This is my first spring in South Carolina with my one TBH and I have not been in the hive since December. I have a viewing window and checked on them often. But did not want to open up the hive do to the cold weather. The last time I inspected the hive (Early December) there were 6 bars of capped honey and two of capped and un-capped. about 15 of brood, larva, eggs, honey and pollen. Very few drones and no drone cells but momma bee was doing good. It is now April and it has been in the 70’s and 80’s all week so I Went in today for the first time and found that momma bee has been a busy girl. All but two of the Honey stores were empty and were now being filled with brood and lots of drone cells. Seems like there were more drones in the hive then workers. I found two queen cells one on the second to the last bar (from the entrance) and one in the middle of the brood chamber. The bees had filled up the entire top bar hive even behind the follower/feeder board. (must have found a hole)
Being My first spring and fearing a swarm, I decided to split the hive using another TBH I built over the winter. I went 50/50 on the honey and brood chamber and I plan on feeding both hives 1/1 sugar syrup until they no longer use it. I could not find the queen so I put one queen cell in each hive. My question is this, Did I just give both hives a death sentence or will the bees fix my mistake?
Second year learning curve
Thanks for any help
Being My first spring and fearing a swarm, I decided to split the hive using another TBH I built over the winter. I went 50/50 on the honey and brood chamber and I plan on feeding both hives 1/1 sugar syrup until they no longer use it. I could not find the queen so I put one queen cell in each hive. My question is this, Did I just give both hives a death sentence or will the bees fix my mistake?
Second year learning curve
Thanks for any help