Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: Mason on October 14, 2012, 01:44:15 pm

Title: 2 Queens??
Post by: Mason on October 14, 2012, 01:44:15 pm

I am trying to feed and get my hives stores built up for winter.  One of my smaller hives has 2 queens in it.  It's a long shot to separate one of them and build another hive to the point it would survive winter this late in the year.

What should I do?

My first instinct is to do nothing and let the bees sort it out.   

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Finski on October 14, 2012, 02:17:32 pm

.
Kill another queen. Try to look which is older. But they will clear the situation too.

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Mason on October 14, 2012, 02:34:57 pm

Does bigger mean older?

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Finski on October 14, 2012, 03:09:42 pm

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Smaller? Has it abdomen swollen = mated

old queen has not shiny colors. Wings have perhaps some uneven edge.  Hairs are not so perfect as with younger.

If you are not sure, let them boath be there.

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: AllenF on October 14, 2012, 03:45:21 pm

I would not worry about them.   The stronger queen will go into winter.  The weaker will not.  Let them figure it out. 

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Vance G on October 14, 2012, 09:10:35 pm

Some researcher I read said that 10 to 20% of colonies have two queens.   I wouldn't know because when I find one I quit looking.   i'd just say you have good luck and a spare!

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Mason on October 15, 2012, 03:18:07 pm

Quote

I wouldn't know because when I find one I quit looking.

I suppose I should have said "at least 2 queens".  They were on opposite sides of the same frame.

Neither looked like a big fat mature queen. I'm starting to think this hive may be doomed.   

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: AllenF on October 15, 2012, 08:28:03 pm

Why doomed?

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Nature Coast Beek on October 18, 2012, 01:58:27 pm

I've seen some chatter on other boards... :roll:...regarding running double queen hives. I believe the person was from the Pac NW and saying that Alaska beeks do this for more productive hives. I suppose two laying queens would boost brood numbers and build up as long as there was food. Again, just some chatter I've read but maybe leave it bee and see what happens. Interesting to say the least.

Title: Re: 2 Queens??
Post by: Mason on October 22, 2012, 04:01:08 pm

Maybe the old queen failed and they went through the supercedure process and made and kept 2 queens.  Their is larva  so at least one of them is laying.  My fear is that this happened too late in the season for there to have been enough drone population in the area to properly mate the queens.  All seems well for now.  I'm just going to ride it out and let the bees deal with it.