At the end of March I installed 3 packages of 4.9 bees in 3 hives, all medium frames. While checking on them I noticed all 3 have started queen cells on 2 or 3 frames in each hive. The queens are laying well and there is capped brood. I am not sure why they did this but I was wondering if I could use this to my advantage. I was thinking of creating some nucs at about the 5 week mark but I have never tried this. Any suggestions ?
TB
It is not a cell until there is a viable egg in it so are you sure they are cells or just cups? Cups would be normal.
I am not sure. They may very well be just cups. How do you check ? open one up ?
If they are capped, they are cells. Go ahead and make your nucs if they aren't open to see into.
IDDEE, why would the cells be capped if the queen is still there laying eggs. Doesn't the queen leave with a swarm when the first cell is capped? Have I got this wrong?
Not on a supercedure. That?s why I always shake my bees through an excluder for a Cell builder.
If you put the frame to a small hive to see if she gets mated you have choices if she does and no loss if she does not.