Second time is not the charm

Beeninja · July 01, 2014, 03:39:12 PM

I attempted my second split after the first one got decimated by hive beetles. I put some 4 bars with bees, brood, larva, eggs. Honey and pollen. Shook in some more bees and closed the lead. I left the queen in her mother hive. Here we are three + weeks later and the split is not making a queen? . I live in South Carolina so is it to late in the year to move the old queen (if I can find her?) and still leave time for the old hive to make a queen or should I try and buy a queen? This bee stuff is complicated. :?

Kathyp · July 01, 2014, 03:48:22 PM

you sure you didn't miss her? she should have hatched by now. can she be in there and just not laying yet? have you checked for eggs/larvae?

Beeninja · July 01, 2014, 04:38:52 PM

Check yesterday. The girls are back filling with honey and never made one queen. no queen in sight.

GSF · July 01, 2014, 05:54:54 PM

I can't really say about the time frame maybe someone with the experience will jump in.

However, did you notch any cells? That's when you find a cell with an egg in it then you take your hive tool and pull the bottom outside of the cell down towards the bottom of the frame. I did that and it worked. Glad I found this forum about a year ago.

Santa Caras · July 01, 2014, 05:57:25 PM

if you have the reserves to give it...try giving another frame with some eggs. I read about this just today and there is this calendar to go by. 45 days is what I've heard for a Queen to be made, grow, mate and start laying.

http://www.thebeeyard.org/queen-rearing-calendar/

Since we're on the subject...my first split died too! Gonna try here in a week. Had to wait for the reserves to build back up in my donor hives!

Beeninja · July 01, 2014, 09:08:47 PM

I have Some frams in my lang but the split came from my top bar hive. I will have to make some ajustments but I can not See letting the girls just die out

biggraham610 · July 01, 2014, 11:59:16 PM

Quote from: Beeninja on July 01, 2014, 09:08:47 PM
I have Some frams in my lang but the split came from my top bar hive. I will have to make some ajustments but I can not See letting the girls just die out

Or re-combine, they dont have to die. Good Luck. G :chop:

GLOCK · July 02, 2014, 09:37:45 AM

When I make splits I all ways put the queen in the new part and let the strong hive make the queen makes for better queens.
I'd pull your queen if I where you and make the split with her and let the mother hive requeen .
Good luck.

BeeMaster2 · July 02, 2014, 12:52:37 PM

Quote from: GLOCK on July 02, 2014, 09:37:45 AM
When I make splits I all ways put the queen in the new part and let the strong hive make the queen makes for better queens.
I'd pull your queen if I where you and make the split with her and let the mother hive requeen .
Good luck.

Ditto.
Or recombine the hives.
Jim

Beeninja · July 02, 2014, 04:16:51 PM

I am going to try and find my queen and put her in the split. The strong hve should be able to make a queen. I will let you all know what happens.

capt44 · July 02, 2014, 08:37:03 PM

I also would move the queen with the split.
In the original hive make sure you have eggs.
Larva don't count.
By the time the bees realize they are queenless some of the eggs will be hatching making prime canidates for the bees to make a queen or queens.
From the time the egg hatches and the bees start feeding it royal jelly to a laying queen will take around 29 days.
If you have a queen cell or a queen you would be a few days ahead of schedule.

Wolfer · July 04, 2014, 07:16:05 PM

I probably wouldent do anything for another week or ten days. If there was no queen cell a week after you started then that was the time to go to plan B. Its easy to miss one sometimes and if so she hasn't had time to start laying yet.