Weird queen laying

[Eyeman]

Update on my 2 queen right nucs that were showing multiple eggs in cells, with some eggs on the side of the cells.
I added some 'young bees' to both colonies last week to try and boost their numbers.
Examined both yesterday- both nucs were queen right (red queen seen)
no signs of mulitple eggs in any cell or any frame
one nuc was building up well- lots of single eggs and young larvae- I suspect this nuc will need promoting to a full brood box in a few weeks.
Other nuc was still 'weak' small patch of capped brood and eggs- I added some extra 'young bees' to this nuc and will re-check in 1-2 weeks.

 

[VEG]

Had a quick look in queenless hive yesterday the queen cell has now hatched so fingers crossed for some nice weather. This hive is still evil. The bees were pinging off my veil so I closed up pretty quick.

How long should I leave it before checking it for eggs?

 

[Finman]

How long should I leave it before checking it for eggs?

From emerging 10 days .

 

[VEG]

Thanks Finman

 

[VEG]

Well had a look in hive where new queen hatched it has been just over 10 days. No eggs at all loads of polished cells. What can I do know. Do I wait a few more days to see if she starts?
My worry is now that the bees in there must be getting old now.
Any ideas?

 

[Hombre]

Are polished cells a good sign that the bees are expecting action very soon? I don't suppose that they would have done it if the queen wasn't expected to come into lay shortly. Product specialists that they are. Good luck.

 

[Hebeegeebee]

You could put a test frame in there from another hive (inc eggs, no bees). It will help the colony along no-end in any case. If there's no queen, the bees will tell you pretty soon by the queen cells upon it.

 

[VEG]

Think I may put test frame in next week

 

[Polyanwood]

One of my colonies is exactly like this last weekend... polished cells but no sign of eggs. New queen went in there 10 days previously. I put in a test frame last week. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

 

[VEG]

15 days since queen cell hatched still no sign of eggs. Should I buy in a queen or wait? Not had time to go to my out apiary to get a frame of eggs to test.

 

[Polyanwood]

I still don't have eggs nearly 3 weeks after introducing bought, allegedly mated queen, but the test frame has had no queen cells made. I have put in another test frame, but am now thinking that there should be a virgin in there. Perhaps I should be more patient!

 

[VEG]

Im off to my out apiary to get a frame of eggs/brood. It will boost their numbers and give them a chance to rear new queen if the one in there is no good. (Ive not seen this queen since she hatched)

 

[VEG]

Ok job done 1 frame of brood/eggs added what do I do now lol.

 

[MJBee]

In three or four days thoroughly check the frame you have just added for Q cells.
Queen cells being developed = Queenless
NO Queen cells being developed = Queen present.
Hopefully your test frame will show a queen present, virgin/freshly mated queens can be very elusive. As well as looking for eggs look for empty polished cells - a sign that the colony is queenright and expecting eggs at any time.
good luck Mike

 

[VEG]

Plenty of polished cells. If they are queenright why are they so evil lol. Maybe because they havnt got much to do without brood.

 

[BKF Admin]

Plenty of polished cells. If they are queenright why are they so evil lol. Maybe because they havnt got much to do without brood.

Yes I think so.
I have often found that when a queen is mated and about to come into lay the bee's get a little techy when inspected.

They have the cups polished and nothing to feed.

 

[VEG]

Well only time will tell now. I think if they dont sort themselves out very soon I may lose this hive as they have been queenless since 17/4/09. Apert from the frame i Have just put in the other bees are pensioners now.

 

[Eyeman]

Test frames don't always generate queen cells in queenless colonies. I had 2 nucs which I thought were queenless at the end of last summer. Two lots of test frames failed to generate any QC. I eventually united both colonies with 2 strong colonies through newspaper and a queen excluder. Definitely no queens seen.
My view is that if a new queen is not laying by 3 weeks post introduction then there is either no queen present or she hasn't mated well.

 

[BKF Admin]

Has any research been done regards how long a hive is Queenless on average before drone layers kick in ?

 

[VEG]

I have been wondering about this as well as i said the hive has been quennless since 17/4/09 although a queen did hatch out 27/4/09. So although there were no eggs in there, that may have been enough to subdue laying workers. The rbi is going to have a look through hive with me tomorrow (he is a nice chap from our club). So maybe he can help me spot the queen or hopefully there will have been eggs laid or queen cells started.

A lot of hopefully's in there.