Checked my girls the other day..huge numbers outside, lots of pollen coming in. My question to you all is this...I'm hoping for a few swarm(Queen cells)
Is the presence of drones a good indicator of possible readiness to make a queen.
I did a big cutout 2 weeks ago and have tons of drawn comb and did a split. No queen cup after 3 days. There are plenty of bees there mostly forergers from the mother hive which was relocated 2 feet away. Got alot of drift.
They have honey but I've seen no pollen coming in...which makes sense..no queen.
How often should I put new uncapped brood in? How much is TOO much?
Thanks all...it's a good day to bee a keeper...
Yes, presence of drones is a good sign, keep the bees in one deep or two mediums, whichever you use, and check once a week or so for swarm cells. Don't split or rob from the hive, let them crowd up, they'll build the swarm cells.
By adding a single frame with Eggs once a week, a queenless box of bees will normally build out some queen cells by the third or fourth week at the latest, I'd say.