[drumgool]

Yesterday I done a cutout on couple of frameless hive bodies that a swarmed had move into. It was a big mess. This was my first cut out, and I learned a few things the hard way. I am not for sure I got the Queen or
I may have killed her. what do I need to look for the next few days to tell if this hive is queenless or not? If so how long to wait to introduce a new queen.

 

[Michael Bush]

I wouldn't. I'd let them raise a queen from their own larvae if they are queenless. The genetics are the most valuable asset you get from a cutout.

 

[drumgool]

Michael

Thanks for the advise. How long should it be before I should see queen cells? I watched a few vids on you tube about how to do a cut out. I have to admit I was a bit overwhelmed with this being my first time. This was a large colony, I know I made some mistakes but I also learned a few things also. I just don't want to loose this colony. Thanks Again.

 

[cwood6_10]

Is this your only hive? The reason I ask is that you could add them to another hive. Just a thought.
You should see queen cups in about 3 days or so. Did you make sure you got 1-3 day old eggs in with them so they can make a new queen?

Some advise on cut outs.... I have done a lot of them and this year I have become very successful with them going from 3 hive to 12 as of now.
Find the bees and open the wall...
I smoke them and they will clump up somewhere and this part is the tricky part. They may go somewhere where you can't get to them very well. Try and smoke them toward the outside so you can access them.
Next, cut out all the comb and separate into brood and honey. Remember honey is money!
I throw my brood away but you don't have to. I have never had great success keeping old stuff.
Next, brush the bees into a container and then dump them into a box. I have a bee box, a screen lid, and a solid bottom. This way they stay cool in transport. One you have gotten a lot of bees then watch them. They will follow the queen so be ready. You will usually see a trail of bees. Once you have found her scoop her in the box. If you can do this then it is game over.
I have had over a 70% success rate finding the queen this way. It would be way higher them most people.
Once you have her in the box they will all eventually follow.
If you can't find her then get as many bees as possible and I always add those bees to a smaller hive to increase number.

Watch out for sick bees. I don't run into them offer but be weary of home owners spraying them. I sometimes leave them in my transport box for a couple days to make sure them don't die from the homeowners neglect.

Just thought this might help.

 

[Michael Bush]

When I do a cutout, I don't even attempt to save the honey as it's too messy and too heavy. I don't attempt to salvage any new comb no matter what is in it as it's too fragile. I try to save as much brood as the bees I have in the box can cover and no more so the ants and wax moths and small hive beetles don't take over. I try to make sure that brood has at least some eggs and young larvae in it as well as emerging brood. That way they can make a queen if I missed the queen (sometimes you see her and sometimes you don't). Once they are queenless cells would be noticeable in 48 hours (they start them immediately and you might notice them in 24 hours if you looked hard enough). Adding some more brood (in case all of that got chilled) doesn't hurt. But if some of it got chilled, they may settle for an egg (which doesn't get chilled so easily) that may not hatch for four days...

 

[drumgool]

Thanks for the reply's
Well I started this thinking I knew what to do.Talking to you guys I missed a few things. I had a lot of brood but I did not check for 1-3 day old eggs. I did save a couple of frames of honey the rest I left for them to clean up. They where in a old hive that was couple of deeps with a medium samwhiched in between . The bottom Hive body had about 4 frames and that is all the frames there where. they had build come to the top cover. when I got started I had a gap in my vail got stung in the neck about 15-20 times. I walked away got set up and came back I also found out bee gloves are not bee proof gloves. I dug in and finished the job but I was in a hurry so I did not check every thing I should have. I had a game plan all that went out the door after getting stung over 30 times. Like I said I learned some stuff the hard way. I know I have about 5 frames of brood , but I am not for sure I have 1-3 day eggs. thanks for all the advise. Know that I got this experience I will be better prepared next time. Than for the help guys.

 

[cwood6_10]

If you did get that many frames of brood their is a good chance you did. Have hope and check in a couple days!