got new colony two weeks ago, is this a queen cell just starting ?

wexfordman2 · 04-05-2015 12:52PM #1

Hi,

Anyone able to tell me whats going on here

[IMG][/img]

Its our first colony, we have a double brood box on it, its not anywhere near full, lots of empty frames in the top brood box still.

Is this a queen cell, does it look like a swarm is in the offing ?

SC Kevin · 04-05-2015 08:56PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Hi,

Anyone able to tell me whats going on here

[IMG][/img]

Its our first colony, we have a double brood box on it, its not anywhere near full, lots of empty frames in the top brood box still.

Is this a queen cell, does it look like a swarm is in the offing ?

Thats called a queen cup/play cell which is what they do when they are a bit bored!

Have they enough room, do the need a super?

Was there an egg in the play cell, if not, nothing to worry about, if there was, i would be keeping a very close eye on that hive from now on!

Sometime though, after the Queen has laid in the cell, the bees can come along afterwards and take the eggs away

I also zoomed in on the pic and it looks like they are eggs in the cells, so if thats the case, then the queen is still there and laying.

brianmc · 05-05-2015 12:56PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Hi,

Its our first colony, we have a double brood box on it, its not anywhere near full, lots of empty frames in the top brood box still.

Is this a queen cell, does it look like a swarm is in the offing ?

As SC Kevin said... nothing to do yet but time to keep an eye on them from week to week. One of these days there will likely be eggs/larvae in those little cups and they'll start drawing them down. When that happens it's time to do your swarm control so now is the time to make sure that you have it all figured out and any extra equipment that you'll need, ready to go.

Joe Brennan · 06-05-2015 08:57AM

Good sound advice from SC kevin & Brianmc

wexfordman2 · 06-05-2015 11:13AM

Thanks all.

The plan I think is to split the colony next week. Checked them yesterday as I was feeding. I have a double brood box at the moment on it, ten frames of fresh foundation, but with them all being drawn down at the moment at various stages. The remaining frames are a mixture of brood and honey etc. The hive loos busy overall. I Fed then last Sunday afternoon, and the feed was all gone yesterday (feeding them syrup into a feeding frame in the top brood box). That's just two days to empty the frame of syrup!!

Surprised they empty the feed so quick.

Joe Brennan · 06-05-2015 12:17PM

They appear to take more syrup when they are not out working, both of my hives are taking approx. two & half litres every 2 days. When you do the split will you continue using the double brood box.

wexfordman2 · 06-05-2015 12:20PM

Joe Brennan wrote: »

They appear to take more syrup when they are not out working, both of my hives are taking approx. two & half litres every 2 days. When you do the split will you continue using the double brood box.

Hi Joe,

No, the plan is to split the double brood box into two seperare hives. I can put supers on them .

Joe Brennan · 06-05-2015 12:29PM

Sounds like a very good Idea, & I wish you the best of luck when you do the split

conor t · 06-05-2015 04:42PM

wexfordman2 wrote: »

Hi Joe,

No, the plan is to split the double brood box into two seperare hives. I can put supers on them .

Have they much brood in the second box, if i was you I'd leave it another 2-3weeks,

wexfordman2 · 06-05-2015 05:01PM

conor t wrote: »

Have they much brood in the second box, if i was you I'd leave it another 2-3weeks,

Hi conor,

Plenty of larvae in the top brood box. I havnt looked to much at the bottom box, but cold to 've disturbing them at the momentum

got new colony two weeks ago, is this a queen cell just starting ?

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