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My largest 2 hives (one an overwintered hive, the other a new package) now have nothing but capped drone brood. On May 9 I pulled 2 frames of capped worker brood, 2 frames of stores (pollen and nectar) and the queen from the large overwintered hive, and put them in a separate box. I thought I had left behind a mixture of capped and uncapped worker brood, and believed the girls would make a queen. I figured I would see signs of a new queen around June 9.
My second largest hive, a new package, arrived on May 1. I released the queen; she walked in and down a frame, was greeted with 2 or 3 workers, with no hostility. I figured that since she had travelled with these girls, they were not about to suddenly turn hostile. About 2 weeks afterward I saw capped worker brood and capped drone brood. Today there is no worker brood, and much capped drone brood. To add a wrench to this story, on May 5 I shook out another hive which appeared to be a laying worker queenless hive. I shook them out in front of my largest hive. Some went into the large hive, but most took to the new package hive.
I am wondering if the laying workers which I shook out have turned these 2 hives into laying worker hives. I am considering shaking out both of these colonies, but this time moving the boxes about 100 feet away from the other hives before shaking out.
I would appreciate any advice on what should be my next course. By the way the "split" that has the incumbent queen is still queen-right and has some capped and uncapped worker brood; not doing great, but OK.
Phil
My second largest hive, a new package, arrived on May 1. I released the queen; she walked in and down a frame, was greeted with 2 or 3 workers, with no hostility. I figured that since she had travelled with these girls, they were not about to suddenly turn hostile. About 2 weeks afterward I saw capped worker brood and capped drone brood. Today there is no worker brood, and much capped drone brood. To add a wrench to this story, on May 5 I shook out another hive which appeared to be a laying worker queenless hive. I shook them out in front of my largest hive. Some went into the large hive, but most took to the new package hive.
I am wondering if the laying workers which I shook out have turned these 2 hives into laying worker hives. I am considering shaking out both of these colonies, but this time moving the boxes about 100 feet away from the other hives before shaking out.
I would appreciate any advice on what should be my next course. By the way the "split" that has the incumbent queen is still queen-right and has some capped and uncapped worker brood; not doing great, but OK.
Phil