How long can I keep a Queen in its cage?

[Finman]

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I have 12 ways to give the queen. Always is going to happen something. I must make sure that bees do not violate the queen.

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Can you buy a large push in cage anywhere

 

[Finman]

Can you buy a large push in cage anywhere

What is that?

.

 

[Anduril]

Can you buy a large push in cage anywhere

Beckys, paynes for plastic, Thorne for metal.

 

[maddydog]

Beckys, paynes for plastic, Thorne for metal.

I'm going to make some metal ones this year. I've found with the plastic ones that the bees burrow beneath and release the queen too quickly for my liking

 

[Erichalfbee]

I'm going to make some metal ones this year. I've found with the plastic ones that the bees burrow beneath and release the queen too quickly for my liking

Yes easy out of omf mesh.
Thorne ones have a little trap door to introduce the queen, though you don’t really need it. It’s easy enough to move the cage around with the queen underneath till you have it just in the right place.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes they can be cruel.

I make them all different sizes, you have to be careful, too big and they can lift on one side and the cage can be packed with hatched bees, I have had it when nearly half the nuc is in the cage if it lifts and the queen is still inside. Too small and you cant reach honey and enough hatching bees, I find older comb is tougher and easier to get a cage pressed on too.

Good tips.
Thanks

 

[Brigsy]

I used the Beckys bees push in last year with success. It has a little recess to add a dab of fondant and a button sized tab to add the queen through.

 

[madasafish]

I used the Beckys bees push in last year with success. It has a little recess to add a dab of fondant and a button sized tab to add the queen through.

I made three as the original was in great demand by others. Ideal for requeening HORRIBLE hives. Takes 5-10 minutes with OMF mesh. You really need a sturdy one to anchor into wax or bees will burrow underneath.(Happened once, queen was accepted OK)

 

[Hivemaker.]

Really like using direct introduction here and this method is now used for about 80% of introductions, Nicot cages for release of the queen in an hour or less is used about 15% and twin chute cages for slow release the rest.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Really like using direct introduction here and this method is now used for about 80% of introductions, Nicot cages for release of the queen in an hour or less is used about 15% and twin chute cages for slow release the rest.

How long hopelessly Q- do you use, Pete?

 

[Erichalfbee]

How long hopelessly Q- do you use, Pete?

I think introducing a laying queen is the key thing

 

[Finman]

Really like using direct introduction here and this method is now used for about 80% of introductions, .

I use it too, but I would not teach it to a beginner.

I may offer one queen to the colony, and workers attack, but then they may accept another queen.

 

[Anduril]

I think introducing a laying queen is the key thing

Correct, I introduced one last weekend.

 

[Finman]

How long hopelessly Q- do you use, Pete?

No one use hopelessly queenless. That term comes from a worker laying hive, which do not have any more choice to rear queen cell.
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[Quis Custodiet]

Can you buy a large push in cage anywhere

The large ones 7" x5" or thereabouts are available in Germany, try Holtermann.

 

[SDM]

No one use hopelessly queenless. That term comes from a worker laying hive, which do not have any more choice to rear queen cell.
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Unless you make up the colony deliberately that way for the purpose of introduction.

 

[Finman]

Unless you make up the colony deliberately that way for the purpose of introduction.

But it is not hopeless. Wrong term. Just believe me. They start to rear emergency cells during 24 hours.

I have met hopelesly queenless only in the connection of worker laying. But this forum can use what ever.
In worker laying the colony does not have larvae, from where they can get a new queen.

 

[For want of a better word]

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What have happened to Welsh beekeepers. They are so silent. Have they jumped to sniffing side?

Our Glorious Tory leader got fed up with all the Welsh wingers and cut off their Broadband... I am now in contact via semaphore with our friends in Swansea!

Yeghes da