Queen Castles?

[Walrus]

One Winter project for me might be making some of those things that some call "queen castles" (not sure why). Basically a super box split 4 ways with dividers, half-width frames & an entrance for each quadrant. I know some on here use them.

These can over-winter on top of a crown board of a hive so that they benefit from rising warmth, which seems like a good thing. I think each quadrant would take 4 half-frames. I also like the idea that when starting out, the half-frames with foundation can be put on a strong colony (under the crown board!) to get the combs drawn out and populated with young bees. In the summer the queen castle can go onto a floor and become x4 mating nucs in one.

Any down sides? Apart from my sub standard carpentry skills I wonder how awkward it is when catching queens having 4 of them side by side.

 

[Anduril]

https://www.google.com/search?q=qua...ndroid-huawei&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

Also Hivemaker uses them and a few others, not sure if the photos are still on here or whether they are lost in the ether.

 

[Hachi]

Now that one of the poly manf's makes a split nuc box would it not be just as easy to go that route? Just thinking of all the extra kit etc.

 

[Anduril]

Now that one of the poly manf's makes a split nuc box would it not be just as easy to go that route? Just thinking of all the extra kit etc.

https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showpost.php?p=669603&postcount=15

One of the downsides!

 

[Murox]

When I used one many moons ago I used the box divided into 3 sections , not of equal size of course, using whole frames,

 

[markjadams]

BS Honey bees make a 6 frame nucs with a dividing board so you can have 2 x 3 frame nucs for over wintering queens etc.

I have a few and they are very good with an excellent top feeder as well, solidly made and well thought out.

 

[SDM]

What sort of survival do people get using the 3 frame bhs nucs to winter queens ?

 

[Anduril]

What sort of survival do people get using the 3 frame bhs nucs to winter queens ?

As above lal5000 had 50% success.

 

[SDM]

As above lal5000 had 50% success.

I expect better than that from double kielers.
I've got 10 running double 3 frame colonies at the moment, still not sure whether to winter them like that.
If it was only going to be 50% there would be little point.

 

[mbc]

That rising warmth theory has never helped in my experience, it seems to me the top bees always seem to suffer from being "fuggy"(not sure if thats a word but what I mean is damp with poor ventilation) even with a solid floor between.
I've not tried the bs 2 in 1 for overwintering two queens, three frames seems a bit precarious to me even though I overwinter queens in mini plus hives on less overall area on six smaller frames the small cluster has a bit more connection around the bottom and sides.
Edit: six half langstroth frames is more area than three nationals, doh!

 

[Walrus]

Oh well, I'm not sensing waves of enthusiasm for the idea. I might try one anyway just to see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Beefriendly]

Oh well, I'm not sensing waves of enthusiasm for the idea. I might try one anyway just to see how it goes. Thanks for the feedback.

The ideal crownboards are the Abelo ones with 5 holes with grills. It was exactly what they where designed for, but it never caught on...Think they are changing the mould to one central feed hole with grill or block.

 

[drex]

@ walrus. In answer to your first post. I did find it awkward moving bees on in one compartment, to put them into larger boxes, while not disturbing the others. Not so bad catching the queens provided they were on the frame. This is even with separate crown boards to each compartment.

 

[Walrus]

@ walrus. In answer to your first post. I did find it awkward moving bees on in one compartment, to put them into larger boxes, while not disturbing the others. Not so bad catching the queens provided they were on the frame. This is even with separate crown boards to each compartment.

Ok, thanks Drex

 

[iann41]

@ walrus
how would you go about feeding emergency stores to the bottom hive if they needed them.

 

[Walrus]

@ walrus
how would you go about feeding emergency stores to the bottom hive if they needed them.

It would be possible to take off the queen castle with its floor (bottom hive’s cover board), put on an eke and some fondant. However, I suspect I would just ensure they had plenty of stores in Autumn and never check! I’d be checking the fondant on the queen castle though, because they are tiny vulnerable colonies.


It might all sound like a PITA but just think - one floor, one roof, and 5 queens. How lovely to have plenty of mated queens raring to go in early spring. It means the mating boxes always have queens...sounds efficient.


On the other hand there must be reasons why only a few people do it!

 

[SDM]

Thing is, how often did you actually need a spare queen in early spring? Usually by the time you can get into a hive to confirm a failed queen it's too late for the remaining workers anyway . At best it might be worth uniting, but personally I'd just shake them out.

 

[Beefriendly]

On the other hand there must be reasons why only a few people do it!

Possibly because the kit to run 4 queens on a national footprint is not manufactured by any of the UK beekeeping retailers. HM excepted, as I know he makes his own.
I've always thought it would be a good thing to do but as my DIY skills are sadly lacking I may never do it.

You also need special sized frames for them. I saw some Polish frames a while back which folded in half so you could have a full sized frame with 2 of them or a half sized frame with one of them and they were designed specifically for small mating nucs that would overwinter on top of a full hive. Not compatible with any UK hive size though.....

 

[Angry_Mob]

Those Beesy frame adopters would make making custom sized frames easier: https://beesyframes.wordpress.com/make-you-own-frames/

 

[mbc]

Thing is, how often did you actually need a spare queen in early spring? Usually by the time you can get into a hive to confirm a failed queen it's too late for the remaining workers anyway . At best it might be worth uniting, but personally I'd just shake them out.

I overwinter dozens in mini plus hives and they invariably come in useful rescuing drone layers, failing queens and queenless hives or if not there's always customers early doors for queens.
I have been tempted to buy queenless packages to fill empty equipment on the spring rape with (not succumbed yet, see avatar!)