what to do

[beesonhay465]

    big strong hive . looked at them , not much going on , the other 2 hives are cranked up .lots activity. took a listen , silence ??  got into the hive this morning tons of bees . and some crawling on the ground not able to fly.went through every frame found only a 3 in sq of brood???  found no queen no eggs or larve. both supers and brood chamber seems to be packed with honey about half was capped. i removed 2 frames about half capped and replaced with 2 empty frames with foundation. put the removed frames in  the freezer. any ideas about whats going on.

[iddee]

Queen gone and no way to replace her.

Add a frame of eggs and open brood from another hive or buy a queen, or both.

[beesonhay465]

having advertised the bees and hives for sale had a possible buyer come by. he looked the situation over and was of the opinion that they had raised a queen who had mated and returned and the bees on the ground were drones [they were] and were being thrown out as the were not needed anymore. found one with marts almost ripped off. hive is quiet looking very normal.i think i will wait and see .lots of bees and stores. 

[iddee]

Very possible, but I would still add a frame of eggs and open brood. First, in case they do need to raise a queen, second, to boost the young population if they don't.

[beesonhay465]

spoke with the local bee supply store owner . he thinks its too late for them to make a queen and get going enough to survive the winter. i thinks so too. can get a new queen next wed.
i thought i might try to combine this hive with the other 2 hives that would give me a double deep with three supers and a single deep with 3  supers. please does any one have a thought on this?   

[Robo]

too late?   You have plenty of drawn comb and honey (and pollen?) it is not late at all.   I would do as Iddee suggested and put a frame off eggs/young larvae in the hive and in the meantime order your new queen.   In 24 hrs if they haven't started making queen cells than they have a virgin or newly mated queen who hasn't started laying.  If there is still capped brood then the replacement queen window has not closed yet.   If you don't do the egg/larvae test you could very well be throwing away your money on a new queen that they kill.    It also will give them a boost of young bees as Iddee stated.

[Acebird]

Yeah, too late?  Be leary of salesman.

[Ben Framed]

iddee gave you good advice with Robos' backing. I agree with both. I hope this works out for you beesonhay. Let us know the outcome.