how many "emergency Q-cells" will get made in a walk away split?

[windfall]

2 days ago I stocked a 3 frame OB hive, intentionally queenless to watch them raise one.

I can now see at least 3 clusters of queencells begun. Each cluster has 2-4 cells. I was surprised by the total number of cells being created. I had expected a total of 2-4.
I assume this is "normal", but it has me wondering if they will complete them all or tear down some when the first few are complete. And are the number of cells related to the size of the hive or is it just a baseline safety margin that they try to attain? Does the 16 frame cut down outside have the same number or many more?

I know I will have part of my answer in a few days by watching but I thought I would ask anyway, hoping to get a fuller picture of things.

[D Coates]

As many as they think they need.  I've had a dozen total on multiple frames and I've had as few as 3 on only one frame.  First one out will kill off the others, just be sure to keep dropping in frames with eggs in there every other week to make sure the first out is mated and wasn't injured in the killing off of he sisters.  I've been caught a few times when the queen disappears for whatever reason and they have no new eggs to try to requeen with.

[Michael Bush]

The number of cells is related to the density of the bees, the size of the hive and the quality and quantity of food coming in.  More of any of those items results in more queen cells.  More cells for the size of the hive is an indication they are likely being well fed.

[windfall]

Thanks for the thoughts,

They have over a dozen in progress over three frames, but most are on one. The bee density was great on day 1, but dropped by close to 1/2 after the field bees left the next day. I was a little worried that I might need to try to add more nurse bees, but I suppose the number of cells indicates things are all right for the time being? I am still trying to get a feel for those more relative things like "strong" and "weak" poplations.

I suppose the cut down split done the same day is safely in the "strong", they have been completely covering the face of the hive every night since I pulled the queen and open brood....

[Michael Bush]

That's why I prefer to leave the parent location queenless.  It is strong enough to produce a very good queen, not to mention the brood break is longer which recruits more nurse bees...