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Author Topic: latest time to requeen  (Read 5230 times)

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Offline DebNoble

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latest time to requeen
« on: July 22, 2016, 03:47:57 pm »
Another newbeek question: I made up a new nuc with capped Queen swarm cels just over a week ago... (after their original hive swarmed, then they came back home to the hive they left from!) I'm trying to be patient but there's still no evidence of a queen. I thought she'd be hatched by now. The Qcels are still there, still capped. The bees have been very busy building comb and storing nectar and pollen but are still queenless - no eggs, larva... I'm getting worried that they can't raise their own queen after all. What would be the latest time to requeen and still have time for them to build up before fall? Should I try to transfer a capped Queen cel from another hive(I use was-coated plastic foundation). I'm in southern Nova Scotia. Thanks
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Offline iddee

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2016, 05:39:21 pm »
A queen cell stays capped for 7 to 9 days. If they were capped when you put them in, 10 days later you can toss them. They aren't going to emerge.
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Offline Perry

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2016, 05:55:28 pm »
Hey Deb.
I am betting that you have a virgin in there running around. From the time a new queen emerges to the time you will find evidence of a queen could easily be 3 weeks.
Which other hive do you have capped queen cells in?  ???
Instead of transferring just a cell, you would be better off transferring the whole frame so as not to damage the cell.
If you lived closer I would just pop down and check it out for you. Are the bees calm and gentle, or are they "roaring" and upset when you inspect them? If they are bringing in pollen and all "seems" well, it probably is.
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Offline apisbees

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2016, 06:54:20 pm »
To add to what Iddee and Perry said a lot of times when a queen emerges the cap that the queen chews to open will stay attached in one place and the bees will close it and seal the empty cell back up. Did you leave a queen cell in the original hive also when you pulled the nuc out of the hive?
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Offline DebNoble

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2016, 08:09:36 pm »
Hey Perry, I wish you lived closer too but this forum is excellent! I hope you're right about the virgin queen - they do seem quite calm and very busy building comb and storing food... I'll try to be patient and not disturb them for a while. If there are no eggs in the nuc in about a week then maybe I can transfer a frame with more capped queen cells from my #2 hive (the one that I took the nuc from - they'd swarmed and returned) as you suggested, and try again! Thanks again :)
Thanks iddee and apisbees - Yes I did leave a couple of queen cells in the original hive after I pulled the nuc because I wasn't sure if the old queen was still around since I couldn't find her, or if she had been lost in the swarm that took off (and returned) from that hive. Also, I didn't know that the bees might reseal an opened queen cell after she emerges. Another intriguing idea to keep me on my toes lol!
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Offline apisbees

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2016, 11:42:33 pm »
wHAT SOMETIMES HAPPENS IS CELLS WITH DEVELOPING QUEENS ARE TORN DOWN WITH A HOLE IN THEIR SIDE WHERE THE QUEEN OR VIRGIN HAS KILLED THE OTHER VIRGIN QUEENS BEFORE THEY EMERGE BUT YOU WILL SEE A  what looks like a intact queen cell but the virgin is back laying but on close inspection you can see where the cell cap has been glued back on with propolis.
In most cases the swarm will only return if the queen is lost. I would go on the assumption that the main hive is\was queen less also until proven differently.
Sorry about the caps Cam Caplock!
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Offline rookie2531

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #6 on: July 23, 2016, 07:23:58 pm »
If you had/ have queen cells in the hive, stay out of if for 3-4 weeks. Too many intrusions on a new queen is bad. They may blame her for it and kill her, or virgins are runners and you may roll or squish her. Stay out until it's time to see larvae.
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Offline Perry

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #7 on: July 23, 2016, 08:42:51 pm »
Quote from: rookie2531 on July 23, 2016, 07:23:58 pm
If you had/ have queen cells in the hive, stay out of if for 3-4 weeks. Too many intrusions on a new queen is bad. They may blame her for it and kill her, or virgins are runners and you may roll or squish her. Stay out until it's time to see larvae.

That's actually pretty good advice. :yes:
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Offline DebNoble

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2016, 03:49:59 pm »
I will resist peeking then for a few weeks - but that's going to be hard!
If after a few weeks there's no new eggs/brood I guess I'll have to requeen?
 I hope it won't be too late to requeen in August if I need to?
I appreciate the advice!
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Offline Perry

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2016, 04:07:49 pm »
You can still requeen in August.
I know it's hard to resist going through your hives, that's why you got them. There is a solution for that though.....get more hives!
Get one for every day of the week and then you can peek in one every day. :) ;D
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Offline Lburou

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2016, 05:50:53 pm »
Quote from: Perry on July 24, 2016, 04:07:49 pm
.....get more hives!...Get one for every day of the week and then you can peek in one every day. :) ;D
That is my philosophy and it works for me!
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Offline tedh

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2016, 07:06:03 pm »
Josh and I did too!
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Offline apisbees

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Re: latest time to requeen
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2016, 07:10:06 pm »
The hard part about requeening in August is finding anybody that has any queens for sale. Most queen producers are packing up queen production and leaving the queens in nucs or singles to build up to over winter.
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