2 Queens??

[Mason]

I am trying to feed and get my hives stores built up for winter.  One of my smaller hives has 2 queens in it.  It's a long shot to separate one of them and build another hive to the point it would survive winter this late in the year.

What should I do?

My first instinct is to do nothing and let the bees sort it out.   

[Finski]

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Kill another queen. Try to look which is older. But they will clear the situation too.

[Mason]

Does bigger mean older?

[Finski]

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Smaller? Has it abdomen swollen = mated

old queen has not shiny colors. Wings have perhaps some uneven edge.  Hairs are not so perfect as with younger.

If you are not sure, let them boath be there.

[AllenF]

I would not worry about them.   The stronger queen will go into winter.  The weaker will not.  Let them figure it out. 

[Vance G]

Some researcher I read said that 10 to 20% of colonies have two queens.   I wouldn't know because when I find one I quit looking.   i'd just say you have good luck and a spare!

[Mason]

I wouldn't know because when I find one I quit looking.

I suppose I should have said "at least 2 queens".  They were on opposite sides of the same frame.

Neither looked like a big fat mature queen. I'm starting to think this hive may be doomed.   

[AllenF]

Why doomed?

[Nature Coast Beek]

I've seen some chatter on other boards... ...regarding running double queen hives. I believe the person was from the Pac NW and saying that Alaska beeks do this for more productive hives. I suppose two laying queens would boost brood numbers and build up as long as there was food. Again, just some chatter I've read but maybe leave it bee and see what happens. Interesting to say the least.

[Mason]

Maybe the old queen failed and they went through the supercedure process and made and kept 2 queens.  Their is larva  so at least one of them is laying.  My fear is that this happened too late in the season for there to have been enough drone population in the area to properly mate the queens.  All seems well for now.  I'm just going to ride it out and let the bees deal with it.