queenless hive

[heaflaw]

I have one hive that I am almost positive is queenless with laying workers.  The hive is about one/sixth drones which look small.  I saw scattered drone brood but no worker brood. It is a 2 story that otherwise seems healthy with plenty of stores.  They were gentle, were making wax and seemed generally organized.

I would prefer to requeen rather than scatter the contents to other hives.  If I give them a frame of eggs, will they raise a queen or do they think they are not queenless since they have a laying worker?  Can I force them to raise a queen?

[Jerrymac]

Open brood is suppose to stop the worker from laying. So you might give them open brood frame now and see what happens and then another frame a few day later if they haven't started queen cells yet.

[Michael Bush]

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

[Brian D. Bray]

If you don't find your answer at MB's site you haven't read it very well.  It says just about everything you need to know on requeening a laying worker hive.

[heaflaw]

Thanks for the info.  Michael Bush's site is very thorough and comprehensive.