1. I have a question. I split a hive on 13 March. The split raised several queen cells. The end result was a swarm on the 31st of March from the split. I went in and inspected the split today and found some eggs and brood. There was not a great deal of eggs or brood, however, the space is limited due to nectar and pollen stores in all but about three frames. By my math, the last brood to hatch in the split, that came from the parent colony queen, would have been on the 3rd. of April. The drone population seemed high in this colony to me, and I was just wondering if the split simply placed more drones in that colony? Anyway, I added a second deep of new foundation, and pulled some frames up into the second deep to get them started.
2. Now, the 31st, a swarm issued from this colony as well. I suppose that the first queen that hatched did not want to fight it out with another, or distroy the other cells. I hived the swarm and moved them several miles away. I checked them today, day 11 or 12 if you cound the swarm day. They have made tremendous strides in drawing out foundation into nice comb. I looked at all five frames, with only about two eggs having been found. They are storing pollen, but not alot of nectar.
On the 4thof April our weather turned horible. High's in the low 50's, and Low's in the 26-32 range for about five nights. Yesterday was in the 50's and it rained all day long. Today is low 70's and windy. Next few days may be rain, and next week is looking good with highs in the 60's with lows in the 40's, and one night in the upper 30's.
Now for the questions:
1. How long do I give the split to gain worker population before I take measures to combine it with another hive, re-queen, or something along those lines. She is just starting to lay, so I hope with the approaching flow, they can get to work on the foundation, and get started. I do not plan on taking honey off of the split, just allow them to get established and ready for next winter.
2. The swarm, being on day 11 or 12, I would have thought would have had more eggs and brood. How long do I give the queen to start before I search for her and remove her, prior to combining the swarm back with the split? Would the cold weather have kept her from laying? If the queen was a virgin queen, and did not mate prior to the cold weather, will she still mate this late?
Questions about a Split and a March 31st. swarm??
Today is Day 18 on the swarm.
Today is day 18 on the swarm, and I took a peak to find eggs on two frames. The queen is laying, pollen and nectar are coming in, and things look good. I may try and get them back to my house this evening late, but I am not sure. I know that my friends dad was excited about having bees beside his garden?? So I may move them into a 10 frame and let them stay put.