Age of queen

[busybee53]

Hello every one. Can anyone enlighten me on something?

Is a 2 year old queen one that hatched two years ago today (or before) or a queen that has seen 2 summers and actually hatched in spring last year? I am trying to work out when I need to requeen.

Thanks.

 

[sugarbush]

Generally a 2 year old queen is one that has had two seasons under her belt.

I have had queens go 6 years before failing.

 

[busybee53]

Thanks for your reply Sugarbush. Thats what I don't get, what does 2 seasons mean. If a queen was hatched say May last year does she count as 2 years old because she has seen 2 summers? Or does she only count as 2 after the winter?

 

[psafloyd]

Cut her in half and count the rings. That will tell you how old she is.

 

[thedeaddiplomat]

Call me a simplist (or whatever else you wish), but I have always thought that if you (or a Queen bee) have lived for two years, then the chances are that you are two.

 

[drstitson]

i'd go by full seasons. a september queen is not the same as an april one.

perhaps we should develop a system using shades of colour to designate month as well as year!!

 

[Silly Bee]

Examine her teeth, thats a sure sign how old she is.

If thats difficult and it sometimes is, check if she is laying well, the bees she produces are good temperament and productive, if they are, leave her alone.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

You never get a straight answer from the fairer sex anyway. If SWMBO has any more 29th birthdays I'm going to be accused of being a cradle snatcher!!
Try counting the candles on the birthday cake

 

[RosieMc]

Examine her teeth, thats a sure sign how old she is.

If thats difficult and it sometimes is, check if she is laying well, the bees she produces are good temperament and productive, if they are, leave her alone.

 

[oliver90owner]

I am trying to work out when I need to requeen.

As the others. It is not important to measure the age in years. The system of marking simply denotes year of emergence. If emergence was on December 31st it would not make her two years old after just two days (you may need to think about that carefully).

There are better ways of assessing the need for requeening, so your question, as given, is pointless, really.

RAB

 

[Mike a]

i'd go by full seasons. a september queen is not the same as an april one.

busybee53 - Can anyone enlighten me on something?
Is a 2 year old queen one that hatched two years ago today (or before) or a queen that has seen 2 summers and actually hatched in spring last year? I am trying to work out when I need to requeen.

Your colony will let you know when they need a new queen as you will see queencells in the middle portion of the frame/s. It will take several weeks before a newly raised queen will begin to lay provided all goes well, but if you don't want to leave it to chance that your newly raised queen will produce nice bees after mating with local drones several members of this forum raise 10's-100's of queens a year and most of them will be more than happy to send you a private message with a price.