sunshinemedic
New Bee
- Joined
- May 18, 2009
- Messages
- 58
- Reaction score
- 0
- Location
- Kingston Surrey
- Hive Type
- Langstroth
- Number of Hives
- 2
Took advantage of a break in the weather to have a full inspection of my strongest hive and as expected I found 15 fairly advanced Queen Cells. Interestingly, where the brood was quite packed last week, there is now loads of laying room, also plenty of space for stores. Almost no drones to be seen (?) but some drone brood. The bees were 'overflowing' and HRH was definately in residence.
I removed all but 1 QC for now and shook a few frames of nurse bees into a weaker hive that needed the reinforcements. I don't really want to AS now as I'm not convinced the new Queen will be properly mated with the current weather forecasts and the general lack of drones this time of year.
I think it might be that the swarm preparations took place at the end of the warm spell and the Queens rate of laying fell when the cold spell hit.
So should I (1) Remove the last QC and check in a few days (weather permitting) to see if they have given up on the idea for now or
(2) Bite the bullet and just do an AS now?
I removed all but 1 QC for now and shook a few frames of nurse bees into a weaker hive that needed the reinforcements. I don't really want to AS now as I'm not convinced the new Queen will be properly mated with the current weather forecasts and the general lack of drones this time of year.
I think it might be that the swarm preparations took place at the end of the warm spell and the Queens rate of laying fell when the cold spell hit.
So should I (1) Remove the last QC and check in a few days (weather permitting) to see if they have given up on the idea for now or
(2) Bite the bullet and just do an AS now?