So I hived my 2 packages just over 1 week ago on Thursday the 7Th at 7:30PM. I went in 3 days later to removed the queen cages and topped up the syrup. I went in today Monday the 18Th and boy was I surprised. 3 full frames drawn out on both hives, capped brood and big larva, nectar and pollen in many different cells. WOW. My dad just started one hive the same day I did up in Portland, OR. We went into his hive yesterday and he has 2 frames 1/2 drawn out on one side and 1/3 drawn out on the other and no sign of brood or eggs either, but they were bringing in lots of pollen. After what I saw in my dad's hive yesterday, I was not at all expecting what I saw today. This is so cool! And did I mention the last 5-6 days have been rainy, fairly cold and overcast (around 45-50 as a high). Yesterday and today were the first two nice days with a high of 53 and sunny. So my queens must have started laying immediately for there to be capped brood. I am absolutely amazed at how much they have done. :-D
Aren't they amazing creatures! Yep, sounds like you're hooked!! Have fun!
Life is good.
Life is very good. I just cannot believe how quickly the queen started laying. Very impressive. Should my dad be worried with his hive or should he check next weekend and then if there are still no signs of eggs, then worry?
With either packages or swarms some queens will start laying eggs on foundation, while other queens will wait until a good portion of one side of a frame is drawn almost or totally out before initiating egg production. And ther's a whole range of when a queen will begin laying once hived.
I believe it has much to do with the age of the queen when the hive swarmed or the package was made up. A young queen from a package/queen producer will take longer to begin laying while a queen that has been established in a hive for some time will begin immediately.
A package or swarm with a virgin or recently mated queen will take their time (up to three weeks), whereas, the mother queen from a hive that has several months or even a previous season of egg production will begin immediately. A package that has had a mother queen scooped up into the package along with the workers will begin immediately while the workers will dispose of the caged queen, once released.