Not sure what's happening

[tedh]

Hey Everyone,
About the 10th of July a friend told me he was concerned about 1 of his hives because it had no brood for 2 weeks.  I figured it swarmed and a new queen would be laying soon but he was worried so we put a frame of mixed brood and eggs in while I explained if they were queenless they'd build a queen cell and if queen right they wouldn't. A week or so later there were no queen cells and brood only on the frame we put in.  Okay, so another frame of mixed brood and eggs went in.  A week or so later no queen cells and brood only on that frame. We ended up putting in 2 more frames of mixed brood and eggs about 3 weeks or so back.  No brood at all and certainly no queen cells.  They look healthy although there were some SHB and they sounded and acted quite content. I'm lost on this one.  We'll add one more frame of mixed brood.  The guy asked what we'd do if there was still nothing next time and my responce was "We'll go through the hive untill we find a queen or are sure there's not one in there". What do you guys think is going on?  Ted

[The15thMember]

Did you check for laying workers?  Also, how has the weather been lately?  Is it possible they had a new queen who couldn't get out to mate and she just hasn't started laying drones yet? 

[tedh]

Avoiding laying workers was one of the reasons we kept adding the open brood.  No brood at all, drones or otherwise, other than what we put in. I really thought it was a virgin queen when this started but no. The weather has been okay for mating flights although very warm.  The bees seem to think they're queen right but the evidence points to no.  I saw no signs of laying workers or queen activity.  We intend to push them into a single 10 frame deep as their numbers have decreased and add yet another frame of eggs, but, if that doesnt work I'm not sure how to proceed. My thought is if there is a "under preforming" queen the bees would have replaced her, they've had lots of opportunities. Ted

[Bakersdozen]

This may be a case where you need to combine it with another colony and hope for a spring split.  Of course, that's after you find the queen or decide she's gone.

[Zweefer]

I’m curious as to the frames… Were they old reused wax? Possibly a contamination that kept the queen from laying if she was there? I have one last year that went through three queens, same situation I purchased them to guarantee mated status, and they still wouldn’t lay… caught the last queen, replaced the frames, and all was well…  for what it’s worth, those frames and come from a box that a mouse or rat had got into the previous winter…

[Jen]

One simple answer would be to intro a newly purchased laying queen. I don't know about your weather, but at this time of year in our territory, it would take 6 weeks or more to get a properly mated queen beings there are much fewer drones this time of year, in addition to unpredictable weather.

I like Bakers idea of combining as well.

[tedh]

It sounds like we're agreed that since no laying workers appear to be present there must be a queen in there somewhere, right? The comb is older and I believe he got the equipment from his father who attempted beekeeping several years back so Zweef you may be on to something. I'll pass this info on, thanks Everyone.  Ted
 

[Bakersdozen]

It sounds like we're agreed that since no laying workers appear to be present there must be a queen in there somewhere, right? The comb is older and I believe he got the equipment from his father who attempted beekeeping several years back so Zweef you may be on to something. I'll pass this info on, thanks Everyone.  Ted

Toxic mystery comb?  Sounds like the problem.  Does the hive owner have empty drawn comb to swap it out with?  Acquiring someone else's old equipment can be a gamble.

[The15thMember]

I’m curious as to the frames… Were they old reused wax? Possibly a contamination that kept the queen from laying if she was there? I have one last year that went through three queens, same situation I purchased them to guarantee mated status, and they still wouldn’t lay… caught the last queen, replaced the frames, and all was well…  for what it’s worth, those frames and come from a box that a mouse or rat had got into the previous winter…

It sounds like we're agreed that since no laying workers appear to be present there must be a queen in there somewhere, right? The comb is older and I believe he got the equipment from his father who attempted beekeeping several years back so Zweef you may be on to something. I'll pass this info on, thanks Everyone.  Ted

Toxic mystery comb?  Sounds like the problem.  Does the hive owner have empty drawn comb to swap it out with?  Acquiring someone else's old equipment can be a gamble.

I agreed, that's a good thought, @Zweefer. 

[tedh]

I doubt he has drawn comb available.  I could give him some, which brings up a point. We've put at least 4 and possibly 5 frames of mixed brood into this hive. if its toxic comb wouldn't the queen, if she's there, be laying in the newer comb we introduced?

Jen, introducing a new mated queen is a good call but we want to be sure there's not a queen already in there.

[The15thMember]

I doubt he has drawn comb available.  I could give him some, which brings up a point. We've put at least 4 and possibly 5 frames of mixed brood into this hive. if its toxic comb wouldn't the queen, if she's there, be laying in the newer comb we introduced?

Jen, introducing a new mated queen is a good call but we want to be sure there's not a queen already in there.

So you have left all that new comb in there?  Then that's a strike against the theory.  Are those frames still open?  The bees didn't fill them up with stores, did they?

[iddee]

Yes, there is a queen in there. Find her and dispatch her.

[tedh]

15th, yes, we left the new combs in and yes they are backfilling them with stores (nectar).

Iddee, why havent the bees tried to supersede her?  Also, thanks, we'll locate and pinch her.