What are the chances they will requeen in time??

annette · September 27, 2011, 08:07:23 PM

The hive has all drone brood almost all frames, some open larvae, 1 sealed queen cell.

What are the chances they will have time to requeen before winter. All other hives have only worker brood, no signs of drones in other hives.

We have about 1 more month of warm weather, before November rains get here.

No eggs at all in this hive, not a laying worker hive.

Nice population of bees and they look healthy.

What do you all think

Thanks
Annette

FRAMEshift · September 27, 2011, 08:16:18 PM

If you can't obtain a laying queen from another source.....

All you can do now is wait to see if a queen emerges from your queen cell and is able to mate. Since your other hives don't have drones, I'm thinking your virgin queen will not be able to find any drones out there to mate with. Sounds like drone season is over.

If you don't get a laying queen before cold weather, then it looks like a combine will be necessary. Sorry.

Kathyp · September 27, 2011, 08:56:34 PM

all drone brood? i would suspect that that queen cell is not a good one unless that frame with the queen cell is one you put in there.

FRAMEshift · September 27, 2011, 09:47:49 PM

Quote from: kathyp on September 27, 2011, 08:56:34 PM
all drone brood? i would suspect that that queen cell is not a good one unless that frame with the queen cell is one you put in there.

I thought the same thing, but it doesn't really change Annette's options. I think it's too late to add a frame of eggs and start a queen from scratch.

Michael Bush · September 27, 2011, 10:26:48 PM

When does winter set in there? Do other hives still have drones or have they kicked them out? It's probably too late in Nebraska or at least pushing your luck a lot, but I don't know about Placerville, California. If it's almost all drones and one sealed queen cell that queen cell most likely has a drone in it. I'd give them some brood every week from another hive or if you have no drones in the queenright hives, then you might be better off to shake them out and put the equipment on one of your other hives and let them drift to the other hives.

FRAMEshift · September 28, 2011, 12:24:57 AM

Quote from: Michael Bush on September 27, 2011, 10:26:48 PM
I'd give them some brood every week from another hive or if you have no drones in the queenright hives, then you might be better off to shake them out

Since the OP is sure she does not have laying workers, couldn't she do a combine if she does it now? But in the meantime, adding frames of brood makes sense so the hive doesn't develop laying workers while waiting on the queen cell.

Shanevrr · September 28, 2011, 12:40:46 AM

Ive seen advertising from south for queens this late. Do a search, you might find something. I think I would combine and spit in spring to be safe. But i believe it has to be around 70 for queens to mate, you know your weather more than anyone and whats to come

RayMarler · September 28, 2011, 02:46:44 AM

Hi Annette!
If it's mostly drones then how is the comb, mostly drone comb?
I would consider shaking the bees out on the ground and taking away that stand.
Your other hives will take on the bees and you can store or give the honey stores to other hives.
I'd not spread around any brood combs tho, just the stores combs, if any of your other hives have room to take them.
Best of luck to your bees over winter.

montauk170 · September 28, 2011, 02:59:00 AM

I too think the same as kathy and others. But ya know what, I do not think it's too late in the season for them to make an emergency queen and have her mated. I have done it even later when i don't see drones around and she still somehow mated. And right now we still see drones in CA on the strong hives. The question is, is there enough young bees to nurse a queen from eggs/larvae you provide them.

I've been catching small Fall swarms or tiny cutouts lately and providing those to club members around the Bay Area who have hives that have gone queenless. Maybe you can catch a small swarm up there.

Shanevrr · September 28, 2011, 09:04:45 AM

check these out

Kutik Queens in NY has some still posibly. Call Lynn (he) at 607-316-7359

Russell Apiaries

annette · September 28, 2011, 11:25:35 PM

Thanks for all the posts dear people and I have taken each and every one of them into consideration.

Just to give an update.

My friend Shawna told me all her hives have drones (she lives about 12 miles from me). It is possible, with all the very warm weather we are having, that they might make a queen. We have another month of warm weather before winter sets in. But I did have the feeling that with all the drone brood I am seeing, the queen cell probably is drone also.

This hive has a very good population of bees and looks strong in spite of this development.

Ok I decided to wait 3 weeks to see if they are successful and if not, well then I will either shake them out or combine. I can see that shaking them out is better in case they have gone laying worker.

I just did a final inspection of all my other hives and I do not want to disturb them now so late in the season so will not take brood from them.

I appreciate each and every response and I take all responses into consideration.

Thanks, I will let you all know what happens.
Annette

FRAMEshift · September 28, 2011, 11:39:41 PM

Quote from: annette on September 28, 2011, 11:25:35 PM
Thanks, I will let you all know what happens.
Annette

Please do let us know what happens. This is an interesting situation.

Tommyt · September 28, 2011, 11:52:19 PM

Annette
Maybe you can put a cage over the queen cell this way you will
Be sure of what it is or even if it hatches out.
If it is a queen release her. pray nature is kind.
If it is not a queen you'll know sooner than 3 weeks
If I knew it would survive I would send you a queen
I think it takes 2 days or so,If you have laying workers
I'm not sure a queen will work out.
If you think you want to try let me know
Its free including shipping

Tommyt

annette · September 29, 2011, 12:00:10 AM

Wow Tommy, that is a very nice offer, but really not necessary. You know when I had only 2 hives I was very attached to them and anything that went wrong sent me in a tizzy. Now that I have 5 hives, I am not that upset if something happens to one of my hives.

I will just deal with this hive as it is. Besides, not sure adding a queen would work anyway and to much trouble to mail a queen.

Very nice of you to make such an offer though.

Take care
Annette

Shanevrr · September 29, 2011, 12:27:18 AM

will your friend lend you a hive for mating, warm weather, its posible if they dont kick drones out first

annette · September 29, 2011, 08:48:46 PM

Quote from: Shanevrr on September 29, 2011, 12:27:18 AM
will your friend lend you a hive for mating, warm weather, its posible if they dont kick drones out first

Not sure what you mean?? Do you mean will she bring one over??

annette · September 29, 2011, 08:52:53 PM

This hive is all drone brood, no worker brood at all. I believe that the queen cell would be drone as well, but I will just give it a chance to see what happens.