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Practice Swarm? ....20 days later

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5 May 2021 11:47 AM

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Reply # 10445286 on 10442314

Anonymous

We had a strong over-wintered hive that was very crowded in early April so added a super of new foundation. You tube suggested a split, but weather was still in 30s at night and I worried chilling the brood that spanned all three boxes so didn't split.

There is lots of honey and lots of nectar. Well it swarmed two weeks ago and we tried and failed to corral them and they took off. A swarm was quite an experience.

Got back into that hive 5/4/21 & found a healthy looking queen who was being taken care of but no eggs, and very little brood. Lots of capped honey. But found 8 or 9 capped queen cells at the bottom of frames smack in the center of the 2 shallow/1 deep colony. I am inclined to believe they know better than I how to requeen so I'm going to wait to do anything.

Question 1: with the brood break now seems a good time to mite treat with the ApiVarLife I got with the nuc last month. Is it dangerous to treat until after the queens fight it out and do a maiden flight?

Question 2: would it be ok to take off some of that honey to give them more room? Thanks in advance.

4 May 2021 4:26 PM

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Message # 10442314

Anonymous member

So, on April 14th, I look out my 2nd window and it looks like it's raining bees. Thought I was losing my hive (swarming). Figured I won't have a hive by evening, so decided to try a walk-away split (had just seen that on a YouTube video).

single deep hive, probably 8 feet away from my original hive - moved over 7 frames with brood/honey & then 3 empty frames. Had my fingers crossed that I had eggs or maybe even the queen. Pulling a Lucy/Ethel at the candy factory - there was no stopping/looking.
original hive - minus 7 frames ( now thinking I should have moved more over to the little hive, as the bees did come back to this familiar one). Have been watching for pollen going in. Do have to say that the little hive has more going in than this one.

So, today (day 20), decided to take a look.

little hive - all frames have comb, they're even building below. Thought I saw some eggs/larva. Put a second deep hive body on it.
original hive - top deep HEAVY with honey, not seeing any eggs/larva. Top deep - I saw what could be a queen cup. Bottom deep - had multiple possible queen cups. Am looking at the life cycles for workers and queens. Not sure about timelines. Making so much honey, I put a honey on top.

Guess my question is - are my observations correct? And, should I be looking or doing anything specific?

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