strange queen

[bill]

I have a nuc that made it through the winter but just barely. It was a small swarm to start with and is much smaller now. not enough bees to be viable. when I opened it just one frame had some bees on it  and the queen. she looked faded out and her legs were yellow. why I don't know or it may be normal I just don't know. she was walking around on the frame and It had no brood. is she just an old queen that is about wore out or is their some other explanation? the bees were not crowding around her or anything .

[Joseph Clemens]

Hard to say what the status of the queen is. If you had marked the original queen it would be easier to determine if this was her. If you're as curious as I am and you have other hives that are stronger, you could give them a frame or two of emerging brood with some honey, then in a few days you could see if she begins laying. Presently there may not be enough bees to keep any brood warm enough, hence no brood area.

[Michael Bush]

The only thing color has to do with the age of a queen is that a recently emerged virgin often looks faded and light and darkens as she hardens the first few days.  Old queens don't fade in color.  I mark all mine with the color code for the year so I know if it's the original and I know how old she is.