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Two days ago I pulled a good-looking uncapped swarm cell from one of my best honey hives and put in a nuc box with the idea of raising up a queen from this cell. This hive has been booming all spring...would like more queens like this. Added some honey, pollen, and frame capped brood -- all with clinging nurse bees, which I oh-so-carefully checked to make sure queen wasn't on..... Today I opened nuc to add better frame of pollen and found fresh eggs in the nuc.
I think I must have pulled the queen from my best hive, which I was attempting to manage for honey production. :-(
Is there a way to correct my screw up? I very much wanted to keep the big hive producing honey as our flow is just starting. Plus, we are having stormy weather, so it could be Sunday (2 more days) before I can open any hives. Argh. Any advice on how to get the royal back to her big hive (if that will be possible after 4 days)? Any better suggestions?
Feeling foolish...
4th year; 8 hives, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC
I think I must have pulled the queen from my best hive, which I was attempting to manage for honey production. :-(
Is there a way to correct my screw up? I very much wanted to keep the big hive producing honey as our flow is just starting. Plus, we are having stormy weather, so it could be Sunday (2 more days) before I can open any hives. Argh. Any advice on how to get the royal back to her big hive (if that will be possible after 4 days)? Any better suggestions?
Feeling foolish...
4th year; 8 hives, Blue Ridge Mountains, NC