Drowning Queen

[biggles]

Just read a book that says to replace a queen put the new one in a match box and hold under water for 6 or 7 seconds. The place her wet highness into the hive with no cage. The bees will accept her every time. This is done with the old queen removed.

Anyone else heard of this or who does it?

Ta
Pete

 

[Moggs]

Drowning queens prior to introduction sounds like a seriously flawed plan to me. If any beekeeper is taking that sort of approach, I would imagine that flower arranging may be a better bet. Ridiculous.

 

[Poly Hive]

I would not recommend it for a nano second.

Damn silly and if you want to try it be prepared to have a 2nd queen to put in as a back up in a proper intro cage because you will need her for sure.

Alternatively you can amuse yourself by setting fire to bank notes.

PH

 

[greatbritishhoney]

It's not a risk I would like to take, but let us know what happens if you try it.

 

[justme]

The way I read it was, dip the queen in a partially opened matchbox, into a jar of warm water. Remove quickly allowing the water to drain away, then tip her into q- hive gently.
It was also mentioned that you may want to let her get a little hungry first. The bees will unquestionably accept a wet, hungry queen.

I believe it was in Ron Browns book, Honey Farming, although I may be wrong on that.
Not tried myself........ yet?

Di:.)

 

[davemacdon]

Ron Browns Beekeeping - A seasonal Guide
Page 106 The water method (Snelgrove)

I won't repeat the text, for copyright reasons but yes, it states that a wet and hungry queen will be accepted under almost any circumstances.

The term "drowning" is probably a bit strong - it maybe should read "bathed queen"

 

[justme]

Ron Browns Beekeeping - A seasonal Guide
Page 106 The water method (Snelgrove)

I won't repeat the text, for copyright reasons but yes, it states that a wet and hungry queen will be accepted under almost any circumstances.

The term "drowning" is probably a bit strong - it maybe should read "bathed queen"

Thanks Davemacdon, Was pretty sure it was Ron but thanks for correcting the book:.) Di.

 

[biggles]

Yep that's the book. Has nobody tried it, what a surprise, with queens cost so much.

Pete

 

[Teemore]

Snelgrove's book on Queen introduction is worth a read - it details the practice of dunking the Queen prior to introduction. The book discusses versus other methods of queen introduction and their relative merits and pitfalls.

 

[justme]

Yep that's the book. Has nobody tried it, what a surprise, with queens cost so much.

Pete

Only if you buy them, what about rearing your own assuming you have a decent colony to rear them from?

 

[biggles]

I am now, before I wanted to make a lot of colony's so buying queens was easiest. I still don't think I'l be dunking them.