[JML72]

I checked my hives this weekend, and it had been a couple of weeks since I was in there (because, reasons...). The hive is from a new package installed in March on existing comb and honey/pollen stores. I checked the entire two boxes - couldn't find the marked queen, no eggs, no larva, limited capped brood, boiling with bees. Possible she's gone/dead? I have a booming hive next door to this one, and I'll go in and take a frame of eggs if need be. I wanted to ask however if brood breaks occur in the spring like they do in the fall? Is it possible the queen is there and taking a break, or would i be better off transferring a frame of eggs over and let them do what they want with it?

Thanks for your wisdom.

 

[stajerc61]

It is possible that she is gone. They may have replaced her and you have a virgin running around in there that may or may not be mated. What is the temperament of the hive? Do they act queenlees i.e. roaring or aggressive? If you give them a frame of eggs, mark that frame and check it in three days. If they have drawn a cell on that frame they are queenless and it will take a month for that new queen to begin laying. At that point you can order a queen or let em go. It's almost the 4th of July though keep that in mind.

 

[JML72]

The hive was pretty good - loud, but I took both boxes apart looking for them, and with the numbers I figured it was just a lot of noise coming together. They weren't aggressive at all. This is just my second year, so if I can get them through the winter I'll consider it a win (maybe the booming hive will give honey). I'll give them a frame and see if they build cells up on it and then maybe get a mated queen ASAP.

Thanks much for your help stajerc!

 

[stajerc61]

!0-4 if you do purchase a queen be sure to put her in between two frames of brood from your other hive/s. Good luck!

 

[tsmullins]

The hive is from a new package installed in March on existing comb and honey/pollen stores. I checked the entire two boxes - couldn't find the marked queen, no eggs, no larva, limited capped brood, boiling with bees. Possible she's gone/dead? I have a booming hive next door to this one, and I'll go in and take a frame of eggs if need be. I wanted to ask however if brood breaks occur in the spring like they do in the fall? Is it possible the queen is there and taking a break, or would i be better off transferring a frame of eggs over and let them do what they want with it?

Some of my bees often take brood breaks in between flows, like we are in now. Usually, there is a queen in the hive. It never hurts to swap a frame of eggs.

Like staj said, do the act queenless? Unusually aggressive? Runny? Exhibit the queenless "roar"?

 

[JML72]

Nope they don't act queen less. I'll look for a frame of eggs from the other hive - unless they're on a break too. To be honest I didn't check brood pattern etc of second (stronger) hive. Took the lid off and the queen came right up to the top to say hello, so I put it back together and said "carry on ladies"

 

[tsmullins]

To be honest I didn't check brood pattern etc of second (stronger) hive. Took the lid off and the queen came right up to the top to say hello, so I put it back together and said "carry on ladies"

Had a hive like that a few years ago. You would open the lid, and the queen would be hanging out on the inner cover. She eventually settled down. For a while I was always worried about checking that hive.

Shane