can't find any queens

[ccar2000]

Well, I just moved two five frame nucs into my two deep brood boxes. It's been a week. I checked them for the first time and this is what's up. I could not locate either queen when moving them into the brood boxes or on this inspection. Maybe I just did not see them since they are not marked and I am a beginner? I have been feeding 1:1 syrup since they moved in. The right hive uses almost a quart a day. The left, a little more that a half a quart. The right hive has eggs, centered and looking as has been described so, I guess there is a queen there. The left one no new eggs. Both have brood chewing their way out. The one on the right has been drawing out comb on the inner most face of two frames. The left has not been drawing new comb. The Beek that provided the nucs put a medium frame of nectar in each. The right hive has been extending it down pretty much straight. The left one has drawn some wax that looks like it may be queen cells but they are not as "smooth" on the sides as the pictures I have seen. With no new eggs is it possible for them to be raising a queen? Should I be thinking about getting a new queen? The weather in my area is still in the 90s for a couple more months. They are bringing in pollen, I see it on their legs. Wow, that is a lot said. Let me know if I need to post more info. Does anyone have an idea on what I should do? Thanks in advance for the advice.

[Drake]

Me too, I found no queens when I first moved my nucs frames from the nuc box to the hive stands. I think its a common thing with new beekeeps, honestly I got my nucs last spring and just now found a queen! They say it gets easier and easier with experince. I was told if you see a good brood pattern, you have a good queen. I feed my hives till they stopped taking and found thier own sources of pollen and necture.

Sorry for not much help,

drake

[ccar2000]

Thanks Drake,
I am thinking that since there are no eggs I may need to just go ahead and requeen. It just dont know if it would be better or worse to wait another week or so. Its about $20 I believe. I was thinking about getting a Buckfast from out there in Texas.

[Drake]

As a beginner keep I would suggest try feeding them a week and see how they do, maybe they needed more food? If both nucs are weak, you may want to combine them and get another nuc this coming spring. I am not sure how much time you have before your nectar flow ends.

Also, keep in mind, I am a new keep as well and still learning things and facing a similar problem with one of my hives (appears to have a spotty laying queen, this was the queen I was able to find because there was not that many other bees in the way.)

drake

[ccar2000]

I appreciate that you have already gone down the road ahead of me and can share your experience. I am willing to feed syrup as long as necessary. I am assuming the right one that is using a quart a day is doing pretty well. Thanks again for your advice.

[AR Beekeeper]

If you add a frame of eggs/larvae to the nuc you suspect of being queenless and then check it in four days for started queencells, you will know for sure if you need to purchase a queen.

[ccar2000]

All I have to work with is the two nucs I just moved in a week ago. I think the weaker hive is creating queen cells on the bottom of a medium frame that was given with the nuc. But they are not as smooth on the outside as the pictures I have seen. They look like very shallow comb wrapping. By swaping one of the five starter frames will it weaken the one that is doing well? If not then I guess it is as easy as brushing all of the bees back into their own hive before moving frames. Then culling the queen cells until a new queen is delivered and introduced? I still have a couple of months of good weather left.

[ccar2000]

I finally saw the queen in both hives. It looks like all is going well. Comb is drawn out in 75% of the frames. Bees boiling up out of the frames when I remove the cover on both hives. There are frames that are very heavy with syrup. I just installed top feeders and pollen patties. We will see how it goes from here. Thanks for the encouragement and advice. This is a most interesting hobby.

[brooksbeefarm]

Many times i look for the queen in nuc's and can't find her on the frames, she will be on the inside wall of the nuc or running on the bottomboard so be real carefull when replacing the frames back into the nuc. Some queens are runners. Good luck. Jack

[franktrujillo]

I have a observation hive and she has stopped laying tring to conserve food stores.I'm new as well I can find her throught the day as she still walking around..This time of year seems everyone is starting to stress out ill keep :popcorn: