Laying Worker

Paul Kelly, Research and Apiary Manager, discusses the phenomenon of laying workers and how to identify and correct the problem.

A descriptive transcript is available here:

For more videos, check out the University of Guelph's Honey Bee Research Centre YouTube channel at this link:

Filmed and Edited by Alex Guoth.

We would like to thank Québec beekeepers Marie-Hélène Majeau and Susan Kennerknecht for translating our videos into French. We are very grateful for their help with this project. (To view translation, click on settings then subtitles)

Nous aimerions remercier deux apicultrices du Québec, Marie-Hélène Majeau et Susan Kennerknecht pour la traduction de ces vidéos en français. Nous leur en sommes très reconnaissants. (Pour accéder à la traduction française, sélectionnez paramètres et ensuite sous-titres)

[gustavocampos]

I can't stress enough HOW GOOD YOUR VIDEOS ARE AND HOW MUCH I'VE LEARNED FROM YOUR TEACHING! Thank you VERY MUCH for sharing this knowledge.

[curiouscoy]

Thank you for the clear demonstration of uniting laying workers with queen right colony. I have this procedure to do as soon as I get a good weather day. Very helpful.

[suzisaintjames]

YouTubers are like kids we want what we want when we want it. And we love your videos. Don't release all your videos at once. Spread them out a bit and you'll get less clamoring. If you are busy, I believe YouTube has a way to schedule the release of videos. But whatever you do please don't stop making videos, 2-years is too long to hear from you. With love💜 from sunny 🌞 Arizona 🌵 USA.

[IPIX]

Last year I've learnt from you how to split. This year I've just "fix" two hives learning from this video. You have the talent to explain things in clear steps with arguments standing behind and options available. Teaching is such an art, isn't it?!
Thank you for sharing, Paul!

[beemanrunning]

Excellent video. I just fixed a laying worker hive using this method. Thanks for posting such informative videos! You are a great teacher.

[FloryJohann]

Thank you.
One of my hives has laying workers and I almost bought a queen for it.
I am glad I found this video.

[veragiles]

Thanks for your explanation; it answered all my 'buts' and 'what ifs'!

[honeybees]

Thank you. I put my laying worker hive with a screened bottom bored on top of a hive with a screened top. In a week the workers stopped laying and I then introduced a laying queen.:)

[beansbeat]

So glad you are doing more videos. Love the tool belt

[garyfreeman]

Finally some good and correct advice about how to handle this problem!

[KevinsNorthernExposure]

I did this procedure twice last with laying worker and once with a drone laying queen I removed. Worked seamlessly.

[OutdoorsandCountryLiving]

Question for you. What happens with the eggs that the laying worker laid in the cells once you merge it with the queen right colony? Do they let it grown and hatch as drones before backfilling? Thank you and nice video. Stay well.

[sullivandwyer]

I love the content of your videos Mr Kelly. the level of knowledge and consistency is second to none in my views.

[tarairrgang]

Thank you so much. Your videos are always clear, concise, and very helpful. Very much appreciate your teaching style.

[SageandStoneHomestead]

Thank you so much for this! We don't have laying workers right now but I've always heard they are so hard to break from laying. Combining them with a nearby colony seems very easy! Thanks again!

[pauldow]

The old newspaper hobo trick. Classic.
It can correct/solve a few other bee dilemmas.
Very handy bee information.
😊

[baddestbees]

I took a laying worker Nuc, put in front of 4 deep colony and let their foragers return to Nuc and they killed all the laying workers and then I added a Virgin Queen of all things lol but so far they accepted her.ALL your Videos are really good, keep them coming I been watching for a few years now

[fishmut]

Awesome content, years ago i did a split and took it far away from my bee yard to raise there own queen, the problem was there where no bees in the area where i put the bees to raise there own queen, the queen was raised but no drones to mate with and i had a hive full of drones and had to do the same thing in the end even after putting in another frame of brood and eggs i got the same result a second time around and ended up combining them with another hive back in the bee yard like in this video, great video brings back memories .

[suzannecohen]

Hi, Paul! Very informative as always. Thanks! I'm up to 6 hives on my back roof now. I have an article coming out in the November American Bee Journal. I hope you and yours are well.

[lwride]

Thanks for posting new content! Have been waiting years for it ;)