Unexpected Drone cells...

[Vanterrier]

I made a split on 3rd June leaving Hive1 Q-. I left a nice capped QC in Hive1 and have been feeding them 1:1 syrup as there was no stores then. I checked a few days later and thete were no more QC's. I inspected all frames for the first time today and found lots of syrup, some pollen but no eggs and no sign of a Q
On one frame only there were a few small and empty cups and to my main question, there were a few capped Drone cells. One emerged as I watched.
So, what do I have?
Drone Laying Q?
Drone laying Workers? (No signs of workers eggs anywhere)
And what do I do now?
There's still a chance a Q is in there not yet laying.
Bees are all calm and there's plenty of them, all frames covered.
K

 

[Vanterrier]

 

[Erichalfbee]

So, what do I have?

Think.
How long from egg to emerged worker bee?
How long from egg to emerged drone?
How many days from June 3rd to today?
How many days since new queen emerged?

 

[Erichalfbee]

There’s another thread about how long a queen takes to lay too

 

[Sutty]

I suspect those are just the last few drones to emerge from eggs laid before the split.
There is still time for her to start laying.

 

[Vanterrier]

Aha! So these could be the last Drone Cells to emerge?
Too close to the coal face here.
Thanks for that Sanity Check Slap
K

 

[Vanterrier]

Thanks All
K

 

[Erichalfbee]

Aha! So these could be the last Drone Cells to emerge?
Too close to the coal face here.
Thanks for that Sanity Check Slap
K

sorry.

 

[Swarm]

I would chuck that frame.

 

[Vanterrier]

sorry.

Haha, no need, you were right I wasn't thinking.

I would chuck that frame.

Yes it will go the journey next opportunity... bait hive
K

 

[hemo]

Frames like that I cut back to a 1" top strip and place it between a pair of nice worker frames, with a good flow it will be nice pristine comb in lttle time. A swarm is best to draw them nice.

 

[pargyle]

I would chuck that frame.

It's not that bad ... cut a few of the lumps and bumps off it ... another year or two in it ...I've got worse in some of my hives. Drawn brood frames are a very valuable resource ...

 

[Vanterrier]

I'm getting to like it again ...
K

 

[pargyle]

I'm getting to like it again ...
K

Give it some love - the bees will thank you - they will use it until they start and tear it down themselves (I would not let it get to that state though !).

 

[Swarm]

It's got more holes than comb and what comb there is is mostly drone.

 

[Vanterrier]

Now I'm not liking it as much...
K

 

[Moobee]

Frames like that I cut back to a 1" top strip and place it between a pair of nice worker frames, with a good flow it will be nice pristine comb in lttle time. A swarm is best to draw them nice.

Liking that idea. I’ve got a few frames that look like the surface of the moon with some very creative comb.

 

[Sutty]

Liking that idea. I’ve got a few frames that look like the surface of the moon with some very creative comb.

Once they have drawn out new comb on the old strip I suppose you could cut out the old bit and let them replace it.
Voila! - Trigger's comb!

 

[hemo]

Really old knackered dark comb then I hoof the whole lot out for cleaning and sterilise the frame , the above pic colour wise is pretty good and not past it's best . The general state of the uneven comb is an ideal place for them to hide a Qc or blen it in to the comb to become hard to find.
The comb is an ideal candidate fir trimming back to near the top bar and allow for a natural rebuild.

 

[hemo]

Cut it back to near the top bar and place it betwen a pair of worker combs , preferably a swarm or if an established colony during a goood flow they both will draw it down quite quickly. If they do decide to draw drone cell size then go with the flow and it might save other combs form being messed about.
One can see clearly they wanted to draw drone from worker size so it is obvious they wanted drone so don't hold them back, don't be drawn it to the 'they want to swarm mind set' as htye will draw drone whether they want to swarm or not.

If on single brood then obvioulsy one needs to consider double brood if there is not enough worker comb space , two or three combs of drone I find not uncommon with single brood if one allows bees a free reign.
I allow my bees a free reign otherwise one is working against them , they will be more content and happier if one allows them to work to their needs.