Paula S
New Bee
I am trying to raise queens in a Queen Castle (QC). Into each of the 4 slots of the QC I put a frame that had a Queen Cell on it that had been created after I had notched a cell as for On The Spot (OTS) Queen rearing and a frame of resources. At some point a few weeks later, I saw one Q in one slot but nothing in the others, but have not seen her since and had not seen any evidence in any of the 4 slots. I left them alone for two more weeks. At the same time, I began the process of splitting two hives and successfully reared 2 queens by OTS. They seemed a bit slow to mate and start laying but are doing well now so I believe the QC have had enough time to do something but they haven't. Two weeks ago, I combined two of the slots and added a frame of eggs, left one slot totally alone and added a frame of eggs to the 4th slot removing a frame of resources. I'm not seeing any evidence of Queens and now I feel that the frames in all of the slots are just so full of nectar, capped honey and pollen that even if there were Queens, they would have no place to lay eggs. I guess I can add another frame of eggs and what else? Remove a frame of resources and add a frame of foundation? I would like the experience of raising a Queen in the QC and to have a spare Queen, but actually don't know what I would do with her in the winter anyway. What does anyone do with a spare Queen over winter? I don't have enough kit for another hive and don't want one either.....I don't think!?!?!? This is my third summer with bees and sometime I feel pretty good about them but MAN!!! sometimes I feel like an imposter and that I don't know anything.