Okay to shake bees off frame with eggs?

I hope so. I've done it quit a bit. That's the best way for me to see if there's fresh eggs.

Shouldn't hurt the eggs. Don't shake a frame with queen cells though, could damage the developing queen. You could gently brush them off with a bee brush if you're really worried about the eggs.

Gently blow on the area you want to check for eggs and bees will scatter.

Thanks. I moved a frame today from one hive to another that I was 100% confident had a nice fist-sized patch of eggs on one side. I gently shook off / brushed off the bees to make sure I didn't accidentally move the queen. But when I got the frame to the recipient hive, I couldn't spot a single egg. I held the frame in a variety of positions relative to me and sun. I guess I'll check in a couple of days and know! Bizarre.

ginkgo said:

Can eggs in cells withstand a few very gentle shakes of the frame? Are eggs anchored to the bottom of the cell in some way? Thanks.

Click to expand...

Yes.

ginkgo said:

Can eggs in cells withstand a few very gentle shakes of the frame? Are eggs anchored to the bottom of the cell in some way? Thanks.

Click to expand...

I do all the time with no problems. That is as long as the queen isn't on the frame, then i put her off first. The brood hatches, develops and emerges just fine. IMO it's easier than dealing with the brushing of bees. Seems like it just makes them mad at me when I try that. But shaking does the trick every time... If you are looking for eggs, blow on the bees and they will move till you can see below..