I started a one frame observation hive last week, and I think I may have
a problem with the queen.
    I used a queen and some bees from a hive that wasn't developing well- I
figured a queen with a smallish brood area would still be fine for an
observation hive.  There are enough bees in it to easily cover about half
the comb, on both sides. (I was planning on adding more bees as needed.)
    The problem is, 7 days after I began seeing eggs in the combs, I have
only about 10 capped cells of brood, and they are scattered across the small
brood area. (About the size of my hand.)  The queen seems to be laying
constantly, but it seems that few of the bees are developing into viable
brood.
    I have insulated the hive with a couple pieces of corrugated cardboard,
and the glass feels nice and warm whenever I remove the cardboard to take a
look.  (The bees don't seem to be clustering hard to warm the brood, but
moving about freely.) The hive is inside, and while the room isn't terribly
warm, It hasn't gotten very chilly either.  They have lots of pollen, and
plenty of nectar- they are hardly touching the syrup in the feeder jar.
    I have already ordered a new queen to replace her- but is this really a
queen problem, or is it one common to observation hives?

Ellen Anglin
Mt.Clemens MI