Adding mated queen to colony post swarm

[coatesg]

I have a recently swarmed hive that I was looking to requeen this summer (productive but a bit agressive, and already needed 2x swarm control already this year - third time lucky for them...).

I'm thinking of trying asap to get a new queen (if available) and to keep knocking the QCs down on this one in the interim until they can no longer make a queen themselves - any thoughts as to whether it would be better to do this direct into the hopelessly queenless colony as is (brood +2 supers currently) or go via a Nuc and merge them all back together?

 

[mbc]

Via a nuc for more assured success

 

[eltalia]

I'm thinking of trying asap to get a new queen (if available) and to keep knocking the QCs down on this one in the interim until they can no longer make a queen themselves - any thoughts as to whether it would be better to do this direct into the hopelessly queenless colony as is (brood +2 supers currently) or go via a Nuc and merge them all back together?

That there is making the change unecessarily complicated.

Throw a QR on the entrance now.
Order your queen.
By the time your set to introduce there should
only be your old queen to euthanase as work.
Do that and place your travel cage insitu, exit tube
upwards.
IF your assessment on placing the travel cage
tells you she is being balled..?.. place the travel cage
under a pushcage to go check in a few days time.

Bill

 

[Repwoc]

1001 uses for a QR ...

 

[eltalia]

1001 uses for a QR ...

Indeed there are way way many uses... for the thinking beekeep
that is. Not so much for the " how do I do What and When" type.

"Control the queen and you control the bees"... never forget
that Truth.

Bill

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I have a recently swarmed hive that I was looking to requeen this summer (productive but a bit agressive, and already needed 2x swarm control already this year - third time lucky for them...).

I'm thinking of trying asap to get a new queen (if available) and to keep knocking the QCs down on this one in the interim until they can no longer make a queen themselves - any thoughts as to whether it would be better to do this direct into the hopelessly queenless colony as is (brood +2 supers currently) or go via a Nuc and merge them all back together?

Just be warned that in my experience requeening is a struggle with the bees: about 50:50 whether you win. Their play is to supersede, often via a supersedure swarm. I have more or less given up now. If I kill a Q by mistake or lose a swarm I just wait as they requeen their way. There is an implication with nasty colonies, obviously, because 50:50 (or better for them) you end up not replacing the genes, although you do dilute them. So what I know do is Ann Boleyn the Q then split the boxes onto other colonies and re-establish with a split. (All depending on stage of season of course)

 

[Repwoc]

Just be warned that in my experience requeening is a struggle with the bees: about 50:50 whether you win. Their play is to supersede, often via a supersedure swarm. I have more or less given up now. If I kill a Q by mistake or lose a swarm I just wait as they requeen their way. There is an implication with nasty colonies, obviously, because 50:50 (or better for them) you end up not replacing the genes, although you do dilute them. So what I know do is Ann Boleyn the Q then split the boxes onto other colonies and re-establish with a split. (All depending on stage of season of course)

I think you must have had a lot of ill fortune. My mileage is much better - zero failures with the last six introductions.

 

[Show me the honey]

1001 uses for a QR ...

One trick pony comes to mind

 

[MartinL]

One trick pony comes to mind

Are the Ausies familiar with rhyming slang?

 

[Moka]

Hi, I just join the forum, I'm doing my local Queen Bees is not easy like everything but is rewording when people give me a nice feed back about my Bees. If you want any help with anything just drop a line if you need any help.
I being doing this lovely hobby for 11 years and I'm full time working with my Bees.
happy days
Moca

 

[Finman]

To knock down queen cells is problematic, because it is not easy to find all queen cells.

 

[eltalia]

Hi, I just join the forum, I'm doing my local Queen Bees is not easy like everything but is rewording when people give me a nice feed back about my Bees. If you want any help with anything just drop a line if you need any help.
I being doing this lovely hobby for 11 years and I'm full time working with my Bees.
happy days
Moca

Gidday, gudonya!

Your culture of origin is..???..Moka.

Bill

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

I think you must have had a lot of ill fortune. My mileage is much better - zero failures with the last six introductions.

It's not so much failure as you can tell you are working against the grain of the bees. I had one again just today and ended up (Wally-Shaw modified) AS-ing it while I basically wait out her non-daughter bees. There is no way this colony would have been making swarm preps if everyone was related. My point is the game is not over when you see eggs.

 

[Repwoc]

It's not so much failure as you can tell you are working against the grain of the bees. I had one again just today and ended up (Wally-Shaw modified) AS-ing it while I basically wait out her non-daughter bees. There is no way this colony would have been making swarm preps if everyone was related. My point is the game is not over when you see eggs.

I see your point. I have seen supersedure cells after an introduced queen has been laying a couple of times. I guess they would rather raise their own queen than have one foisted on them.

 

[eltalia]

I see your point. I have seen supersedure cells after an introduced queen has been laying a couple of times. I guess they would rather raise their own queen than have one foisted on them.

For that scenario the 'usual' is other factors at play, some of which maybe
even in play as reason for introduction being necessary.

That said, these days what with all the "new age" 'xspurt' breeding going
on AND the prevalance of sick bees fed on lollywater (syrup) at Day 01 it
is prudent to keep a close eye on m0 queens (mail order). Leastways it is
so in Aussie.

Bill

 

[coatesg]

Thanks for responses - going to go down the Nuc route, and then merge back. Will keep an eye out for supercedure when she's going.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I see your point. I have seen supersedure cells after an introduced queen has been laying a couple of times. I guess they would rather raise their own queen than have one foisted on them.

I tried a queen from Jon Getty last year. I got quite excited over the prospect of some quality black bees. I introduced her under a push in cage. The bees made queen cells with the eggs she laid in the cage once I let her out then shoved her dead out of the entrance.