is it taking a long time for queens to mate

[Cuckmere couple]

this year in people's experience?

 

[linoleum bonypart]

First mated today ere

 

[Cuckmere couple]

thanks

ive had a few delayed so far...checking weekly...how often did you check?

 

[linoleum bonypart]

Last 2 weeks

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

this year in people's experience?

What do you consider a long time?

 

[Cuckmere couple]

two weeks so far

im told after 3 weeks they will be drone layers?

previous years (ive only been at it for 3-4) theyve been laying within a few days of emerging

 

[B+.]

previous years (ive only been at it for 3-4) theyve been laying within a few days of emerging

You do know that they aren't sexually mature for 6 days, don't you?

 

[enrico]

They can mate well up to six weeks! Although I always panic after four!

E

 

[Finman]

.
When my queens emerge and weathers are good, queens start to lay after 10 days. I do not mind about records. I follow when the last Queen is laying.

What do I do with "earliest layer record"?

IT is ready to mating flights on 7th day from emerging.

In good weather the Queen uses 1-3 days in mating. And if there are bad days, it takes more.
On 18 C temp only 20% mate, what I have seen. Over 20C temp calm days all will mate. Then the group needs 4 good days for perfect mating.

Swarm Queens are difficult to say, when they have "born". They mature and harden 2 extra days inside the cell and can fly directly when they emerge.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

excellent

very helpful all thank you

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

two weeks so far

im told after 3 weeks they will be drone layers?

Someone is giving you a load of old flannel

I don't even look until four weeks have passed - and that's only because I get impatient

 

[beeno]

They may be mated but not laying!

 

[Finman]

They may be mated but not laying!

Actually I have not met such Queen.

 

[masterBK]

You do know that they aren't sexually mature for 6 days, don't you?

I once had a queen laying in an Apidea 7 days from emergence. Obviously she had not read the right books (normally expect them to be laying in Apidea after 10 or 11 days but when weather not suitable obviously takes longer)

 

[Murox]

two weeks so far

im told after 3 weeks they will be drone layers?

previous years (ive only been at it for 3-4) theyve been laying within a few days of emerging

In ideal conditions it can take 16-23 days til a new queen lays her first egg and a further 25-32 days before they are capped.

 

[Finman]

I once had a queen laying in an Apidea 7 days from emergence. )

Yeah... That record information only mix beekeepers' head.

7 days is quite near possible if the Queen is full of semen after first mating day.
I have seen that mating can take 4 days if there is a rainy day between good days.

But day here or there has no meaning, because the whole rearing is a long process.