I have a hive that I requeened some time ago and marked and clipped the queen and I dont think the hive accepted her, but if they did I wondered if she was mated when I got her after her not laying eggs for some time. I dont think that queen remains in the hive, I have never spotted her over several inspections since. However I see a few eggs in drone cells only, but zero eggs in any of the normal worker cells. Is this a laying worker phenomena or is my queen hiding out on me and only laying drone eggs?
Only Drone Cell Eggs
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
You requeened some time ago and have seen no queen since. could well be that your queen was mismated therefore will only lay drone eggs. You should requeen as soon as possible after you ensure you have have no queen. Also since its been some time since you've had worker brood activity, it would help to give this hive a frame of eggs and worker brood (from another hive with bees shaken off). Young worker bees are more acceptable of a new queen than field bees. If you don't have a honey flow,youmight try some 1.1 syprup in a hivetop feeder. Wish you good luck.
The problem at this point is you may have a queen or not. You may have laying workers or not. Look for multiple eggs in cells. Particularly worker cells or on pollen. Look for a queen. Give them some open brood (like hanginin says) and see what they do. If they are queenless they will start queen cells. There's a fair chance even if they have a queen and she's not fertile, they may start queen cells. If they raise a queen, they will resolve the problem. If they don't you may have to take things into your own hands, which may include shaking out the hive (to get rid of any queens and discourage the bees from accepting the laying workers) and give them some brood again. Once they are raising queen cells, you can let them or you can introduce a queen (after you get rid of the queen cells).
1 - 4 of 4 Posts
