What would you do ?

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fullframe45

House Bee
Joined
May 13, 2019
Messages
167
Reaction score
38
Location
lancashire
Hive Type
National
Number of Hives
4 --5.
On last inspection 6 days ago one of my DB hives seemed Q-,no eggs lava or brood, So i gave em a frame of capped brood and lava from my best hive .White Q and laying well.
Today as expected i see they have made several Q Cells several capped. Im not sure if i should just let em get on with it ,or is it getting a bit too late in the year.
Or should i give them a bought in mated Q as i do not have a spare one. Thank You
 
Leave them alone, it sounds like selecting cells might well be new ground for yourself? - far from too late, all good.
 
Its not too late for virgins to get mated for another few weeks or so(where I am at least), but a mated queen would be a better bet than one from an emergency cell imho
On last inspection 6 days ago one of my DB hives seemed Q-,no eggs lava or brood, So i gave em a frame of capped brood and lava from my best hive .White Q and laying well.
Today as expected i see they have made several Q Cells several capped. Im not sure if i should just let em get on with it ,or is it getting a bit too late in the year.
Or should i give them a bought in mated Q as i do not have a spare one. Thank You
 
Last year 3 hives refused mated Queens (after rolling their own failed), late in September (and £180 burnt) threw them all into a single hive and left them to it. Queen created/mated and overwintered fine, still going strong. This is not something I'd recommend unless out of options, and prob lucky.
 
Just ordered a mated Queen ,im guessing that after all this hot weather we have been having payback time ( weather wise ) may not be too far off and may be unreliable for mating flights. Thats my theory anyway. Thank You
 

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