Laying Worker Hive is Back in Business

[Pond Creek Farm]

One of our packages went queenless and then laying worker.  I was about to shake it out when Robo and Irwin suggested I use a special cage that Robo built to introduce queens.  Well, it worked for Irwin, and today I learned that it worked for me too.  It did not quite work out as planned.  The cage was in there for three weeks, but when I opened the hive a couple of days ago, all the attendants were dead and the queen was just running around inside the cage frame. To get her out, I had to remove the screen and shake her into the hive.  I was worried about, but I do not have a lot time to wait on her.  My worker force is declining daily.  So today, I did an inspection and on the last frame (#10) I found a few bees about the size of a coffee cup diameter acting differently.  I stared longer and found the queen and watched her lay in a few cells.  I put it away happy that this worked and hopeful for its future.

I do have one question, however, should I be feeding now?  They have the equivalent of one full frame of honey but it is scattered about on several frames. 

Thanks to Robo and to Irwin for your help. 

[donm]

I would feed 1:1 until they can build up the numbers.  Preferably not an entrance feeder.

[sc-bee]

>They have the equivalent of one full frame of honey but it is scattered about on several frames. 

Feed --- also some pollen supplement would probably help too if you have none coming in or stored in comb.

[Irwin]

I'm glad it worked out for you :-D