One of the queens that  I really liked was George, originally caught as a swarm in my yard, than moved to a friend in Uniontown, and a split taken back to my yard. That line lived with me for 4 years without treatment and put up good winter stores. This year, the hive was knocked over in the winter and while I put it back together, it died. With 2 suppers full of honey.

Mel had a Q3 nuc with George offspring that made it well through the winter. Mel put the 5 frames in a full size hive this spring. George did not like that, began to fail and Mel saw a supercedure cell. I took that hive to the farm last Tuesday and started feeding it. I gave it a frame of honey, some syrup and a megabee patty. Today, I also added to frames of capped brood with bees. I saw that the supercedure cell was open. I did not see a virgin or brood, but the hive was active and even bringing in pollen. I exchanged the frames with plastic foundation for frames with comb because the hive’s population is too small to draw out combs right now. I will keep feeding this hive until they stop taking the food and in 4 weeks check for brood. Keeping my fingers crossed.