasgowbeekeepers.org.uk/content/becoming-beekeeper

[email protected]

Course starting in September usually, £40 for 8 evenings of tuition