Hi JoJo
Re your two hives. They shouldnow be bringing in some nectar so check for cells full of liquid. If so, I would be taking off supers of syrup now if they were still on and putting in empties. It’s also possible all income is being turned into brood.
Not quite sure what’s going on with your Farmers hive. Are there eggs and open brood to be seen there? In other words, do you still have a queen present? Do you know how old the sealed cells are? If they have not emerged in another week I would open it up to see if either it is vacant and the virgin has already emerged and they have recapped the cell or the pupa has perished.
Frankly I am always suspicious of assuming supercedure in April, May and June when seeing queen cells.
I don’t think I would be undertaking a shook swarm and requeening at the same time, that is a lot going on there. If you are not sure you have a laying queen present then probably shelve the shook swarm for the time being. The comb and frames may not be the best but they will do whilst you get a clear idea of what’s going on?
Re your two hives. They shouldnow be bringing in some nectar so check for cells full of liquid. If so, I would be taking off supers of syrup now if they were still on and putting in empties. It’s also possible all income is being turned into brood.
Not quite sure what’s going on with your Farmers hive. Are there eggs and open brood to be seen there? In other words, do you still have a queen present? Do you know how old the sealed cells are? If they have not emerged in another week I would open it up to see if either it is vacant and the virgin has already emerged and they have recapped the cell or the pupa has perished.
Frankly I am always suspicious of assuming supercedure in April, May and June when seeing queen cells.
I don’t think I would be undertaking a shook swarm and requeening at the same time, that is a lot going on there. If you are not sure you have a laying queen present then probably shelve the shook swarm for the time being. The comb and frames may not be the best but they will do whilst you get a clear idea of what’s going on?