I have 3 weak hives all with emergency queen cells. I have one strong laying worker hive. I want to shake out the laying worker hive, but worry they will destroy the queen cells when they drift to the other hives. I'm thinking of placing a push in cage over the queen cells for a day or so just to project it until they get acclimated. Anyone have any thoughts on this. Could any harm be done?
Thanks
Derrick
If you shake out the laying worker hive, the foragers will return to it when you put the hive back, so you can combine one of the weak hives with it, and you'll have a queen when she emerges. Combine the other two weak hives together, and you'll have the same thing.
You can just wrap the sides with aluminum foil. They don't kill the queen from the bottom. Always from the sides. Or buy a cell protector. Or make a small cell protector out of hardware cloth. That way the queen can still get out and they can thin the mouth of the cell for her.