Queen hatched during inspection, what are my options?

Johnnymms · May 17, 2021

I had caught a few swarms on my property so I had a good idea they were probably from my own hives. I inspected a few today to confirm my suspicions and while I had one hive opened up a queen cell got detached from the bottom of a frame. Thinking the cell was a goner I set it aside and carefully put the hive back together. Before moving on to the next hive I noticed the cap of the removed cell moving. The queen hatched right then and there. I trapped her in my hand while I thought what my options were and I that's when I found out I didn't really know what to do.

Here are the options I figured I had:
1. Return her to the hive (which I did).
2. Put her in something and put her in a nuc I have at another yard that is currently in the process of raising a new queen.
3. Put her in a brand new styrofoam mini mating nuc I have that has not been used yet (no comb).
4. Something else?

I decided to place her back in the hive she came from for lack of a better idea. I figured she would have hatched in there within a day anyways. This has not happened to me before so I wasn't prepared. Did I make the right decision? Or did I waste a good queen if she ends up losing to another in the same hive? What would you have done?

Tarheeler · May 17, 2021

I believe I would have done the same

DaisyNJ · May 17, 2021

Happened multiple times to me. Just put her back in the hive / nuc she came from. Now, if there are more unemerged cells in there, and you want to make more Nucs and you can spare few frames of bees (weather permitting) you can move the frame(s) with cells to new Nuc. You did the right thing by returning to the hive.

Jack Grimshaw · May 17, 2021

I always carry a Q cage,it gives you time to think.
I have made splits from emerging virgins if I see multiple cells

Gray Goose · May 17, 2021

Johnnymms,
Neat to see, the thrill of the hatching queen may be upon you.

so if you caught a swarm then went looking for where it came from, I would advise to be a bit more prepared next time, or even here if time permits.

Often a swarming hive will have 8-20 cells, if you can figure out which one it is,, several splits/NUCs can be made.
next time have some NUCs or boxes ready and when you find such a "treasure" make a few splits. It is good practice for recovering from winter hive loss, or even to sell a couple NUCs.

In general 4 of 5 will mate and 3 of the 5 will be good Queens, so you are not "stuck" with all of them, add the queen- less ones back to the Queen rite ones VIA a newspaper combine, cull the worst one and then you have 2 nice queens for re queening hives or increase.

the boy scout motto comes to mind here.....

good luck

GG

Johnnymms · May 18, 2021

Gray Goose said:
the boy scout motto comes to mind here.....

Just when I think I am prepared for what I am about to get into I find out I am wrong hah!

Gray Goose · May 18, 2021

if i need to drive some where to check bees, I take a top and bottom, in case of walk away split needed.
A NUC box top and bottom, in case of supercedure.
A super of drawn comb and a super of foundation, or maybe several.

extra lid to set parts of the hive on, smoker fuel, etc.
then when you run into something you have parts and pieces to make the needed next steps.
Very often I "plan" one thing, and end up doing another, "unplanned" thing.
Beekeeping is at time planning for the unexpected.

just write down what you wish you had and take it the next time.

in time it will just be a part of your process.

GG

Queen hatched during inspection, what are my options?

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