Just a quick update for some of you who asked. Sorry to take so long getting back here! Busy life. Tooo busy.
I followed Michael's advice (well, except maybe that bit about the worrying . . .) and pinched the queen (my first queen pinch /cry). Then I added a frame of honey, frame of nectar/pollen and a frame of brood with eggs, larva and some capped. Closed them up.
That was on April 4th. When I got back from travels I checked them on the 22nd. I saw no queen cells and no eggs and no brood. But i figured if they had made a queen, she probably wasn't laying yet. Was hoping I might have seen the remnants of a queen cell, but didn't see anything that looked like it. I added a frame of eggs (Michael Bush/Iddee style - when in doubt, add a frame of eggs.) Checked them again on this last Sunday. Still saw no signs of a queen or eggs. They were, though, and have always been since I pinched, pretty dang calm. I added a frame of half capped brood with eggs and larva, just in case. That afternoon I saw a small orientation flight. Hubby reports that on Monday there was quite a large one.
So. I plan on checking again this weekend to see if I can find a queen and/or eggs or brood. They are definitely pulling in nectar and had filled quite a bit of the comb. They still don't have as much pollen as I would like, but have seem to be in a better spot than a month ago.
I will report back after this weekend. Fingers crossed I can find a queen and she is laying and healthy.
Thanks for your comments and care!
Happy Spring All,
love,
ziffa
