How long to wait for a Virgin...

Started by damienpryan, October 18, 2020, 09:31:49 PM

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damienpryan

October 18, 2020, 09:31:49 PM
Hi Guys,

I've caught 3 swarms 7-14 days ago...
One of the new colonies shows no sign of a queen (no eggs, cannot find her) but is busy building comb etc.

I'm guessing it is a virgin queen swarm.

How long should I wait for her to start laying?
And if she doesn't, should I just combine it into one of the new colonies.
(I have too many hives anyway...)

Cheers

Damien

TheHoneyPump

#1
October 19, 2020, 07:22:19 PM Last Edit: October 19, 2020, 08:52:47 PM by TheHoneyPump
Queen from scratch (larvae):   22-28 days to laying.  Longer if weather is poor for mating flights. 

Queen from virgin stage:  8-16 days to laying.  Longer if weather is poor.

Hope that helps!
When the lid goes back on, the bees will spend the next 3 days undoing most of what the beekeeper just did to them.

damienpryan

#2
October 26, 2020, 03:58:30 AM
Found her...

She's started laying...

TheHoneyPump

#3
October 26, 2020, 04:43:12 PM
Congratulations! 
When the lid goes back on, the bees will spend the next 3 days undoing most of what the beekeeper just did to them.

Michael Bush

#4
November 02, 2020, 03:06:35 PM
To answer the original question a queen has 21 days from when she emerges to get mated.  After that she will become a drone layer if she gets mated.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Beelab

#5
November 04, 2020, 06:21:43 AM
Thanks Michael B. Always wondered about that.
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