mateing nucs in swarm prep?

[MichaelW]

Hello,

Yesterday I moved 2 frame medium mating nucs out of their box and put them in the box I plan to hive them in. Some of these nucs had developed more rapidly than I thought they would and had capped or fully developed larvae. About 4 out of 8 had almost capped queen cells and one of these 4 had a capped queen cell. All of these also had eggs, so they had a mated queen when they started these queen cells. (I was unable to find the queen in any of these, but I'm sure she is there. I haven't gotten good practice IDing young queens)

Is it normal to find mating nucs building queen cells after they get a queen mated?

[Velbert]

Hi MichaelW

The Young Queens Usally carrie their tails a little higher and not draging them also they move quicker across the comb and their wings are usally not tattered from wear (but)Some young Queens have had some tattered wings after being treated rought by the bees from being introduces into a colonie,Expecially if they are marked with color pins or paint The bees know it dont belong there and i have see them keep the Queen pin down trying to remove the marking of paint

Velbert

[Michael Bush]

>Is it normal to find mating nucs building queen cells after they get a queen mated?

No. If they have a good laying queen they won't be building queen cells.

[MichaelW]

Thanks Velbert, I was in fact looking for a queen dragging her tail across the comb.

MB
Then I don't know why so many were building queen cells. With all the eggs and larvae, I think they had to have a queen. Perhapse my suspicition is correct that my homegrown muts are genetically predisposed to swarm. Cought 2 this weekeend.

[Michael Bush]

They could be overcrowded (before the transfer) but I would think moving them to a larger box would relieve it.

All bees are predisposed to swarm. smile.gif

[MichaelW]

Scraped more queen cells from one of the nucs. I went ahead and found them some more drawn comb, but its mostly full of nectar. :rolleyes:

[Michael Bush]

I'd give them some room and maybe make some splits. Queens are good. smile.gif

[MichaelW]

Yes queens are good, but I've split the hives down to bare bones. I had trouble finding even one frame of capped brood in anything yesterday to give the new 2 frame nucs, so I just gave them comb with nectar and adhering bees. Still have more virgins mating. I didn't think I would have too many queens this year! smile.gif

[BerkeyDavid]

Michael, congrats that is a good problem to have. Maybe you can evaluate them carefully and pick the best ones, pinch off the rest!