Queen cells
The rain is apparently coming in- but I opened up my strongest hive to see if in fact it was as strong as it seemed. One super was pretty filled with Maple honey- partly capped. And below it were three packed supers of bees and brood, and 10 to 20 queen cells, almost all capped. Shoot, I thought someone I was ahead of the ball on this one. Not so.
I bought materials for 12 more supers- as I seem to be going through them way quicker than i thought I would- I thought I'd have enough actually, but I dont think I will. The materials cost 700 bucks or so- so more than 50 bucks per super. It would be nice not to have to do that anymore- build my own, or something. Id think by now Id have enough equipment.
To take care of the queens, I took Jim's advice from Bees Knees, who suggested that I take out all the frames with queen cells, and put them in a nuc. Which I did - but I really doubt I got them all- there are lots of places that they can hide and I didnt look at every frame. But i found the queen, and so I know shes ok and I didnt transfer her by accident.
Its not really much different than cutting out the cells, and splitting the hive, I guess it just saves the cost of getting another queen and the time in going to get one- as the disadvantage is she may or may mate, and she may or may not be a good queen. Thinking about it, I might not do this again.
I bought materials for 12 more supers- as I seem to be going through them way quicker than i thought I would- I thought I'd have enough actually, but I dont think I will. The materials cost 700 bucks or so- so more than 50 bucks per super. It would be nice not to have to do that anymore- build my own, or something. Id think by now Id have enough equipment.
To take care of the queens, I took Jim's advice from Bees Knees, who suggested that I take out all the frames with queen cells, and put them in a nuc. Which I did - but I really doubt I got them all- there are lots of places that they can hide and I didnt look at every frame. But i found the queen, and so I know shes ok and I didnt transfer her by accident.
Its not really much different than cutting out the cells, and splitting the hive, I guess it just saves the cost of getting another queen and the time in going to get one- as the disadvantage is she may or may mate, and she may or may not be a good queen. Thinking about it, I might not do this again.
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