Laying worker?

[tlynn]

I have hive that appears to have a laying worker.  It has lots of drones and I see cells with eggs that don't look to be placed right, like they're sort of on the sides.  I have searched high and low and can't find a queen.  I took a frame of sealed brood that also has a half finished queen cell with a big larva in it and gave to them.  I've heard laying workers can be a problem but I don't know why that is.  Anything else I should do?

[Grid]

Pheromones from open brood inhibit the development of the worker reproductive organs, and also inhibit the workers from laying.  You should add some open brood.  My LW hive took 2-3 weeks of adding a frame of open brood per week, then I re-queened and all is well.

Grid.

[Kathyp]

were you not having problems with your hives to full and no room to expand?  i would shake this hive out and then make a new one with resources from each of your other hives.  that gives you room for a new, and maybe helps with your overcrowding on the old.  if your old hives are so crowded, you should be able to make a really  nice new hive.  buy a queen or let them raise their own.

[tlynn]

Yea, I just don't want more hives.  I have enough to manage based on time available and size of yard.

[Kathyp]

just shake them out.  they'll join other hives and make them stronger.  you'll be down one hive.

[Michael Bush]

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