Queen is slow to refill brood chamber

[leechmann]

Hi, I'm from central MN. I have a few hives that make me question if the queen is ok. I made some splits this spring and requeened the hives. The hives I'm concerned , were very strong, having two deeps, that were full of sealed brood. As I did  some hive inspections today, I found that the bees are back filling what is now hatched brood cells. I went through and found the queen in both cases, but they have very little sign of eggs or new larva. These queens were virgin queens this spring. I'm wondering  if I should requeen or let them be. There is no sign of supercedure in progress. I'm worried that the frames will be full of honey and there will be no room for a brood chamber.

[hardwood]

Give them room! Add a super. Your flow is on.

Scott

[Course Bee]

Leechmann, Our flow is just starting in St. Cloud I would think you would be about a week behind us. If the hive feels the queen isn't laying up to par they will start supersedure cells. Did you do any inspections between now and when you did your splits and did you install virgin queens or did you let them raise their own?

[kathyp]

ditto hardwood.  if they are backfilling the brood nest it's because they need more room for brood and honey.

[scdw43]

Brood reduction and back filling the brood nest could be a sign that they are about to start swarm prep.
But I could be wrong. Could be a failing queen and the bees have no brood to feed so they are filling the brood nest.  Pull the old queen put her in a nuc if she continues to lay she can produce brood to help other hives. Let them raise a new one, should solve the problem no matter which it is.