Swarming!

[mystil]

Hello Guys
Just opened the hive yesturday and found loads of swarm cells.

Could not find the queen and no eggs were seen, so think she has either died or swarmed. It seems very unlikely we will be able to get a new queen raised and mated sucessfully so late in the season.

Our options are:

We could merge the queenless hive with another one
or
we could try to get a mated queen but not sure that we will be able to get one this late in the season.

What do you think?

 

[drstitson]

your problem is the gap at a critical time winter bees wise.

HM has BF queens available. PM him.

personally i'd requeen but put the best couple of cells into mating nucs and see what they do in the next month or so. no harm done and can be overwintered like that if necessary.

 

[Anduril]

Either the hive is crowded or they are supersedure cells. Also are there drone cells around the swarm cells?

 

[mystil]

Yes the hive is/was crowded and there are drone cells around the QC's.

Was debating about putting on brood and a half to give them abit more room but only had undrawn foundation at the time.

 

[Anduril]

If you have drawn foundation put it on for the winter, if not you will have to do a lot of feeding. Do not disturb the hive very much for the new queen to mate. Keep feeding and look later to see if she is laying. Although this will not be for long. If necessary in the colder spells add a feeder of warm water as well on the same crown board if you have room. Fingers crossed your bees will last the winter with tlc. Good luck!

 

[VEG]

If the weather is cold the bees dont tend move up to take warm syrup.

 

[Anduril]

I've never had a problem

 

[Hivemaker.]

I've never had a problem

Are you a bee?

 

[richardbees]

Are you a bee?

roflmao

 

[Anduril]

Started beekeeping over thirty years ago! Still learning, never stopping!

 

[richardbees]

no offence intended, Anduril

 

[biglongdarren]

Are you a bee?

very quick indeed hivemaker,this did make me laugh...thankyou

 

[mystil]

Going to check hive again in a few days and put in a test frame just to check we have no queen before we buy one.