Is it too soon?

Rodger J. · July 06, 2012, 05:34:23 PM

Hi,

I introduced a virgin queen in to a queenless hive on Tuesday of last week 6-26. Is it too early for her to be laying? The reason I ask is because I checked today and found no evidence of a laying queen.

Thanks

G3farms · July 06, 2012, 06:31:42 PM

Yes too soon, she will have to sexually mature, go on mating flights and then begin to lay eggs. Give her at least one week preferably two weeks and then check back for eggs and larva.

Rodger J. · July 06, 2012, 06:42:14 PM

Thanks!

Jim134 · July 06, 2012, 07:15:35 PM

Quote from: Rodger J. on July 06, 2012, 05:34:23 PM
Hi,

I introduced a virgin queen in to a queenless hive on Tuesday of last week 6-26. Is it too early for her to be laying? The reason I ask is because I checked today and found no evidence of a laying queen.

Thanks

Today is 06 July 2012
11 days ago You are on day 27 now to about a week from now you should see eggs.

http://www.thebeeyard.org/queencalendar.pl?month=5&day=22&year=2010

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Rodger J. · July 07, 2012, 10:51:37 AM

Thanks! I was getting a weebit concerned. The hive has been queenless for about a month. A friend caught a swarm from his own hive that had two queens in it. He gave me the virgin queen. The hive has been putting away honey and pollen (I've been feeding sugar water). No evidence of any laying so I don't have laying workers yet. Gotta get them built up for the winter or combine with another colony. One or the other. Would like for them to suck it up and survive. But then don't we all?

Jim134 · July 07, 2012, 11:10:37 AM

Quote from: Rodger J. on July 07, 2012, 10:51:37 AM
Thanks! I was getting a weebit concerned. The hive has been queenless for about a month. A friend caught a swarm from his own hive that had two queens in it. He gave me the virgin queen. The hive has been putting away honey and pollen (I've been feeding sugar water). No evidence of any laying so I don't have laying workers yet. Gotta get them built up for the winter or combine with another colony. One or the other. Would like for them to suck it up and survive. But then don't we all?

Winter time in Arkansas !!!

:lau: :lau: :lau: :lau: :lau:

IMHO You need to come to New England in January or February !!!!

BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Rodger J. · July 08, 2012, 11:07:08 AM

I understand.

If I could come up there in the summer and south in the winter that would be great. Temps are starting to moderate here. We may get some highs in the upper 80's. It will feel great compared to 107. Now if we could get some real rain. Not just the teasing sprinkles. Old established oak trees are starting to drop their leaves and die.

Supplying the bees with plenty of water. They're having a pool party everyday. We have a ring with a mesh bottom made for lounging in the pool. We let them have it and we take the rest of the pool. No problems. We just let it float in the pool all the time. It's like they understand it's for them. It's interesting watching them zoom back a forth between the pool and the hives. I might try the entrance feeders with just water to see if they like it better.