Queen cells in new hives

[True Beeliever]

At the end of March I installed 3 packages of 4.9 bees in 3 hives, all medium frames. While checking on them I noticed all 3 have started queen cells on 2 or 3 frames in each hive. The queens are laying well and there is capped brood. I am not sure why they did this but I was wondering if I could use this to my advantage. I was thinking of creating some nucs at about the 5 week mark but I have never tried this. Any suggestions ?

TB

[Acebird]

It is not a cell until there is a viable egg in it so are you sure they are cells or just cups?  Cups would be normal.

[True Beeliever]

I am not sure. They may very well be just cups. How do you check ? open one up ?

[iddee]

If they are capped, they are cells. Go ahead and make your nucs if they aren't open to see into.

[Acebird]

IDDEE, why would the cells be capped if the queen is still there laying eggs.  Doesn't the queen leave with a swarm when the first cell is capped?  Have I got this wrong?

[minz]

Not on a supercedure. That?s why I always shake my bees through an excluder for a Cell builder.
If you put the frame to a small hive to see if she gets mated you have choices if she does and no loss if she does not.