Swarmed hive slow to come back, but gobbs of honey

1323 Views 4 Replies 4 Participants Last post by Michael Bush, Aug 3, 2004

MiamiDolphan

Discussion Starter · Jul 30, 2004

I have a hive that swarmed in early July. I missed the swarm. About a week later numerous queen cells. I let the hive take its course for about 3 weeks. Now I do not have any queen cells. Some larvae in a good pattern, but mostly honey in the two brood boxes. I also have a super on top without an excluder but very little drawn comb. The queen, if there is one has plently of room to lay, a couple of frames in each brood box and the entire super. Did it take this long for a new queen to emerge and become fertile? I am thinking this is why so few larvae, but plenty of room. There are probably 10 frames combined of capped honey in the brood boxes. Can I take a couple and crush and strain? Many frames have drawn comb that was used for eggs before, but they are now cleaned out and ready for new eggs. Let me know some of the things you might do at this point.

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Terri

· #2 · Jul 30, 2004

Is that 3 weeks from the time of the swarm? Is the brood large larvae, or small?

In that case, a young queen ought to be just ready to start laying right now. There OUGHT to be eggs showing up atany time, now.

A queen spends 7-8 days inside the queen cell after it is capped over. Then, after hatching, she spends a little time hanging around the hive, eating, growing strong, and exercizing.

Then, she takes a few pracice flights. A couple of mating flights follow that. Then the eggs. 3 weeks from when the swarm left the hive sounds about right for a new queen to start laying.

If it were my hive, I think that I would just let things be for another week, then check again. If there were STILL no young brood, I would begin to worry.

[This message has been edited by Terri (edited July 30, 2004).]

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MiamiDolphan

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jul 30, 2004

It has been almost four weeks since swarm. The larvae are still coiled. Is it OK to take a couple frames for honey?

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bjerm2

· #4 · Jul 30, 2004

Yes you can take a few frames of honey out. I would also move some of your frames in the brood boxes that have honey in them and move them into your upper box. This will give the young queen more room to lay and make the bees draw out the comb. You still have about 2-3 months of nice (warm) weather. That will give her time to build up the hive. If after that period they have not filled up the boxes feed them some sugar syrup a 1 to 1 ratio just so they have enough for winter. I would guess maybe 2 gallons or so.
Dan

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Michael Bush

· #5 · Aug 3, 2004

Yes, it takes about a month to raise a queen and have her laying.

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