Makes sense. I do want to get myself to a point of a second hive (for insurance more than anything), but want one working right first for sure. I feel confident I can muster up a second hive later this year or early next after they build back up. I don't mind letting nature take it's course, but don't want to be in a spot where the new queen takes out the cells, then gets herself taken out. Bad day for all if that happens. I'll check tomorrow for eggs. The QCs I found should emerge around Wednesday, so that'll give me a chance to at least know if I've got the old queen or a new one from this year. I don't care either way, so long as one makes it through. I like that these were collected locally and seem to have little issue with mites, etc (so far) and are quite calm. If I still have the old queen, and one of the QCs emerge, might she take off with a swarm of her own to get a start? That would be bad in my case with a fairly low population at the moment. If this is a risk, what's the preferred way to avoid it without risking the others? If the old queen is laying (for sure), should I remove the QCs?