Q cell question...

[Gibbus]

Is dropping a Q cell in a colony that is being kept temporarily 'quiet' by open brood (and refusing to make a queen) any different than dropping a cell in a Q-less nuc?

[Broke-T]

No different. But if you have given them young open brood and they refuse to make queen cells then they think they are queen right. Look for a virgin.

Johnny

[Gibbus]

Thanks!
I've been keeping them going for about two weeks, and though they're pretty quick and sneaky, I dont think there's a virgin. (In their defense, it's old comb, so they're not really inclined to draw a queen), but I didnt know if the open brood scent would interfere with a cell.

[Michael Bush]

It usually takes two weeks for a virgin to get mated and laying and sometimes it takes three weeks...

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm