Queen cell questions. new beek.

chickenwing654 · July 10, 2015, 08:16:47 PM

Hi,

Just left my hive. Since my last visit two weeks ago, they have built five more queen cells with two being capped today. Originally there was only one uncapped queen cell on the bottom of one frame.

Queen is in place and laying lots of brood of different stages (freshly laid to almost developed). I gave them a second box three weeks ago, since they had seven frames drawn out.

I had a unused nuc box with me, so I took one frame out with the capped queen cell in the nuc box, with a frame of pollen and honey. I also put in a frame of freshly laid eggs. I then put in two undrawn frames and closed up the nuc box.

Did I handle this right, or if not what would you have done differently? Should I have done anything with the other capped queen cell. Should I squash the other empty queen cells built?

I was thinking with the nuc, if the new queen hatched out she could start a new colony. If not the bees have freshly laid eggs so they could perhaps raise another queen. Am I right in thinking this would work?

I am sorry, I don't understand what backfilling the brood chamber with nectar, looks like.

I keep forgetting to take pics. Don't believe they are swarm cells, they have unused space and they are just started drawing out my second box.

Thanks for any replies in advance.

Thanks
David

biggraham610 · July 10, 2015, 11:44:13 PM

Yeah, it sounds like you are fine. The one exception being, if the cells were on the bottom, they were probably swarm cells. Many say once those cells are capped the swarm will leave very shortly thereafter. In the future, you may want to pull the queen with the nuc, if the cells are already capped. If the cells just have larvae in them, then you would probably be in time. Did you leave any cells in the mother hive? Where were the cells placed? G

sc-bee · July 11, 2015, 01:19:49 AM

Supercedure cells are usually all the same age. Swarm cells will usually vary in age. Not being there it is hard to make a call. Are the bees backfilling the brood chamber with nectar, another sign of getting ready to swarm. I would have moved the old queen away from the parent hive in particular if she seem to be viable.

chickenwing654 · July 11, 2015, 05:39:18 AM

Hi,

Thanks for replies. I know I should have taking pics, but its hard when I handle the frames to take pics at the same time. They are also getting more protective of their hives as of late. I have been only smoking the hive and wearing no protection, but now I might be putting on my veil in the future.

The two capped queen cells I found were in the middle of different frames. The uncapped queen cells were NOT together in a cluster in on different sides of other frames. I didn't see a clusters of drone cells in corners of frames (indicating swarm cells), isn't that a sign of swarm cells. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I gave them plenty of room. Frames are covered with bees, but not so crowded that I can't make out what is in the frames without shaking off bees.

This is new to me this year, and I am learning as I go.

Thanks
David

GSF · July 15, 2015, 04:37:51 PM

If I'm wrong someone else can correct me. My understand is drone cells are more of an indication that "swarming season" is still on or fixing to start. A v queen must have a mature drone to mate with. It takes longer for drones to mature than any of the other cast in the hive.

Michael Bush · July 16, 2015, 01:19:48 PM

All hives that can afford it raise drones. They are more of an indicator of the right conditions and the right time of year than a particular hive swarming or not.

Candiebears · July 16, 2015, 03:58:15 PM

Quote from: biggraham610 on July 10, 2015, 11:44:13 PM
Yeah, it sounds like you are fine. The one exception being, if the cells were on the bottom, they were probably swarm cells. Many say once those cells are capped the swarm will leave very shortly thereafter. In the future, you may want to pull the queen with the nuc, if the cells are already capped. If the cells just have larvae in them, then you would probably be in time. Did you leave any cells in the mother hive? Where were the cells placed? G

If there are cells on the bottom should they be scraped off?

GSF · July 16, 2015, 10:22:13 PM

drone cells? If it's drone I'd leave them be. That's be a good way to introduce new genetics to the feral stock.

Michael Bush · July 16, 2015, 11:36:29 PM

>If there are cells on the bottom should they be scraped off?

I don't do anything to drone or queen cells. I might do something else because there are queen cells.