Missing Queen???????

[mat299]

Ok, five of my six hive have capped brood in them.  Four have a lot of capped brood and one has just a little. But one of my hive has no capped brood or uncapped for what it's worth.  Any suggestions on what I should do?  There are a good many bees in the hive but I am worried that it will start to decline soon if I don't do something.  Should I try to requeen or combine with another hive?

[Wolfer]

Is there a possibility they have swarmed recently. After the queens hatch there's a period that all the brood has hatched out but the new queen isn't laying yet.

Just a thought.

[mat299]

I don't think so.  I checked for swarm cells and didn't find any.

[richter1978]

Add a frame of eggs and larvae.  If they need a queen chances are they will build q-cells, if Wolfer is right, no big deal. 

[Brother Dave]

I had a hive do that last year the queen had stopped laying as no nectar was coming in. I started feeding and found eggs the next inspection. do you have uncapped honey available for the bee? if not feeding might help. a short brood-less period now and then may not be a problem as it lowers your varoa count some.

[Joe D]

A couple years ago I had a colony swarm, and there was no queen cell to be found.  Bought a queen and put her in.  Good luck Matt, you could possibly put in a frame of eggs.




Joe