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Queen Question

1226 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  CtyAcres
I am looking for some guidence on a newly established hive. This package was installed on April 27th. When I got them back home I realized the bees were not clustered around the queen. I figured she was dead. I installed them anyways and she turned out to bee ok. As time has gone on, the hive has not grown in size and yesterday when I took a close look I noticed zero brood and what looked to be 6 queens? Not sure if that is possible. I am pretty new at this and though I would turn to you for for help.
Thanks in advance.
Katie
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I am looking for some guidence on a newly established hive. This package was installed on April 27th. When I got them back home I realized the bees were not clustered around the queen. I figured she was dead. I installed them anyways and she turned out to bee ok. As time has gone on, the hive has not grown in size and yesterday when I took a close look I noticed zero brood and what looked to be 6 queens? Not sure if that is possible. I am pretty new at this and though I would turn to you for for help.
Thanks in advance.
Katie
I've seen double queens before, never heard of more than that. I would guess you are mistaking large drones as queens? Got any pictures? You have a problem of some kind, after 6 weeks you should have lots of capped brood, larva and eggs. I'm guessing you don't have a queen at all? Do you have some drawn comb for her to lay in, or have they filled it all with honey? I would suggest uploading some pictures if you can get them.
Good Luck
I am looking for some guidence on a newly established hive. This package was installed on April 27th. When I got them back home I realized the bees were not clustered around the queen. I figured she was dead. I installed them anyways and she turned out to bee ok. As time has gone on, the hive has not grown in size and yesterday when I took a close look I noticed zero brood and what looked to be 6 queens? Not sure if that is possible. I am pretty new at this and though I would turn to you for for help.
Thanks in advance.
Katie
Six loose queens or six queen cells?
"six queens" would most likely be six drones. Six queen cells, well, that's not out of the realm of possibility...
Katie- Those probably are drones you are seeing, which might mean a laying worker. If you have another hive, take a frame
of brood from it and place it in the hive. You will find out in a few days if its queenless, they'll make a Q cell .
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