Today I had a friend come to help me make a split (she was to take the split for her own).
Last week I found swarm cells and capped drone and lots of bees...decided to split (I already had 1 swarm earlier this year).
Today, couldn't find queen, which doesn't mean she wasn't there...I always have a hard time...BUT there didn't seem to be as many bees as last week. I wonder if maybe they already swarmed?? There were 2 uncapped queen cells and 2 capped.
Anyway, was I right not to split if I couldn't find the queen and much less bees. Lots of capped brood, honey and some larvae seen...I decided to put my med. super above the brood chamber for expansion.
My friend did leave her med super on the ground next to my hive in case they haven't swarmed yet...perhaps they will go in the 2nd hive....good idea or bad?
Boy have a learned a lot in the past 4 months as a new beekeeper!! Thanks
Last week I found swarm cells and capped drone and lots of bees...decided to split (I already had 1 swarm earlier this year).
Today, couldn't find queen, which doesn't mean she wasn't there...I always have a hard time...BUT there didn't seem to be as many bees as last week. I wonder if maybe they already swarmed?? There were 2 uncapped queen cells and 2 capped.
Anyway, was I right not to split if I couldn't find the queen and much less bees. Lots of capped brood, honey and some larvae seen...I decided to put my med. super above the brood chamber for expansion.
My friend did leave her med super on the ground next to my hive in case they haven't swarmed yet...perhaps they will go in the 2nd hive....good idea or bad?
Boy have a learned a lot in the past 4 months as a new beekeeper!! Thanks