Bird Hunting Maybe?

[brooksbeefarm]

For the past three years i've had to many nuc's end up queenless when the virgin queen goes on her maiden flight? Some may get lost,but not as many as i have ending up queenless? If i start 10 nuc's maybe 2 or 3 will ebd up with a queen? Many times i have found a newly hatched queen and when i check on them in 2 or 3 weeks they are queenless? Anyone else having this problem? Jack

[Les]

I am holding my breath on two hives with virgin queens too.  I'll be anxious to hear responses.

[tedh]

Last summer we had maybe half, 5 or 6, of our hives queenless for the better part of the season.  We'd add a frame of eggs, they'd build queen cells, we'd check back in 5 weeks, give it one more week, add eggs, they'd build queen cells, and it just went on and on like that.  This year 4 of the 4 nucs we started are up and running.  Made us feel cocky so we started 5 more.  Should be ready June 16th.  We thought about painting the landing boards different colors to help queenie locate the right hive but gave up on that idea after posting it.  Glad you're back brooksbeefarm.  You were missed and thought of frequently. Ted

[Mikey N.C.]

Wow, i haven't had that. Only two hives,  but do have a keepfriend that had wintered 4 hives with 2 ,10 frame deeps. I helped to split (for swarming)  wasn't any Q cells during split after split bees 2 days later.  They start to swarm, small swarms. Now he has 12 hives alot queenless as you said. Could be blue-jay or cat- bird

[Nugget Shooter]

Hmmmmm interesting question and we have a pair of fly catchers living in a Mesquite tree near the bee yard. Often we watch them snag a bee or two and now thinking on it a drone or queen would make a better meal. They are quite talented at grabbing the bees mid-air 

[Lburou]

I've had the same luck.  weather is a real factor where I live.  Wind is persistent and they frequently don't leave the hive to forage. :-/