installed nuc early May, second deep added 3 weeks ago. One week ago 10+ queen cells. At the time some larva. This week several queen cells have been opened, no eggs that I could see. No queen that I could see (im not the greatest at finding her all the time). There were about 5 closed queen cells left so I took all but one out. I took a frame that had two on it as well as a bunch of capped brood and put it in a nuc box along with another frame of brood, a frame with some capped honey, and two with wax coated plastic foundation.
Was splitting the right thing to do?
I was hoping to see some eggs today, maybe they were there but I just couldn't see them. I may not be able to get into the hive next weekend so it could be two weeks before my next inspection which worries me in the event they go queenless and there is no eggs for them to turn into one if need be... That being said I am assuming by the time I get in there in two weeks I should see evidence of a laying queen and if not I could be in trouble right?
It could be three weeks till a new queen starts laying. In the mean time leave them alone.
With the open queen cells, you probably have a virgin queen in there, so there wouldn't be eggs yet. Give her another week or two to get going good.
>Was splitting the right thing to do?
I would say yes. It doubles the chance for queen getting back from her mating flight. If only one makes it back you can combine them. If they both make it back, you now have doubled your hives.
>That being said I am assuming by the time I get in there in two weeks I should see evidence of a laying queen and if not I could be in trouble right?
Two weeks is usually the time I give for a queen to hatch, mate, and start laying. After that I might start worrying.
Whether the split was right or wrong, the POST is WRONG.
The title should be, ""I plan to split a hive, is this the right way to do it?""
Many times it is harder to correct a mistake than asking beforehand and getting it right the first time. :shocked:
Kinda in the same boat will be watching.
Quote from: iddee on June 04, 2016, 06:33:59 PM
Whether the split was right or wrong, the POST is WRONG.
The title should be, ""I plan to split a hive, is this the right way to do it?""
Many times it is harder to correct a mistake than asking beforehand and getting it right the first time. :shocked:
See my early thread. Thanks for the help...
Quote from: Psparr on June 04, 2016, 05:22:34 PM
It could be three weeks till a new queen starts laying. In the mean time leave them alone.
So the ideal time for my next inspection would be in 2-3 weeks? Or is it still ok to be popping in there weekly to check for signs of the hive being queen right?
you know the hive isn't queen right....which is why you split it....going in in a week isn't going to prove anything since she will most likely not be laying yet.....let the virgin alone for at least 2 weeks if possible then check for eggs/her.
Thanks everyone. You guys have been super helpful. 3 books into this hobby and I have a millio more questions. I'd buy all of you a beer if I could :)
+1 on what KeyLargoBees said.
+2. Leave her bee.They may blame her for the intrusion.
Seems I've read that interrupting/disturbing a new queen just going into the laying process can hamper her future eggs production. I can't see how, but you've got some good advice from the vets. Give her some me time.
Waiting sounds good to me... Plus I am on a motorcycle trip for over a week anyways and can only get into the hives on the weekends :). I'll try to put up a post for what I find when I finally do