Clipping queens

[Erichalfbee]

How many of you clip queens?
I had my favourite Buckie ( I was replacing her anyway but that's not the point) swarm on uncapped cells. Looking at the remaining brood she must have gone in a tiny window in that atrocious weather we had a few days ago. Unless they found somewhere to live before they went I'm sure they have perished.

 

[Magwat]

I clipped for the first time ever last year and probably coincidental, none of my colonies made any swarm preparations until the middle of July - just as the main flow started !
Every year previously they'd been popping out of the box from May onwards and more than once with unsealed queen cells.

 

[Eyeman]

All queens are clipped and marked. Makes swarm control much more flexible when you've got lots of colonies. You will lose the odd queen who will attempt to fly off but most don't fly or they end up underneath the floor. You don't lose you bees unless you delay until after a virgin has emerged.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes. I'm beginning to think that's the way to go. Clipped or not clipped I've lost her anyway but at least I would have kept the bees and honey. New queen in there pronto I think.

 

[For want of a better word]

Mark but do not clip in the first year.... I have had quite a few superceed after clipping, even in their second year.
As others have said bees will still swarm ( tis in their genes) clipping may save the swarm, which may return to the hive!

Yeghes da

 

[poshpikey]

I have also had a number of colonies start swarm preparations shortly after clipping with young queens.

 

[Finman]

I have also had a number of colonies start swarm preparations shortly after clipping with young queens.

But bees swarm. Reason is not clipping. Reason is natural reproduction of the honey bee.

They surely swarm when it is time, have they wings or not.

I wonder why non clipped queens go so high to tree tops. 25 metres. Ladders are 6 metres.

I clip the queens before swarming time next spring.

 

[Brigsy]

Limited test pool but I clip mine. so far no problems in relation to that. Plenty of others though!

 

[Tom Bick]

Clipped one today. Classic supersedure and from previous experiences at this time of year it can trigger swarming so clipped.

I have found that selective clipping can be a good thing.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I have found that selective clipping can be a good thing.

Good advice to ponder, thank you Tom
And thanks, everybody else

 

[Finman]

.
Selective clipping?

I try to clip them all. Sometimes I do not remember.
Selective memory, I bet.

Why clipping is again so mysterious.

Another mystery is that of you cross two angry hives, you get calm bees. I do not even try.