Three Week old Package Queenless

[Pond Creek Farm]

I inspected the new packages today since I was already out there putting on new feeders.  One of them was queenless and the bees have been putting away a lot of syrup but almost no brood.  There are a couple of queen cups high on the frame with open larvae in them.  I assume that if  do nothing they will raise up a new queen. 

[RayMarler]

Yes, sounds like they superceded the queen. Perhaps she was damaged in the shipment, just guessing. leave them alone and check back in 4 weeks, she should be hatched, mated, and laying by then.  hopefully there are enough bees in the box to raise her and bee broodbees for her to start laying well.

[Two Bees]

Agree with Ray.  Leave them alone and don't worry too much about it.  They will fix everything with a new laying queen.

And if she doesn't do a good job, they'll fix her too!