Re queening

[Sadders]

Inspected today and although my single hive came through winter the numbers are low. It always takes a lot longer than its neighboring hives to build up numbers. I have stores and a small amount of BIAS so she's there and laying (or at least she was 3days ago). Despite the low numbers I didn't find the queen today.

If I re queen could this help my numbers and build up problem? If I re queen but can't find the old queen (assuming I introduce the new one in a butler cage) will they just bump off the old one?

With thanks

 

[SixFooter]

probably a bit early in the year, but if you want to make sure they are queenless, shake them through a queen excluder. I wouldn't do anything yet as there may be something really wrong that a new queen won't fix.

 

[Karsal]

Interesting to read your post but how often do you open your hive? Because you said you had seen the queen three days before.
I was informed when I first started beekeeping that opening a hive for inspection etc takes a colony up to 24 hours to repair so I was told to keep my inspection to a minimum and let the colony build up with little interference from me.
Would it not be prudent to leave well alone for a week or so for the queen to get going then assess the situation.

 

[Erichalfbee]

If the colony is small and they are in a big box....put them in a small box?
Then re-assess a couple of weeks later?

 

[Sadders]

Thanks all.

BTW I hadn't opened the hive 3 days before but because I saw eggs they must have been laid in the last 3 days so she must have been there.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

If I re queen but can't find the old queen (assuming I introduce the new one in a butler cage) will they just bump off the old one?

With thanks

probably the old queen will kill the new one - wouldn't even attempt introducing a new queen unless I was certain the colony was Q-

 

[Sadders]

Even if I am Q+ they are not happy with her. I found 1 sealed QC (scrub) today and one other charged cup. Doubt they would have done that had there been a viable queen. Also, didn't see her on inspection.

Main problem with this scenario is that there are no drones yet. If I haven't got any drones I doubt any of the other hives on the apiary have.

How long should I give them to try and sort this out themselves?

 

[Hivemaker.]

Main problem with this scenario is that there are no drones yet. If I haven't got any drones I doubt any of the other hives on the apiary have.

I expect there will be plenty of drones around London in other colonies/apiaries by now, your colony sounds to be too weak to be using resources raising drones.

 

[Sadders]

I expect there will be plenty of drones around London in other colonies/apiaries by now, your colony sounds to be too weak to be using resources raising drones.

So should I just leave them to it? Or re-queen?

 

[Finman]

So should I just leave them to it? Or re-queen?

No sense to let them rear a queen. It takes 3 weeks that it starts laying, and next 3 weeks before hive gets againn new bees. Then it is June.
During that time hive looses most of its bees.

If you get a laying queen, you get two brood generation during that time from the hive.

You did not mentioned, how many frames you have bees there.

 

[Sadders]

No sense to let them rear a queen. It takes 3 weeks that it starts laying, and next 3 weeks before hive gets againn new bees. Then it is June.
During that time hive looses most of its bees.

If you get a laying queen, you get two brood generation during that time from the hive.

You did not mentioned, how many frames you have bees there.

About 2 (14x12). Small area of brood on all 4 sides. Also a few frames of stores.

I downsized today removing all extra frames and used separator boards either end. Also moved to a new hive (same space) as the old one really needed burning out.

Right, time to shop for a queen and will install her next weekend. If I mail order, how long will she last with her attendants if the weather is bad and prevents me adding her to the colony?

Also, any suggestions of breeds to use in the UK?

Thanks again.

 

[Hawklord]

About 2 (14x12). Small area of brood on all 4 sides.

This is highly likely where the queen is. You need to find and mark her before you buy a new queen, if you try to introduce a new queen without removing the new 1 your new queen will most likely be killed.

 

[Sadders]

This is highly likely where the queen is. You need to find and mark her before you buy a new queen, if you try to introduce a new queen without removing the new 1 your new queen will most likely be killed.

Thats where I've been looking. I'm usually pretty good at spotting an unmarked queen even in a very busy hive. I didn't see her today and no new eggs so she's gone or not laying.

 

[Hawklord]

Did you see any eggs today? Was there any unsealed brood?

 

[pargyle]

Thats where I've been looking. I'm usually pretty good at spotting an unmarked queen even in a very busy hive. I didn't see her today and no new eggs so she's gone or not laying.

If she's not there and you have fresh brood (or even not so fresh brood) they will be building queen cells .... Can you beg or borrow a frame of brood from another beekeeper (or just a patch of eggs ?). Test frame will tell you for certain ..

 

[Sadders]

Did you see any eggs today? Was there any unsealed brood?

Only larger larvae ready to be capped and sealed brood.