Split Hives and why

[GSF]

Once again another update. Today I went into all three hives again to check on brood, eggs, and such. I've yet to see any eggs. I think I could if I took the frames away beeless and used my visor with my hood off.

So I tackled the big hive first. I was pretty disappointed because I only saw one side of a frame about 70% where I thought it should be with larva, maybe a couple capped cells. Couldn't find the queen to save my life. Looked over it twice. Bummed me out.

Second hive, BAM! Different stages of larva and some capped cells. Ol fat queen just wandering around.

Third hive, BAM! BAM! two or three frames of capped brood, larva, and the biggest prettiest ol fat queen you ever saw. I don't know how she got around.

Then I got to thinking. Initially when I first found the two queens in the hives on each side I noticed that there was a difference in sizes of the two. Then the time I found the third queen I noticed she was a lot slimmer than the other two. Today, the skinniest queen was bigger than the big queen was when I first saw her. So I'm thinking that the mating schedules were probably different and the biggest hive's queen is just a little behind the other two.

So, I'm calling two of the three splits a definite success and the other I say yea more than nea. I'll keep yall posted and once this is settled I'll quit bringing this thread back to life.

thanks again. 

[GSF]

Okay, not so rosey for the third split - the biggest hive. Went in today to see if queen was laying. She's done got big and fat. About a nice a looking queen as you could dream for. However, nothing but drone cells. I saw some supercedure cells in the middle and on the bottom, vacant except for queens jelly.

So my guess it that she, being the last one, didn't get mated. Not knowing what I don't know I'll ask a rookie question. Is there any time that a queen lays drone only? She has never laid any other eggs prior to this.

If she is indeed not mated, will the drones she produced be unfertile as well? I remember reading something about this some where on an earlier thread.

The good news is, I know where to get some eggs.

[10framer]

the drones should be fertile.