Up until a about a week ago it has been too cold for the bees to fly, except for the one day a month they had for cleansing flights. The bees have been bringing in pollen for about a week(from where I don't know). There's nothing blooming that I can see. Anyway I was wondering what the earliest a strong hive would or could swarm. I realize that there are a lot of variables. One of my hives is 2 10 frame deeps. I plan on doing a split or making a nuc from this hive. I was just wondering about how much time I have before they swarm. I plan on going through the hive sometime this week(weather permitting) and was just wondering what to expect.
thanks
Chris
Since I lost my queen I've been looking around for the Bee Math thing. Here's a link and a passage from MB website;
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm (http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm)
If a hive just swarmed today, how long before the new queen is laying? Assuming this was the primary swarm, it usually leaves the day the first queen cell gets capped.
They can swarm anytime after you start seeing drones. Just because they can does not mean they will. You need to check them every week for queen cells and give her plenty of space to lay.
Steve
when you inspect your hives you will see an arch usually honey, nector and pollen.
At the center is usually the eggs and brood of the workers.
At the corners is where the drone cells are usually located.
If you see drones walking around on the foundation and there are drone cells capped, it won't be long.
You will start seeing queen cells usually on or about the bottom of the frames or foundation.
But seeing drone cells and drones walking around is a good indication swarming will take place pretty soon.
You can do a split and remove the swarm cells and you'll have an artificial swarm.
If you see supercedure cells, leave them.
They usually indicate an emergency queen most of the time.
Usually they will swarm just a few hours before the new queen emerges.