new queen OK to use as soon as laying?

[wondervet]

first time we've done this so would appreciate reassurance.

new queen resulting from AS split mid-April. Hatched 25th Apr. we want to use her to re-queen a big horrible colony of followers/serial stingers. was planning to do this as a newspaper hive uniting job.

first question: is she good to go as soon as confirm egg laying? Or should we give her more time? need to re-queen the bad lot is pressing.

second question: the bad girls are in a double brood jam packed with brood and bees and 2 supers. nice new queen in single brood box with dregs of old queen's offspring. I have read people saying newspaper technique 'never' fails but this is going to be a bit of a mismatch size-wise. still OK? Does it matter which colony goes on top?

words of wisdom/correction much appreciated.

Roger

 

[Poly Hive]

What hive types are involved here?

Yes your queen is good to go on the basis that as you are not giving her time to prove herself it is a bit of a gamble letting her loose in a full colony.

If your brood boxes are as you say jammed full should you not think of working them a bit more to ease matters? Or add a third brood.

PH

 

[wondervet]

Thanks PH

National brood boxes.

So how long would you ideally give her to prove herself before installing her?

Regards

 

[Stiffy]

I had a similar colony which calmed down after being allowed to expand
Are they really that bad or just trying to tell you 'give us more room'!
Cheers
S

 

[wondervet]

No, they've been persistent followers since they were a nuc last year. Queen lays well and productive colony but there are limits to what one can inflict on innocent passers by.

 

[susbees]

For mature QMP levels one full brood cycle is recommended before introduction.

 

[mbc]

Queens get better acceptance if left to lay untill their first brood is sealed, but in your case your not taking the queen out of her colony and introducing her elsewhere, but keeping her in her colony and uniting, so I think if you need to do it asap then they'll be fine so long as youve got shot of the q in the big hive first. It doesnt matter which way round uniting is done and size difference in colonies isnt important so long as there are enough bees with the new queen to maintain a nest.

 

[Poly Hive]

The norm is one set of sealed brood, not so much for the pheromones although that is a bonus of course but for the beekeeper to see the brood pattern.

PH