Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: David LaFerney on July 17, 2009, 09:49:01 AM

Title: Should I mess with a newly queened hive or leave her alone?
Post by: David LaFerney on July 17, 2009, 09:49:01 AM
I started this  trap out (http://forum.beemaster.com/index.php/topic,23518.0.html) 2 weeks ago today, and since there were many capped queen cells evident one week ago it should have a new virgin queen any day now - if not already.

I haven't looked in the box in a week - at which time they were covering about 4 of the 8 medium frames. 

Should I leave them alone for a few more days or is it OK to take a quick peek and maybe add another hive body?  I don't want to tick them off and cause a problem by disturbing them, but I also don't want them to skip out because it's getting too crowded. 
Title: Re: Should I mess with a newly queened hive or leave her alone?
Post by: JP on July 17, 2009, 10:37:18 AM
Take a peak. Only way to know what's going on in there.


...JP
Title: Re: Should I mess with a newly queened hive or leave her alone?
Post by: iddee on July 17, 2009, 10:50:10 AM
A queen cell only stays capped 6 or 7 days. They have emerged if they were capped a week ago. I would remove the lid and add a box if there are bees on all frames.
Title: Re: Should I mess with a newly queened hive or leave her alone?
Post by: David LaFerney on July 17, 2009, 10:58:15 AM
Thanks.  That's kinda what I was thinking, but I didn't know for sure.  Sure is nice to get feedback from you folks with a lot of experience.

Again, thanks.