>Today was the 4th day. I'm supposed to look for capped queen cells and destroy them
You can. I wouldn't.
>the queen cell larvae were the size of puffed wheat and the smallest larvae I could see were smaller than a grain of rice. Is that about right?
Sounds about right. The queen would have been started from four day old (from when they were laid) larvae and some of the brood will be from just laide eggs, four days behind. AND the queen larvae get better feed.
>The new hive sounds different. I don't think I can qualify the difference. They act different on the comb too. As to business I assume that those that had been out before the split just went back to the parent hive and the new hive is young bees that don't know any different. I did notice a couple of bees returning to the new hive today which means to me that a few have perhaps ventured out.
The new hive is differnt. First, it's queenless. Second it has a different population spread. The oldest bee in the new hive is a young bee because the older bees migrated back to the old hive.
>Now I wonder if I should put one back on the parent hive to push all those bees into making new comb.
That's a option. If there's a dearth it may be worth considering. But be aware it may set off robbing. I'd probably reduce all the entrances before feeding.
>1. Do my (their) queen cells sound to be in the right stage for the time period? (Split Sat. noonish observed Wed. 17:30ish)
They should be capped today. Check.
>2. Is there a difference I should be able to see in queenrightedness at the entrance or is my observation due the young bee theory?
It's some of both.
>3. Should I worry about the new hive and its water intake to the point of feeding or will the young'ns soon be gathering their own? (They still have plenty of honey.)
They will gather their own.
>4. Should I feed the parent hive to push comb building?
Is there a dearth? Or a flow?
You can. I wouldn't.
>the queen cell larvae were the size of puffed wheat and the smallest larvae I could see were smaller than a grain of rice. Is that about right?
Sounds about right. The queen would have been started from four day old (from when they were laid) larvae and some of the brood will be from just laide eggs, four days behind. AND the queen larvae get better feed.
>The new hive sounds different. I don't think I can qualify the difference. They act different on the comb too. As to business I assume that those that had been out before the split just went back to the parent hive and the new hive is young bees that don't know any different. I did notice a couple of bees returning to the new hive today which means to me that a few have perhaps ventured out.
The new hive is differnt. First, it's queenless. Second it has a different population spread. The oldest bee in the new hive is a young bee because the older bees migrated back to the old hive.
>Now I wonder if I should put one back on the parent hive to push all those bees into making new comb.
That's a option. If there's a dearth it may be worth considering. But be aware it may set off robbing. I'd probably reduce all the entrances before feeding.
>1. Do my (their) queen cells sound to be in the right stage for the time period? (Split Sat. noonish observed Wed. 17:30ish)
They should be capped today. Check.
>2. Is there a difference I should be able to see in queenrightedness at the entrance or is my observation due the young bee theory?
It's some of both.
>3. Should I worry about the new hive and its water intake to the point of feeding or will the young'ns soon be gathering their own? (They still have plenty of honey.)
They will gather their own.
>4. Should I feed the parent hive to push comb building?
Is there a dearth? Or a flow?