When does a hive become "laying worker status"?

golddust-twins · June 22, 2008, 12:18:46 PM

So when exactly does a hive become laying worker status. Can it be before the queen is gone. If not than how long after she is gone?

Corinne

doak · June 22, 2008, 01:01:31 PM

Unlikely it would become laying worker status while having a queen.
It can vary in time after the queen is gone. I had one stay queen less for 42 days once and didn't develop laying workers. Accepted the queen readily.
doak

annette · June 22, 2008, 09:22:59 PM

I think I heard it takes about 3 weeks of them being queenless.

golddust-twins · June 23, 2008, 02:34:01 PM

So what are the external signs of the hive being queenless. I am trying to determand when my "Bad Girl" hive went "Bad Girl" so I can learn for future episodes. Are there external warning signs that will tell one the hive will be queenless.

thanks,
Corinne

sean · June 23, 2008, 02:41:39 PM

i am not sure that there are any warning signs that you will see as an indication. I think the only thing you can do is to keep monitoring the health and status of your queen to ensure that she is present and laying. Once you notice anything unusual then you need to pay extra special attention to that hive

doak · June 23, 2008, 03:17:43 PM

After a given length of time your worker bees will slowly deplete and drone population will in crease.
until all in gone. :)doak

doak · June 23, 2008, 03:22:20 PM

OH! early sign would be almost all cells have multiple eggs and not all the way to the bottom of the cell.
Not to be confused with a new queen laying a few multiple's, but they would be in the bottom of the cell.
Hope that get's it.
doak

bassman1977 · June 23, 2008, 03:33:56 PM

From Mr. Bush's website...

http://bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm

sean · June 23, 2008, 04:13:01 PM

Quote from: doak on June 23, 2008, 03:22:20 PM
OH! early sign would be almost all cells have multiple eggs and not all the way to the bottom of the cell.
Not to be confused with a new queen laying a few multiple's, but they would be in the bottom of the cell.
Hope that get's it.
doak

at that stage would already have a laying worker. I think she was asking if there were signs/indications that there was/is going to be a laying worker

doak · June 23, 2008, 04:18:57 PM

Hardly any early predictions on anything in beeking.
doak

annette · June 23, 2008, 05:26:50 PM

My laying worker hive has requeened itself several times over since last summer. Sometimes they had brood, sometimes they did not. They always got around to making a queen cell and I would see brood. This time, it did not happen. I thought I caught them in time, but guess I did not.

They are a strange and unusual hive. I cannot figure them out at all. I am always perplexed by the behaviour.