Question For Iddee

[Ben Framed]

This question is directed at iddee but all are welcome to chine in.
Iddee. On my last batch of splits, I have taken your advise on your 30 day rule..  30 days will be the 6th. I ?should? open to find a laying queen with eggs if all works out to the letter. But in the case, say, four has a laying queen, Two has no queen or eggs to be seen or found, and perhaps two more have a queen but no eggs, yet. Would would be your analysis and advise being 30 days? Thanks very much.
Phillip

[iddee]

As always, don't pretend to have a crystal ball. Take life a day at a time. When you have the actual results, ask again.

[Ben Framed]

I should know something tomorrow.

[Ben Framed]

Real time,
30 day inspection of 9 splits, split on 7-6-19

5 queens, of these 5, 1 already has some capped brood, all 5 have eggs and larva. Bringing in pollen as well.

4 no queens, 3 are bringing in pollen. 1 looks totally hopeless.

Being its 30 days today, do the pollen bringers still have a chance that things will work out?  When should I introduce mated queens in the stragglers splits? Or should I hold off a few more days before ordering mated queens? I appreciate you telling me of the 30 day "do not open'' method iddee.  I have been doing splits but this is the first time I have done so with the 30 day program. I am glad that you told of this here at Beemaster.
Any more input above the questions will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Phillip

[BeeMaster2]

Phillip,
During your inspection, did you notice in the normal brood area,  a round cleared area. If so give her another week. She is probably in there and just has not started laying eggs. If the brood area is completely filled in with pollen and nectar, I would plan on getting a new queen or just add it to your weakest hive.
Jim Altmiller

[Ben Framed]

Phillip,
During your inspection, did you notice in the normal brood area,  a round cleared area. If so give her another week. She is probably in there and just has not started laying eggs. If the brood area is completely filled in with pollen and nectar, I would plan on getting a new queen or just add it to your weakest hive.
Jim Altmiller

Thanks, Jim now that you mentioned it, 2 of the 4 no find em splits, did have a clean area in the middle. Thanks!!
Phillip

[Ben Framed]

Phillip,
During your inspection, did you notice in the normal brood area,  a round cleared area. If so give her another week. She is probably in there and just has not started laying eggs. If the brood area is completely filled in with pollen and nectar, I would plan on getting a new queen or just add it to your weakest hive.
Jim Altmiller

Giving it further thought, that means the bees are probably preparing clean cells for the queen to lay in? Is this correct? This is encouraging.
Phillip

[iddee]

I agree with Jim, but do a bit different.
If the split has sufficient bees, I give it another 7 days. If not, or no eggs in 7 more days, I combine with a queenrite.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks iddee for the good experienced advice. Thank you both.
Phillip

[CoolBees]

Thanks to all for answering. Good topic Phillip.

I just had a similar experience. 3 splits after 30 days (Saturday) - 2 queenright, and 1 without a queen. I dropped another frame of eggs & some more nurse bees into the queenless hive. I'll check back in 8 days. ... that's how I handled it ... always looking for a "better" way though   

[iddee]

CB, if they make a queen, it will be capped in 6 days.

[Ben Framed]

Thanks to all for answering. Good topic Phillip.

I just had a similar experience. 3 splits after 30 days (Saturday) - 2 queenright, and 1 without a queen. I dropped another frame of eggs & some more nurse bees into the queenless hive. I'll check back in 8 days. ... that's how I handled it ... always looking for a "better" way though   

Thanks Alan for chiming in. Another good thing about beekeeping, there is usually several ways to skin a cat!! 😁😁
Please update us on the progress with the frame with eggs.
Phillip

[Ben Framed]

CB, if they make a queen, it will be capped in 6 days.

Good point iddee, I learned this the hard way when making splits earlier. I was off two days and when I went back to cut cells supposedly a day before hatching, a queen had already hatched and had beat  me to them. Another hard lesson learned. I really wanted those cells.
Phillip

[Ben Framed]

Thanks to all for answering. Good topic Phillip.

I just had a similar experience. 3 splits after 30 days (Saturday) - 2 queenright, and 1 without a queen. I dropped another frame of eggs & some more nurse bees into the queenless hive. I'll check back in 8 days. ... that's how I handled it ... always looking for a "better" way though   

Alan, another angle that you may have already though of, if you do indeed have capped queen cells, and if you are ambitious, you can use all extra capped cells to make more splits. Maybe a blessing in disguise on this one?
Phillip

It is getting late though.

[van from Arkansas]

Thanks to all for answering. Good topic Phillip.

I just had a similar experience. 3 splits after 30 days (Saturday) - 2 queenright, and 1 without a queen. I dropped another frame of eggs & some more nurse bees into the queenless hive. I'll check back in 8 days. ... that's how I handled it ... always looking for a "better" way though   

I like the way Cool deals with a CANT FIND THE QUEEN AFTER SPLIT: Nothing to lose by adding eggs, a win win situation.  Very good, Mr. Cool Bee.
Van

[CoolBees]

CB, if they make a queen, it will be capped in 6 days.

Yes Iddee. I try to schedule my post-split checks ahead of time. I schedule a QC check between day 8 and day 10. My goal being to catch (view) the capped QC's without undo disturbance. Then I don't go back in until 30 days.

[CoolBees]

Alan, another angle that you may have already though of, if you do indeed have capped queen cells, and if you are ambitious, you can use all extra capped cells to make more splits. Maybe a blessing in disguise on this one?
Phillip

It is getting late though.

Funny you mention this Phillip. I originally did 2 splits. At the 8-day mark inspection, I found the queen in one of the splits. So I jumped into the original hive (H10) - sure enough, multiple QC'S on a couple of frames. So I split off another nuc with a QC frame. ... in the end, the only hive that didn't achieve a queen - was the original H10.    gotta love it. 

[CoolBees]

I like the way Cool deals with a CANT FIND THE QUEEN AFTER SPLIT: Nothing to lose by adding eggs, a win win situation.  Very good, Mr. Cool Bee.
Van

Thats because I'm SO lazy Mr Van! 

If there's an easier/lazier way to do things - I want to know what it is! 

My grade-school teacher once told a new student in our class, "If you want to know how to do something right, go talk to Vicky (classmate). If you want to know how to do something fast, go talk to [me]. Both of them will have the right answers" 

... well ... I call myself "efficient" ... but I've noted that most people call me lazy - so who am I to disagree with so many!