requeening follow-up. seperate issue.

rober · April 17, 2014, 06:33:47 PM

only one of the hives being re-queened had any brood. queens were installed last Thursday, exactly a week. the hive that had brood has 3 sealed queen cells. the new queen is still caged. what are the chances of queen acceptance now considering the queen cells???

Kathyp · April 17, 2014, 08:22:33 PM

were the queen cells started before you put the new queen in?

as for the ones not showing eggs yet, one week may not be enough. give them a few more days. are you good at seeing eggs? if you are not sure, take pictures and then look on your computer. they are easier to see that way.

edit: when did you pinch the old queens? how long did you leave them queenless?

rober · April 17, 2014, 08:30:08 PM

I snuffed the queens 24 hours before installing the new queens. I did not find any queen cells at that time. as I said the queens have been in the hives exactly one week today. the new queen is still caged. should I release her? the hive seems to be fine with her being there.

iddee · April 17, 2014, 08:51:08 PM

She will be killed if there are queen cells in the hive. I would either make a nuc with her, or remove the cells.

rober · April 17, 2014, 10:07:30 PM

will removing the cells solve the problem?? should I wait 24 hours after removing the cells. it's been long enough that there are probably no more eggs left to make a queen.

iddee · April 17, 2014, 11:08:28 PM

I would remove the cells, then allow them to release her, or release in another 3 days.

The cells would be a great way to start another nuc or two.

rober · April 18, 2014, 04:13:31 AM

thanks iddee. that's what i'll do.

rober · April 18, 2014, 10:45:53 PM

not having enough bees to make up a nuc I removed the queen cells & stuffed a small marshmallow in the candy hole to slow down the queens release.. it's a shame too. the frame with the cells would have been perfect to start a nuc. because of this cool wet spring here has the girls have been slow to build up.