Queenless hive Help

[electroman277]

I have a queenless hive and need some help. I placed some eggs in the hive this afternoon in hopes they will make their own queen. My question is   should I let them make their on hopefully or should I just go ahead and purchase one? The other two hives have drones in them for matting but not sure for how much longer. I have noticed some others say it might to late in the year for getting a good matting flight. :'(

[apisbees]

The should be OK. This is the best time of the year for mating flights It is then bees make increases themselves in nature thru swarming.

[LazyBkpr]

I would think that even in Georgia you should have a good drone population at this time.

   The considerations;
   A mated queen will be laying in a week or so.  Then 21 days to new emerging bees.
   A raised queen will take them 16 days or so, another week or more for mating flights and to get laying, and then 21 days to new emerging bees.

   So to reach the same point a mated queen will be at in a week, it will take a month to raise a queen.   If your OK with that loss of time then raising a queen is a valid option. If your in dire straits for honey, the mated queen will have your hive back on track faster.

[electroman277]

Thanks for the information. If I decide to buy a matted queen did I mess up by placing the eggs into the hive this afternoon?

[LazyBkpr]

you will have to remove any and "ALL" queen cells they start when you introduce the queen.

[pistolpete]

Don't assume that the queen cells will only be on the frame that you introduced.   They could already have some on the go in a hidden corner of the hive.