Queens

[Julie Denison]

I have a new hive that I got about 2 weeks ago and I am sure the queen is gone,  I have moved 2 bars

from another hive into my hive in hopes they will make a queen.  What are my chances that will happen?

I think I was able to get the youngest eggs but not sure.  Does anyone know if this will work or where I

can buy another queen? 

[Buckner Creel]

My impression is that you need very young eggs, nearly invisible to the eye to be put into the queenless hive.  I'd like to know better information, if someone would comment.

[Steve Burton]

I have done the same thing many times.  You can check to see if they have created any queen cells on the bar you put in from the other hive in a few days.  Also make sure that when you are in checking the hive that you also check other bars (that you didn't put in from another hive) to see if there are any eggs or brood.  If there is eggs or brood on other bars, then it means that there was a queen but she had not started laying yet.  If there was not queen and once the queen cell is sealed then leave the hive alone for about three weeks.  Melanie from Zia Queenbee, said that they have found that you need to leave a new queen alone for about three months.  This helps the bee accept the new queen.

Steve

[Julie Denison]

It does seem like they are making a queen cell but need to check to see if it is sealed,  Hard to get into the hive during this weather but I hope to check on them tomorrow. If I see that they have sealed the cell, then I will leave them alone for 3 weeks.  If not, then I need to find a queen, I guess.

[Julie Denison]

We are 99% sure they made a queen, actually 3 or 4.  Leaving it alone for a couple of weeks before checking again but the hive is active. Thank you for checking.