Menu
Log in
  • Home
  • So many drones!

So many drones!

  • 29 Jul 2021 6:46 AM
    Reply # 10782068 on 10615165
    Anonymous

    Richard, the issue seems to have resolved itself. Brood looks pretty good and the two deeps are crammed with resources. They did not draw ANY comb the medium honey supers so I will pull them and do a mite check. I did treat with OA sublimation in MAY, june and early July. Finally, I think that all you get from laying workers is drones but when a new queen starts laying the workers stop laying.

  • 28 Jul 2021 6:55 PM
    Reply # 10781074 on 10615165
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Ken,  what is this hives layout? Same as others?

    Are you overpopulated? Honey or brood bound? 

    Are the bees making any re-queening cells?

    How is your colony health? Have you done a mite check?

    Laying workers will likely show a whacked brood pattern with bad egg placement, I believe. Can laying workers produce drone?

    Last modified: 28 Jul 2021 6:58 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • 13 Jun 2021 3:42 PM
    Reply # 10630524 on 10615165
    Anonymous

    Ted and Ed, thank you for the helpful links. KJ

  • 11 Jun 2021 9:08 AM
    Reply # 10617684 on 10615165
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I also have a hive (that likely swarmed early while I was traveling) that is only laying drones at this moment... could be the Drone Laying Queen situation too... This hive used to be strong...  but is now weak.

    I see eggs at the bottom of cells mostly on just a few partial frames.  I saw maybe 1-2 examples of eggs on the side of a cell. I saw cells with multiple eggs at the bottom of the cell (so queen likely - not laying worker). But also saw many cells with one egg in the center upright and covering comb with eggs systematically.

    New queens can be a bit spotty I've heard... So which is it Drone Laying Queen or New Queen that's working on her egg laying skills?

    I'm still hoping she gets her sea legs and starts laying right.  But I'm planning on doing the safe thing and add frames of Egg & Brood (if the egg I last saw also ends up as drone). This seems like the safest bet in all cases...  Adding frames of egg/brood does no harm (and will help population).  Bees will likely supersede if the queen is really bad. Or the situation resolves itself as the queen starts laying fertilized eggs.

    However, I need to continue to watch to see what happens. If drone laying continues and I don't see wet queen cells being drawn out.  I might have to find and pinch her and add more frames of egg from another hive.  (don't really want to buy a queen... this is a caught swarm from a trap in my yard from 2020. 

    Here's another a bit longer YouTube I found that explains the topic bit deeper Worker vs. Queen drone laying that I found informative.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eE9YJWVkl3E

    Note: I really don't want to risk one of my other hives (2) by combining as mentioned at the end of this video. 

  • 11 Jun 2021 7:50 AM
    Reply # 10617221 on 10615165

    Here's a link to a short (6 minute) YouTube video by the Northfork Honey Company on how to spot a drone laying queen.  Hope it help.  Ted Job.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9EF1k4eMpM

  • 10 Jun 2021 7:35 PM
    Message # 10615165
    Anonymous

    So many drones on the landing board. I made a short video but it won’t upload. I fear that this means laying workers? Two of six colonies. The bees were really cranky throughout the apiary,. I wasn’t suited up, and had grandkid duty so I didn’t open the box. Rain is coming so might have to wait a couple of days to look into the frames. Tons of pollen and nectar but little being brought in. I am always open to suggestions. Laying workers does not seem farfetched.

    couldn’t upload 14 mb file. “ Unable to upload file 2CC55626-6B28-4EBC-BE0A-231C11893B39.MOV: File creation denied for the following reason: "InvalidExtension”. 

Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software