Post-Swarm Date Calculator
Did your hive recently swarm? Input the date that the (primary) swarm left, and then look below for information about the dates generated by the calculator.
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Date virgin queen emerges - This is also be the date that the hive may cast out a secondary swarm (meaning a swarm that contains a virgin queen) so be on the lookout for that.
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Orientation flights - Your virgin queen will take a series of orientation flights on these days.
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Queen mating flight window - Your virgin queen should go on her mating flight sometime within this 3 day window, weather permitting. Avoid moving the hive or changing anything about its appearance during this time.
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Check colony for presence of eggs - The queen may begin laying before this date, but we suggest waiting until this date to start looking for eggs.
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​Start of OA 2 day treatment window - When a colony has swarmed, there will be a window of approximately 2 days when the hive has little to no capped brood. This is an ideal time to kill mites by treating your hive with oxalic acid.
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Combine with Queenright colony - If you still don't see eggs by this date, we would suggest combining your hive with another colony to avoid laying workers.