Walk-Away Split Timeline Calculator
Calculate queen development timing after a walk-away split. See exactly when to expect queen cells, emergence, mating flights, and first eggs.
A walk-away split is one of the simplest ways to increase your colony count or prevent swarming—you take the queen and some bees to a new location, and the queenless portion raises their own queen from existing eggs or young larvae. But then comes the hard part: waiting. This timeline calculator shows you exactly when to expect key milestones so you know when to check (and when to leave them alone).
Split Details
If unknown, we assume bees select ~1-day-old larvae.
Extra days added to 'worry date' for margin of error.
Timeline
Key Dates
Split Date
Colony split, bees begin raising emergency queens
Sat, Jan 24
Cell Selection
Bees selecting larvae for queen cells. Typical emergency queen timeline
Tue, Jan 27
Cells Capped
Queen cells should be capped by this date
Thu, Jan 29
Queen Emergence
Virgin queen emerges from cell
Fri, Feb 6
Orientation Flights
Virgin queen takes orientation flights
Mon, Feb 9 – Fri, Feb 13
Mating Flights
Queen takes mating flights (weather dependent)
Wed, Feb 11 – Fri, Feb 20
Earliest Eggs
Earliest you might see eggs (if mating was quick)
Fri, Feb 13
Typical Eggs
Most likely timeframe to see first eggs
Fri, Feb 20
Check by Date
If no eggs by this date, investigate queen status
Sun, Mar 1
When to Expect Eggs
Don't expect eggs before
Too early to see anything
Fri, Feb 13
Typical egg-laying begins
Most queens start by now
Fri, Feb 27
If no eggs by this date
Consider investigating
Sun, Mar 1
Save & Export
Label this hive so you know which one to check
Assumptions & Notes
- Timeline assumes emergency queen cells are raised from available eggs/larvae.
- Queen emergence takes ~16 days from egg (varies by source material).
- Mating flights require good weather (warm, calm days). Bad weather extends timeline.
- Virgin queens typically start laying 7-14 days after emergence, but can take up to 3 weeks.
- If no eggs by the worry date, inspect for laying workers or consider requeening.
Day-by-Day Timeline for Walk-Away Splits
Understanding what happens inside the queenless split helps you know what to expect and when to worry.
Split Performed
You remove the queen. Bees realize they're queenless within hours.
Queen Cells Started
Bees select young larvae and begin building emergency queen cells.
Cells Capped
Developing queens are sealed in to complete their transformation.
Virgin Emerges
First queen chews out of her cell. May destroy rival cells.
Mating Flights
Weather permitting, virgin takes orientation and mating flights.
Eggs Appear
Successfully mated queen begins laying. First eggs may be scattered.
Using the Timeline Calculator
Enter your split date and the calculator generates a customized timeline with all key dates:
Queen cells capped
Around day 8-9, confirms bees are raising a queen
Virgin emergence
When the new queen should chew out of her cell
Mating window
Days when she'll take orientation and mating flights
Earliest eggs
Soonest you might see eggs if everything goes well
Check/worry date
Date by which you should definitely see eggs
Safety buffer
Add extra days for poor weather or slow queens
Assumptions Behind This Timeline
This calculator assumes a "typical" scenario:
Real-world results vary. Rainy weather can delay mating by a week or more.
Common Mistakes with Walk-Away Splits
Inspecting too often
You risk crushing the virgin queen or chilling developing cells. One check around day 7-10 to confirm cells, then hands-off until the egg window.
Assuming failure too early
Virgin queens can take 3+ weeks to start laying. Don't panic at day 21—give them until the worry date.
Splitting without young brood
If your split has only capped brood or older larvae, bees can't raise a quality queen. Confirm eggs or larvae under 3 days old.
Not leaving enough bees
A split needs enough nurse bees to keep queen cells warm and fed. Aim for at least 2-3 frames of bees.
Killing the virgin accidentally
Virgin queens are skittish and hide at the bottom of frames. Work slowly during any inspection.
Tips for Walk-Away Split Success
Perform splits when drones are plentiful—queens need mates
Move the queenless split at least 2 miles away if possible
Feed the split if there's no nectar flow
Mark your calendar with the "check for eggs" date
If anxious, peek through an observation window instead of opening
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a walk-away split to have a laying queen?
From the day of the split, expect eggs in about 4-5 weeks. The bees need ~3 days to start queen cells, ~13 days for the queen to develop and emerge, 5-7 days for her to mature, and another 7-14 days for mating flights and egg-laying to begin. Weather delays can extend this timeline.
How long can a virgin queen take to mate?
Most virgin queens mate within 1-2 weeks of emergence, but some take up to 3 weeks, especially if weather is poor. If your queen hasn't started laying 3-4 weeks after emergence, she may have failed to mate or been lost during a mating flight.
What if I still see no eggs after the expected window?
First, look carefully—new queens often start laying in scattered patterns and eggs can be hard to spot. If you're certain there are no eggs after 5-6 weeks from the split, check for a virgin queen (smaller, runs across frames). If truly queenless, you'll need to introduce a mated queen, combine with another colony, or add a frame of eggs so they can try again.
Should I check my split before the timeline says?
Resist the urge to inspect too often. Opening the hive disrupts the bees and risks damaging queen cells or killing the virgin queen. One quick check around day 7-10 to confirm queen cells are present is reasonable, then leave them alone until the earliest egg-laying window.
How many queen cells should I see in a walk-away split?
Bees in a walk-away split typically raise 3-10 emergency queen cells from available young larvae. They don't need all of them—the first virgin to emerge usually destroys the others. Multiple cells are insurance in case some don't develop properly.