Two Queen Hive

[heidip]

I've been reading many of the posts and it seems that a two queen hive isn't that unusual...my hive has had two queens for over a month now...they were even on the same frame today! (one on each side!) they're laying slowly, but we've had a strange winter and spring up here in the northeast. They didn't hibernate much because the weather was so mild. This will be the second spring for this hive. So, I guess I'm just checking in to know what others think of this scenario? They seem to be co-existing quite nicely...I'm hoping that once I have a good build up I can split the hive.  What do you think?

[Brian D. Bray]

I would evaluate the performances of the queens before deciding on a split.  Often when you have 2 queens in a hive you have 1 of 2 conditions.  A mother daugther team where the mother will be 86'd soon, or, a twin queen situation where it takes both queens to produce enough brood to keep the hive viable.  Other things to consider are laying patterns, hive strength of your 2 queen hive in comparrison with a single queen hive. 

If the 2 queens are not producing brood above the rate of a single queen I would say it is time to requeen completely.  If you chose to split w/o requeening you will end up with 2 weak hives, not 2 strong hives.   

[heidip]

yeah, I don't plan on splitting them any time soon...if ever,  I do indeed have a situation where there is really not any decent brood being laid. I'll investigate replacing the queen. Thanks.

[Ross]

On the other hand, you could take one queen, a frame of emerging brood, and a frame of honey and start a nuc without impacting the mother hive significantly.  Monitor both and see who is the real layer.  Maintain the other in the nuc for backup.

[Brian D. Bray]

I've found that if you have a brood supply problem with 2 queens you have next to none when the 2 queens are seperated.  I still recommend killing both poor performing queens and requeening.