First inspection help

[pargyle]

How easy is it to mark a queen?

Buy a crown of thorns like this:

https://www.thorne.co.uk/queen/marking?product_id=4406

If you can find her place the cage over her and then use a Posca pen:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Uni-POSC...hash=item4412b9dcb2:m:mB3dKe9l7EVmZx8xtXtLLog

To just put a dab of colour on the top of her thorax. Test the pen on your hand before using it and don't be too heavy handed. We used to use Humbrol paints like this and some still do ...

https://www.piedmontbeekeepers.com/queen-bee-marking-colors

Might want to practice on a drone or two first ..you would not be the first to cover a queen in marking paint ...

 

[masterBK]

The queen is carefully manoeuvred onto a flat part of the comb and the cage gently placed over her and pushed lightly into the comb. When most of the workers have escaped, the cage is then pushed a little further into the comb, gently trapping the queen by the thorax between the comb and the mesh of the cage.Use a Queen marking pen (need to prime the tip before use). Tip of the pen is gently applied to the top of the queen’s thorax through the mesh of the marking cage.Now raise the cage slightly so that she can walk about within the cage for a minute or two while the paint dries.Once the paint is dry the queen can be released back to her colony by removing the cage and allowing her to walk around the comb.Check the bees on the comb happily accept her with no tendency to ball her. This rarely happens but if it does, she should be recaptured and released back to her colony using an introduction cage
Replace the frame + queen back into the Brood chamber taking care not to crush her

Practice on drones until you are you sure you have mastered the technique before you mark your queens.

 

[Jake]

Yep I have looked it up in my book my only concern is hurting queen

 

[Erichalfbee]

Try these. Makes marking a queen easy

https://www.thorne.co.uk/queen/marking?product_id=4414

 

[gmonag]

I like these:

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Try these. Makes marking a queen easy

https://www.thorne.co.uk/queen/marking?product_id=4414

I like these:

both bloody awful things - chasing the queen around the frame trying to get her in the tube then having to push the plunger up whilst simultaneously wielding a pen. Much less stressful (for queen and beekeeper) to use a Crown of Thorns.

 

[Erichalfbee]

both bloody awful things - chasing the queen around the frame trying to get her in the tube then having to push the plunger up whilst simultaneously wielding a pen. Much less stressful (for queen and beekeeper) to use a Crown of Thorns.

It’s a personal thing. I have both. You don’t have to chase the queen anywhere with either. At least you won’t skewer the queen with a plunger marker if you are a beginner

 

[Gilberdyke John]

both bloody awful things - chasing the queen around the frame trying to get her in the tube then having to push the plunger up whilst simultaneously wielding a pen. Much less stressful (for queen and beekeeper) to use a Crown of Thorns.

I was duty leader one weekend at our association practical training two years ago when an elusive unmarked queen was seen. During previous weeks the novices had had demonstration of queen marking with plunger type restraint tubes. As novices do a couple pulled out recently purchased tubes. It was a bit of an anticlimax when I had used my crown of thorns and applied the pen while they were still faffing about.
Keeping it simple works for me

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I was duty leader one weekend at our association practical training two years ago when an elusive unmarked queen was seen. During previous weeks the novices had had demonstration of queen marking with plunger type restraint tubes. As novices do a couple pulled out recently purchased tubes. It was a bit of an anticlimax when I had used my crown of thorns and applied the pen while they were still faffing about.
Keeping it simple works for me

you just see the queen and place (not press in) the COT over her, you can even shepherd her on to a better area of comb if needed, leave them settle, then press the COT down to hold her for marking.

 

[pargyle]

It was a bit of an anticlimax when I had used my crown of thorns and applied the pen while they were still faffing about.
Keeping it simple works for me

Just make sure you find a suitable box to keep it in .. and avoid putting it loose in your pocket ... and above all .. sitting on it !

 

[Jake]

OK thanks, I got my cousin to come with me next week to hopefully help me find and Mark queen.
There is one prob being a swarm we don't know what colour to mark her, he's got a green pen from last Yr

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Just make sure you find a suitable box to keep it in .. and avoid putting it loose in your pocket ... and above all .. sitting on it !

Yes, SWMBO gave me a suitable tin just the right size to carry it in (It spends the whole summer in my left pocket- last year's posca pen and this year's pen in the right) it's a very fetching colour - pink with deep pink flowers, I don't get ribbed much for it in lessons.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

OK thanks, I got my cousin to come with me next week to hopefully help me find and Mark queen.
There is one prob being a swarm we don't know what colour to mark her, he's got a green pen from last Yr

If your swarm had a virgin queen then obviously she is this year's so that's easy. If she was laying straight away then you will have no idea as to age - In which case I carry a fluorescent pink pen for any 'unknowns'
However, in your case the colour doesn't really matter as you only have one queen so unlikely to get confused as to age of your queens

 

[pargyle]

OK thanks, I got my cousin to come with me next week to hopefully help me find and Mark queen.
There is one prob being a swarm we don't know what colour to mark her, he's got a green pen from last Yr

It's not compulsory to follow the colours it's just that, as you get more colonies. it's easy to tell how old the queen is. I know beekeepers who just always mark their queens white as they reckon they are easier to see.

 

[Swarm]

Crown of thorns can be a right PITA when your bees don't conveniently move out of the way while you mark the queen and instead cover the cage so you can no longer see her.
With Turn and mark you simply put the tube over the queen and allow her climb up. Use the plunger to hold her in place while you prime your pen and mark her without a load of bees worrying what you are doing and removing the paint as fast as you apply it.
Let it dry, run her back onto the comb where she left, simple.

 

[enrico]

I always mark mine white and write the year in my notes! At least I know if they are my swarms then!
E

 

[thedozzer]

I always mark mine white and write the year in my notes! At least I know if they are my swarms then!
E

We have only got a red Posca pen, so all of our queens have been red, i think it only matters if you have lots of hives and don't keep records for each hive?