First Hive Inspection 2024-Did the Risk Pay Off?

I start the first inspection of the 2024 season. I go through the hive to be used for making splits and the nucleus colony.
I start looking for brood but have little success and find the colony brood less.
Then I try a seemingly fool proof litmus test to see if I am queen right.

[@freemanstump9765]

You put that smoker to work this time round

[@won2winit]

If you missed Laurence's live last night he had a hive that the queen appeared to lay up a lot of brood and died, so the colony was big but no resources to make a new one

[@DraigwenHoney]

I did miss it. It’s surprising to me the amount of bees there if the queen was gone through the winter. I really should have checked for brood and queen when I put the bottom box on

[@won2winit]

@DraigwenHoney-sx9qu Laurence estimated the queen started laying but popped her clogs around February so could be the same for you