Hello Bee Friends,
We had the annual family Picnic today.  I gave a beekeeping demo for about 30
friends and family members.  When I opened the hive I found lots of bees, No
brood or eggs and about ten (supersedure) queen cells.  I decided not to waste
time and wait to see if in a week or two if I would end up with a queen right
colony.  I united the colony with a weaker one.  I placed everything above the
excluder just in case there was a young queen running around, some cells had
hatched.
 
The thinking was:
 
1. It's late in the season to start/save a weak/problem colony.
 
2. By combining colonies I would increase honey production this season with an
extra strong hive.
 
3. A strong hive with good honey stores will make it through the winter
better.
 
I wonder if I should have added a few frames of brood and given the colony a
shot at the winter.
 
And I guess I'm wondering what would cause this hive to go queenless this late
in the our season.  Does anyone have any ideas??
 
John
CT