Laying Worker - No Time For The Usual Fix

beek4018 · April 10, 2011, 03:08:41 PM

Well, I've been worried that my hive was failing for a few weeks ( low number of bees, weird small brood pattern, etc.)

Today I discovered lots of off centered eggs, and a few cells with what look like two eggs right next to each other.

I'm thinking laying worker.

It's my understanding that the usual fix is to try to combine with another hive ( yes, no?)

However, I 'm in the process of getting ready to move, and will not be able to take my beek stuff with me (I'm planning on selling everything including gear and the live hive), and don't have the time to start another hive to combine, etc.

I'd like to fix this problem before selling the hive. It seems clear that this would now NOT be a good hive to sell to a beginner, and it's possible that more advanced beeks may not want the hassle either.

So, I'm wondering if there are any other suggestions for fixing this problem before I try to sell the hive.

Thanks.

-Glenn

Bee-Bop · April 10, 2011, 07:10:49 PM

Could possibly be a NEW Queen !

New Queens sometimes will lay a few double eggs, not many but a few, also she may not lay in the center of the cell.. [ practice You know ]

A laying worker often attaches the egg to the side of the cell.

Good Luck

Bee-Bop

FRAMEshift · April 10, 2011, 08:29:16 PM

You could add a frame of open brood. This will help suppress any laying workers and provide young larvae suitable for making a new queen. If you don't see properly laid eggs or a queen cell in a week, add another frame of open brood. Rinse and repeat until you get proper eggs or a queen cell.

Bee Happy · April 10, 2011, 08:39:30 PM

if you have other hives near to the problem one, and time is absolutely the critical element, just shake them out a hundred feet or so away, remove the old hive, and let them find their way.

beek4018 · April 11, 2011, 10:36:36 AM

Thanks for the suggestions. Sadly I only have the one hive.

Perhaps I can trade a drawn out frame to another local beek for a frame of brood.

Whatabot just putting in a new queen and hoping for the best?

FRAMEshift · April 11, 2011, 11:03:14 AM

Quote from: beek4018 on April 11, 2011, 10:36:36 AM
Whatabot just putting in a new queen and hoping for the best?

Bee-Bop is correct that you might just have a new queen. If you add a second queen, they will fight and one or both will die. That's why it's best to use brood so they can make a new queen IF they need one.

In fully drawn comb, laying workers have a hard time reaching the bottom of the cell, so they attach the eggs on the sides. But if the comb is not fully drawn, you might have laying workers placing eggs on the bottom. Keep checking the laying pattern. If it does not improve in two weeks, you will need open brood and/or a new queen.

Michael Bush · April 12, 2011, 01:04:56 AM

Two eggs right next to each other doesn't mean anything. Probably a young queen getting the hang of it.

Brian D. Bray · April 14, 2011, 12:57:47 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on April 12, 2011, 01:04:56 AM
Two eggs right next to each other doesn't mean anything. Probably a young queen getting the hang of it.

I opened a nuc I made to save a very weak overwintered hive. The queen had just started laying, the first cell had 2 eggs side by side, the remainder of the cells had only one egg. From the looks of things she had just started laying a few minutes before I interrupted with my inspection. I added another frame of bees and honey from my strongest hive.