Did my first thorough check of a hive now that spring has come to Ontario, Canada. I noticed at least two or three frames of drone brood, lots of drones and workers, but no worker brood. A few queen cells on the frame side, not the bottom. Looking closer, I did see a queen moving about.
I was thinking of splitting this hive because it looked (from the outside) so healthy and busy. But now I am concerned that the abundance of drone brood and lack of worker brood means this queen is new and perhaps there was a laying worker?
To split or not to split?
don't split. What will you use for the split if all you have is drone brood and a new queen?
you have probably had a swarm or superseded queen, and this new queen is not laying yet.
Laying workers lay in a messy, spread out, shotgun pattern. They also don't start as long s there are queen cells or a queen, even virgin. It is unlikely, from your description, that you have laying workers.
pictures would help, but if I had to guess, I'd say you had/have a failing queen and they have or are replacing her. The question is: What did they use to replace her. do you have a good queen now? If you took pictures while you were in there, you might want to look and see if you find other queens, perhaps virgins or newly mated or eggs that you missed.
I agree with Kathy, don't split it.
But it would be good if you provide some pictures for better advice.
What Kathy said. I would go out and stand or sit right next to that hive and listen for queens piping. I suspect they are done swarming because you said you saw a queen but she may have released herself while you were in the hive. Listen for a high pitch tone that almost sounds like morse code. Then if you hear it see how many different voices you can hear.
If you hear piping, it probably means they plan on swarming again. Probably more than one more time.
Jim
**I would go out and stand or sit right next to that hive and listen for queens piping. **
and in time you might get a answer back-- :smile: :rolleyes: :happy: :embarassed:--RDY-B
Thank you all for your thoughts and advice! I didn't take any pictures, but will do that when I check on the hive again soon. And I will listen for the piping too.