Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. => Topic started by: annette on August 18, 2012, 02:15:57 pm

Title: Drone Laying Queen or Laying Worker Hive?
Post by: annette on August 18, 2012, 02:15:57 pm

Need an opinion please. This hive is 2 medium supers never built up really well all season, but 3 weeks ago I saw a nice worker brood pattern on many frames and open nectar. Felt they were on the right track.

Today I checked and all frames are filled with drone brood. Tons of drone brood.

So my gut feeling is the queen ran out of sperm and became a drone layer, but what do you all think?

Thanks
annette

Title: Re: Drone Laying Queen or Laying Worker Hive?
Post by: Jim134 on August 18, 2012, 07:34:44 pm

  I know in New England this time of year it is a lost but yes you can combine.It is the 3nd week in Aug.The 1st frost will bee in about 5 or 6 weeks.



    BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)

Title: Re: Drone Laying Queen or Laying Worker Hive?
Post by: annette on August 18, 2012, 09:02:34 pm

Thanks Jim for your response.

I decided to look for the queen tomorrow, if there is one, and squish her. I can get another queen from Sacramento Beekeeping Supply on tuesday. I will also look for multiple eggs tomorrow to figure out if they are indeed laying workers.

I appreciate your help
annette

Title: Re: Drone Laying Queen or Laying Worker Hive?
Post by: markfitz on August 19, 2012, 09:52:12 am

hi there just wondering is it safe to combine a queenless laying worker hive, with a strong hive, without any danger to the laying queen in the strong hive thanks

Title: Re: Drone Laying Queen or Laying Worker Hive?
Post by: Jim134 on August 19, 2012, 11:53:26 am

Quote from: markfitz on August 19, 2012, 09:52:12 am

hi there just wondering is it safe to combine a queenless laying worker hive, with a strong hive, without any danger to the laying queen in the strong hive thanks

 Their as all way a danger to the laying queen but at has work out for me about 95% of the time in the past 50+ years.


       BEE HAPPY Jim 134 :)