View Full Version : Queen a partial swarm?
notaclue
07-04-2005, 01:10 AM
I'm asking all around for advise.
I have the opportunity to get a partial swarm. By partial I mean more than half of the swarm was recovered...a small amount had taken off. Those that stayed behind have no queen and after inspection appear to be active and pest free, they just don't have direction. Should I try and order an Italian Queen or have the other beekeeper (couple months newer than me and I have no hive, but am getting time with her girls when she works them) try and combine them?
notaclue
07-04-2005, 01:20 AM
SORRY! I, I, I, I (not stuttering) am a few months newer than SHE is. Sorry. Plus I forgot some other info and a question. She has queen cells that are at least two weeks along in another hive that she attempted to requeen about three-and-a-half weeks ago. Can we cut one of the queen cells out and put it in the swarm nuc and hope for the best? I have the feeling, having just spent some time looking for queens, that I won't find any unless we have a spare one locally. Thanks again. David
tecumseh
07-04-2005, 05:13 AM
at this point of the season (I am assuming the main flow is over in Arkansas) you would probably be well advised to rejoin the partial swarm with an existing hive. you can move the queen cells, but if they are two weeks old you have very little time in which to take action.
good luck...
Oxankle
07-04-2005, 10:18 AM
The hive depending on emergency cells has been without a queen for two weeks and so will have no young brood. It will benefit from combination with the partial swarm.
If you have only a partial swarm you would at best get a weak hive if you gave them a queen cell.
Better to combine.
Robert Hawkins
07-04-2005, 05:59 PM
If you don't have any bees and you have time and patience, I would try it with a queen from somewhere. Only because it MAY make it through the winter. Chances are slim, but it's possible. All of us usually don't try a swarm in July. But I would go for global warming and say we could have a milder winter than 2004. Are all the queencells in her hive on the same frame. It's always better to take the entire frame and put it in your swarms hive.
Because of the way you started your post I figured you wanted all opinions. Good Luck.
Hawk