Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: heaflaw on April 29, 2007, 11:58:28 PM

Title: queenless hive
Post by: heaflaw on April 29, 2007, 11:58:28 PM
I have one hive that I am almost positive is queenless with laying workers.  The hive is about one/sixth drones which look small.  I saw scattered drone brood but no worker brood. It is a 2 story that otherwise seems healthy with plenty of stores.  They were gentle, were making wax and seemed generally organized.

I would prefer to requeen rather than scatter the contents to other hives.  If I give them a frame of eggs, will they raise a queen or do they think they are not queenless since they have a laying worker?  Can I force them to raise a queen?
Title: Re: queenless hive
Post by: Jerrymac on April 30, 2007, 12:15:14 AM
Open brood is suppose to stop the worker from laying. So you might give them open brood frame now and see what happens and then another frame a few day later if they haven't started queen cells yet.
Title: Re: queenless hive
Post by: Michael Bush on April 30, 2007, 08:33:55 AM
http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm
Title: Re: queenless hive
Post by: Brian D. Bray on May 01, 2007, 10:58:30 PM
If you don't find your answer at MB's site you haven't read it very well.  It says just about everything you need to know on requeening a laying worker hive.
Title: Re: queenless hive
Post by: heaflaw on May 03, 2007, 12:25:23 AM


Thanks for the info.  Michael Bush's site is very thorough and comprehensive.