I have a hive (#1) that swarmed!! Not thinking, I took out some of the queen cells until I realized they were emergency q. cells and left 4 of them alone. That was 2 weeks ago, and I just checked, they still haven't emerged. What could have happened?
Question:
Should I combine this hive with #2, or give them some eggs/brood from #2 which is booming - (already has 4 drawn supers) as of today and hope that they rear a queen and make it?
I'm a bit confused :)
Derrick
Give them the eggs/brood. If they need it they will use it. If not, it will just boost the hive.
Steve
this may help:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm
The safest bet when queenlessness is suspected is to give a frame of eggs and open brood. It will postpone laying workers (because the pheromones from the brood supress them) and it will give them the wherewithal to make a queen IF they need one and it won't hurt if they don't need one.