Author Topic: Queenless hives (Read 7924 times)

rodmaker · « **on:** March 12, 2014, 06:25:07 pm »

My first check of the year revealed two hives with no queen so on feb 27 i gave each hive a frame of brood eggs to capped brood on march 6 i checked and no queen cells so i gave each hive another frame of brood . Checked on march 8 and both hives started building queen cells checked again today and one hive had two capped queen cells the other hive had one capped and one open with larva in it. My question is will the bees accept a new queen as both of these hives had a laying worker? I had read that a worker would quit laying after she had brood to care for. There are plenty of drones in my hives so that is not a concern. I have heard it is very hard to save a hive once it had a laying worker. Any Ideas or comments will be appreciated thank you.

Perry · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2014, 07:27:29 pm »

I believe it is the pheromones of of open brood that might suppress laying workers. The fact that they are raising queens cells is very encouraging. Sometimes it takes more than once placing a frame of open brood to get them to raise a queen, so it sort of fits in to what you describe happening.

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2014, 07:34:49 pm »

I have never had much luck getting a laying worker hive to make a queen cell from a brood frame with eggs or introducing a new queen. You may have got lucky but time will tell. I hope it works out for you, i don't find it worth the time or effort any more, i now just dump all the bees out about 50ft. from where there hive was and take the hive home. Any worker bee that wants to work will find a new home and the drones are welcome in any hive they chose anyway. Jack

barry42001 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2014, 09:34:41 pm »

the only thing I gotta ask is, assuming you didn't go into the winter months with an old queen, what would have killed her off and not the cluster? let alone killed several Queens in different hives. dont understand that. inferior Queens inferior genetics what?

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LazyBkpr · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2014, 09:41:05 pm »

Perry pretty much answered it.. As far as i know... IF.. they make queen cells they will be good, its getting a hive with laying workers to accept an introduced queen that is mostly impossible.. if they make their own they will have a queen.. Job WELL done!!

apisbees · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2014, 04:39:01 am »

Quote from: barry42001 on March 12, 2014, 09:34:41 pm

the only thing I gotta ask is, assuming you didn't go into the winter months with an old queen, what would have killed her off and not the cluster? let alone killed several Queens in different hives. dont understand that. inferior Queens inferior genetics what?

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The beekeeper in doing late fall of early inspections killing or damaging the queen. Running out of sperm. Reduced pheromones especially when not laying brood and the bees not attending to her adequately. Split clusters and the part with the queen starves the the part that stayed in contact with the food survives with out the queen.

tecumseh · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2014, 04:57:51 am »

I would add excess cold temperature and a small worker population to Apis list of likely suspect < this would logically lead to the queens becoming too cold and the sperm being damaged in the process.

Bakersdozen · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2014, 08:08:26 am »

I had a laying worker hive a few years back. I did a shake out. In a few weeks you can do a split from your remaining hives and introduce a queen then.

rodmaker · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2014, 10:46:15 am »

Thank you for all the advise and encouragement . Both these hives had queens in december they were first year hives started from packages april 2013. When i added brood i also added the bees that were on the frame used sugar syrup with pro health to help mask pheromones. I should have new queens in seven more days and will pot when i see new queen and eggs. Keeping my fingers crossed they will not kill new queen either way it is a good learning experience .

brooksbeefarm · « **Reply #9 on:** March 13, 2014, 10:57:49 am »

And will pot when i see new queen??? Jack

rodmaker · « **Reply #10 on:** March 13, 2014, 11:09:30 am »

Post i missed one letter.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #11 on:** March 13, 2014, 12:47:48 pm »

ahhh, I was thinking your bee suit would be messy when you saw the new queen..

I have not tried multiple frames of brood at different times until it finally works, but it is something I read can sometimes work. After a first try I usually shake them out and move a couple frames with bees into the hive along with a new queen... of course depending on WHEN I realize whats going on.. if in august I count it as gone, shake them out and remove their hive. Maybe put a weak colony where that hive was.
Your success will give me enough confidence to give it a go.

rodmaker · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2014, 03:32:22 pm »

One of the hives queen hatched today and killed other queen by chewing through side of cell she looked good to me . Will not open this hive for another two weeks. Other hive queen has not hatched yet should be tomorrow.

riverbee · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2014, 07:57:39 pm »

very cool!!!

rodmaker · « **Reply #14 on:** March 21, 2014, 09:23:00 pm »

Queen hatched in the other hive so both hives now have queens . Now just crossing fingers they make it back from mating flights and start laying going to be a long couple of weeks.

tecumseh · « **Reply #15 on:** March 21, 2014, 10:17:30 pm »

Are we there yet..... well almost.....

rodmaker · « **Reply #16 on:** March 29, 2014, 05:32:48 pm »

Was out sitting watching the girls fly and saw something out of the ordinary in front of one of the hives that was rearing a queen and i was lucky enough to see the new queen. The bees were all over her in an excited way and i moved closer for a peek and saw the new queen moving about on the landing area and then disappear into the hive. This happened at 2:20 pm my time so i am hoping she was returning from a mating flight. I think i may be one step closer to a queen right hive.

LazyBkpr · « **Reply #17 on:** March 29, 2014, 05:38:30 pm »

and.... you didn't have your camera with you...

:'(

I never have the camera with me when I need it.. when I do have it.. I see something worthy of filming/pictures, but its DONE by the time I turn the camera on and focus....

Glad to hear this news RodMaker.. Keep us updated!!

Jen · « **Reply #18 on:** March 29, 2014, 05:54:49 pm »

Wohahaow! Now that would have made my day

Now you and Ziffa have the coolest queen stories. Her's with bumbing a queen cell and having the queen walk out onto her hand ~ Super Cool You Guys!

riverbee · « **Reply #19 on:** March 29, 2014, 10:32:00 pm »

"Was out sitting watching the girls fly and saw something out of the ordinary in front of one of the hives that was rearing a queen and i was lucky enough to see the new queen. The bees were all over her in an excited way and i moved closer for a peek and saw the new queen moving about on the landing area and then disappear into the hive."

how very AWESOME was that?!!!