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172 Posts
Hey guys and gals -
I was able to open my two hives today thanks to some warm weather - one hive was almost dead ( as I suspected - only found about 100 bees ) - and as I went through the frames - I found a small amount of dead brood in various stages of development - no active eggs or eggs period - but I actually found the queen alive and actively moving - because my other hive is very strong, I figured I would attempt a split by removing 2 or 3 frames of brood from the strong hive and putting in the weak hive with queen - as I started to put the first frame of brood in, I noticed the queen on the outside of the hive entrance crawling around - I moved around to try to coax her back inside and of course I instead scared her and she took flight - she flew around the entrance area for several seconds as if orienting herself then away she went. I doubt she could have locked onto the hives location in the short amount of time she was near it - at least I don't think so - just wondering what you all think . I went ahead and left the frame of brood in the weak hive. Hopefully they wont be wasted bees - unfortunately I have seen No drones in either hive, so even if they make a new queen I doubt she will find any suitors this time of year. Should I be looking to buy a new queen in order to split my strong hive? Does anyone know of anyplace that sells laying queens this early in the season?
I was able to open my two hives today thanks to some warm weather - one hive was almost dead ( as I suspected - only found about 100 bees ) - and as I went through the frames - I found a small amount of dead brood in various stages of development - no active eggs or eggs period - but I actually found the queen alive and actively moving - because my other hive is very strong, I figured I would attempt a split by removing 2 or 3 frames of brood from the strong hive and putting in the weak hive with queen - as I started to put the first frame of brood in, I noticed the queen on the outside of the hive entrance crawling around - I moved around to try to coax her back inside and of course I instead scared her and she took flight - she flew around the entrance area for several seconds as if orienting herself then away she went. I doubt she could have locked onto the hives location in the short amount of time she was near it - at least I don't think so - just wondering what you all think . I went ahead and left the frame of brood in the weak hive. Hopefully they wont be wasted bees - unfortunately I have seen No drones in either hive, so even if they make a new queen I doubt she will find any suitors this time of year. Should I be looking to buy a new queen in order to split my strong hive? Does anyone know of anyplace that sells laying queens this early in the season?