New Hive Two Weeks, Good or Bad

[GerryL]

Hi everyone, I got my one package, for my one hive on the 15th. I checked the queen cage three days later, she was out. I then pulled frames 5-6 days later and 3-4 frames were drawn out I could see the brood eggs some honey etc...I pulled frames again today the 16th day. Not much more has been drawn maybe 4-5 frames, and I didn't notice the eggs or larvae as much. (although I must admit the first time I took pictures and when blown up, were much more detailed) this time I didn't. But it seems to me It should have been further along. I also noticed on one of the middle frames a couple of bee hive looking cells which I assume are queen cells. I am feeding with a top bucket witch Has been refilled for the second time.

Should I be concerned that more frames are not drawn?

Are a few queen cells normal?

Does it take this long to draw (trees just budding here in Maine)?

Might I have lost my queen and slowed things down?
Your thoughts would be appreciated.

[Understudy]

You are way north of me so this may be a factor.
Are they bringing in pollen?
If not they they may need a pollen patty to help them and encourage them.
Are the blooms open?
If they are still taking sugar water from your feeders it would seem to me that there is not enough nectar.
What have the tempratures been?
If it is to cold, and I hope by now it has warmed up, they will not fly.

If you do not see lots of capped brood you may have an issue.

Sincerely,
Brendhan

[thegolfpsycho]

They won't build comb unless they need it.  If your package is only 2 weeks old, 4 to 5 frames isn't too bad.  The brood nest can't expand until there are enough bees to cover it, and your package is probably still dwindleing.  After the 3-4 week mark, should start seeing some growth that should accelerate.  There is a time frame that it takes them to reach critical mass, and the first emerging bees just replace the ones that have kicked.

[buzzbee]

As far as the queen cells,we installed a package in our observation hive April 2nd.
I have seen them building queen cells right from the start only to be torn back down and now that brood has been emerging I only see worker and drone cells now!

[Brian D. Bray]

Sometimes the bees will build the beginnings of queens cells and just leave them.  I consider them an insurance olicy against unexpected queen loss.  Othertimes, for whatever reason, they bees decide to supercede the queen that came with the package almost immediately.  In this I case I presume the queen was defective in some way or was reared in wax that had high chemical concentrations to make her unacceptable to the workers. 

In either case the bees will sort it out.

[GerryL]

Thanks Brendan, Buzzbee and Brian.

No Brendan no blooms here yet. Temps in the fifty's. I think I just have to wait and See, next week may tell. I'll take some pictures to give me a closer Look. My first hive, I'm a bit nervous and want to do things right. All you guys and gals are great. Thanks for your expertise.