- Joined
- Jan 16, 2013
- Messages
- 151
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Cumbria
- Hive Type
- National
- Number of Hives
- 1
Having a bit of fun, all of my own doing. I only have 1 hive now after developing a reaction to stings (sting free for 4 years ).
This colony came in as a swarm 2-3 years ago, very placid so I thought why not...
On inspection roughly 5 weeks ago, I knew they were building up, there were sealed queen cells and I was surprised they had not swarmed. This is were it goes badly wrong, I tried to clip the queen and made a hash of it. I tore down the queen cells and let her wobble off. Went back in a week later. No sign of queen, no eggs or brood - but lots of Q cells. I thought they must have done the job I should have done and finished her.
Ordered a buckfast queen. Introduced her a week later, no eggs, no queen cells left intact within the hive, felt confident that it was hopeless queenless.
Went back in a week or more later hoping to see eggs and brood, nothing.. Went back in 3 or 4 days later, still nothing so decided to sieve the bees in search of a Queen, new or old. Couldn't find anything, also went through the supers.
I ordered a new Queen thinking that they just hadn't taken a shine to her. I also put a frame of eggs in from a nearby beek. I was too busy to check the test frame and so fast forward a week when the new Queen arrived. The test frame is full of sealed brood, but no Q cells at all - GULP!
So I went through the hive, with the new queen in her cage sat on top of the frames, to see if I could draw out the elusive queen to greet her. Plenty of agitation from the bees but no sign of another Queen. Went through the frames twice and also through the supers.
I have left the queen in position, between the frames, caged up, tab in place. That was yesterday..
I am just not confident of pulling that tab. Please shout up with ideas and suggestions. Feel free to criticise my hopeless methods too, a lot is done at arms length wrapped up like a spaceman. I'm thinking it is maybe time to pack it in!
This colony came in as a swarm 2-3 years ago, very placid so I thought why not...
On inspection roughly 5 weeks ago, I knew they were building up, there were sealed queen cells and I was surprised they had not swarmed. This is were it goes badly wrong, I tried to clip the queen and made a hash of it. I tore down the queen cells and let her wobble off. Went back in a week later. No sign of queen, no eggs or brood - but lots of Q cells. I thought they must have done the job I should have done and finished her.
Ordered a buckfast queen. Introduced her a week later, no eggs, no queen cells left intact within the hive, felt confident that it was hopeless queenless.
Went back in a week or more later hoping to see eggs and brood, nothing.. Went back in 3 or 4 days later, still nothing so decided to sieve the bees in search of a Queen, new or old. Couldn't find anything, also went through the supers.
I ordered a new Queen thinking that they just hadn't taken a shine to her. I also put a frame of eggs in from a nearby beek. I was too busy to check the test frame and so fast forward a week when the new Queen arrived. The test frame is full of sealed brood, but no Q cells at all - GULP!
So I went through the hive, with the new queen in her cage sat on top of the frames, to see if I could draw out the elusive queen to greet her. Plenty of agitation from the bees but no sign of another Queen. Went through the frames twice and also through the supers.
I have left the queen in position, between the frames, caged up, tab in place. That was yesterday..
I am just not confident of pulling that tab. Please shout up with ideas and suggestions. Feel free to criticise my hopeless methods too, a lot is done at arms length wrapped up like a spaceman. I'm thinking it is maybe time to pack it in!