Hive problem

Gerald in Ga · April 26, 2008, 03:44:18 PM

Howdy All,
I have a hive that I tried to requeen. I pinched the old queen on 4-07-08. I waited overnight and installed the new queen cage the next morning. On 4-11-08 I went in the hive to see if the new queen was released. The cage was empty but I could not find the new queen anywhere in the hive. She was a marked queen. What I did find was a capped supercediure cell in the middle of one of the frames.
I checked the hive 4-25-08 and the queen cell is still capped.The bees are being defensive around the hive and have followed me into the front yard of the house. I went inside for a few minutes and then went back out. The 2 bees were waiting on me. Any help would be appreciated very much.
Thanks.

doak · April 26, 2008, 04:08:22 PM

Leave them for another 10 to 14 days. by that time if you have a Queen,"and you don't have to look for her"
just look for eggs and brood. If you do not find any then they should accept a new Queen.
The reason for the new one being gone as for the same for the cell. A new Queen may have already came out and killed the other Queen while still in the cell. The bees just haven't had time to tare it out yet.
If that is the case, they killed your new Queen also.

Any time there is a Queen cell with a growing larvae/ or capped they consider their selves "Queen right" and will kill any "intruder".
Hope this helps.
:)doak

Gerald in Ga · April 26, 2008, 04:32:57 PM

Howdy Doak,
I meant to add that there was no eggs or larva in the brood nest. There is a very small amount of capped brood left but, they are back filling everything. Also, the queen cell is about 2 inches long and has not been ripped open.

doak · April 26, 2008, 05:01:42 PM

Remember, even a marked Queen is sometime hard to locate. they are young and nervous.
leave them for at least 5 days and see in they settle down.
Then don't worry too much about seeing the Queen. look for eggs and brood.
That is all you need to see if you have a laying Queen.
I know, every one wants to see her.
Some time I see her with out even looking for her.

When looking for the Queens/eggs&or brood. start with the outside frame on either side.
which ever you work best from.
Most times the outside frames will not have much of anything on it.
Stand it on end leaning against the hive.
then pull the next frame, leaving the first frame out gives a little room to move the other ones
before pulling them out.

Try to find some kind of cloth, old bed sheet or the like and make you some manipulating covers to use while working the hive.
doak

Gerald in Ga · April 26, 2008, 05:29:07 PM

Howdy Doak,
That queen cell I saw has been capped for 15 days that I know of. I keep a running log on all of my hives and the queen I put in was mated so I should have seen some eggs by now I would think. I have looked for eggs and there are none to be found. All of the other brood have energed except a very few and the bees are backfilling everything. I've had this hive since last July and requeened because the old queen was not laying to good. They were also getting a little cranky.

Michael Bush · April 26, 2008, 09:52:52 PM

>That queen cell I saw has been capped for 15 days that I know of.

It should have emerged after 8 or 9 at the most. Sounds like you still need a queen.

Gerald in Ga · April 26, 2008, 10:53:23 PM

Howdy Mr. Bush,
I put a frame of eggs in this afternoon. How long would it take them to get a new queen cell started?

Brian D. Bray · April 27, 2008, 12:38:21 AM

Quote from: Gerald in Ga on April 26, 2008, 10:53:23 PM
Howdy Mr. Bush,
I put a frame of eggs in this afternoon. How long would it take them to get a new queen cell started?

If they need one you should see good evidence of several by tomorrow. If they don't need one you won't find a queen cells in which case the hive got a boost of brood which betters is survival chances.

bassman1977 · April 27, 2008, 12:38:34 AM

QuoteI put a frame of eggs in this afternoon. How long would it take them to get a new queen cell started?

I've seen queen cells after 24 hours of putting eggs in the hive.

Michael Bush · April 27, 2008, 09:41:38 AM

> I put a frame of eggs in this afternoon. How long would it take them to get a new queen cell started?

>If they need one you should see good evidence of several by tomorrow.
>I've seen queen cells after 24 hours of putting eggs in the hive.

Like they said...

If not, then they probably don't need one, but if you're still not seeing any eggs in a week, put another frame of brood in, just in case you're getting laying workers and/or to prevent them.

http://www.bushfarms.com/beeslayingworkers.htm#pheromones

mark · April 27, 2008, 02:45:49 PM

everyone seems to be concentrating on your queen but you may have another problem. if they are filling all available space with nectar give them more room. they will sometimes keep the queen from laying to use the room in a heavy flow.

Gerald in Ga · May 03, 2008, 05:13:44 PM

Howdy All,
Ok, I have added two frames of capped brood, open brood, and eggs. The first one was on 4-26-08. Did not have any queen cells anywhere after five days. The second frame was put in on 5-01-08. I checked today and still no queen cells. Every frame was being filled with pollen and nectar.
I added two medium supers with wax foundation when I went in two days ago and when I was in there today they were pulling wax on both new boxes. Could this mean that I have a new queen but she has not started laying yet? There are plenty of bees and they are working right along as if they have a queen. :? Thanks.

Michael Bush · May 03, 2008, 10:02:28 PM

>Could this mean that I have a new queen but she has not started laying yet?

My guess is they have a queen, or think they do. Still no brood? I have seen banked queens take as long as two weeks to start laying.

Gerald in Ga · May 04, 2008, 12:04:43 AM

Howdy Mr. Bush,
The only brood are in the two frames I added. Thanks.

Michael Bush · May 04, 2008, 12:07:30 AM

Are there enough bees to cover the brood?

Gerald in Ga · May 04, 2008, 07:43:12 AM

Yes, Lots of bees.

Michael Bush · May 04, 2008, 01:06:03 PM

If there are plenty of bees, they have been given eggs and they are not raising them, there are no signs of laying workers, then I'd say you have a queen in there that is not laying for some reason. The most likely, this time of year, is that she was a banked queen or a virgin queen that is taking a while to either fatten up or get mated. If you don't find some eggs within three weeks of her being released, I'd go looking for her and get rid of her and the next day give them some eggs again.

Gerald in Ga · May 04, 2008, 02:19:31 PM

ThanK you Mr. Bush. I'll keep an eye on them.

Gerald in Ga · May 11, 2008, 10:25:54 AM

Howdy All,
I went in the hive and found eggs that I know I did not put in there. Thanks for all of the replies.