I have one hive of 6 that I am trying demaree method of swarm control on that I can never find the queen. The others will sometimes take a second time through the lower box (with QE over) to find her but this one box I usually end up shaking all of the bees to the lower box. Well yesterday I was 2 days late in getting to it due to some back and weather issues. I had about 6 or 7 in the top box (common) but the same in the lower box (uncommon). All QC capped. I placed a frame with a QC in each slot of a 4 way Bushkill mating queen castle with a frame of brood. I could not find the Queen still. I added one frame of brood each to the 4WQC and took the hive apart and still no. I was concerned that I had lost her to a swarm so left a nice cell in the lower box with some drawn comb.
Question: I have that hive split 5 ways, will they still swarm?
If I have placed the queen back in the mating nuc will it have a beard of bees on it today?
I did have small larvae and eggs in the hive so I figure she is still around in the last couple of days.
Question: I have that hive split 5 ways, will they still swarm?
If I have placed the queen back in the mating nuc will it have a beard of bees on it today?
I did have small larvae and eggs in the hive so I figure she is still around in the last couple of days.