>         I would suggest that a checking point for new queens would be the
> amount of holes developed in the pattern. Too many, and that queen needs
> replacing and using a different breeder next time. A word of caution. At
> certain times of the year ie. heavy flow, it is possible that the central
> area will get clogged with incoming nectar, until the bees get organised
> and store it away. The way we check, is to note which frame she is laying
> on, then go back after sealing to check for holes.
 
To add to this, it is important to remember that a queen can inheirit a
bad pattern from a previous queen.  If she fills holes as fast as the
young bees hatch, there will be shotgun patterns for a few generations.
 
If a queen has even one frame where she has a good pattern, that likely
indicates she is not suffering from the fault in question.
 
Allen
 
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