Dunno about Winter being over for some, omnimirage. Heard on ABC radio the other day
Tassie was in for a -17C windchill factor under 120km/hr winds! In FNQ winter went - thataway.
Those Spring absconds you saw may well have been down to conditions of those colonies in
maybe not liking their home and pinging off on the first sign of a Spring flow. Usually, as you
say, the colony is in build mode after winter, not abscond mode, that comes later as summer
creates conditions for swarms to build.
On drones, usually I leave these for the bees to look after. An exception is when doing a trapout
as they are part of the first stage in denying them entry to any of the work.
On honey, it is not my thing to worry too much beyond preventing honeybound colonies so
usually I extract the outer capped frames and, as they approach a full backfill, add a super+excluder
and maybe four frames. If there is indeed a flow on - a strong one - then that method gives some
time to organise a couple of supers for honey, in preparation to throw them on top. But usually I am
engaged in nursing other colonies so extras go to those over extracting for personal use/sale/freebies.
On queening, be very very sure as to;
a.) proof positive a queen is present or not
b.) the mood and condition of any queen
... anything else and there will be tears, trust that.
Cheers.
Bill