Queen Castles?

[Walrus]

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!)

Hi mbc, do you over-winter them as double boxes (one over another) so there are 8 frames per queen, or whatever it is? I think that's what Plenty of Honey does in Brittany

 

[mbc]

Hi mbc, do you over-winter them as double boxes (one over another) so there are 8 frames per queen, or whatever it is? I think that's what Plenty of Honey does in Brittany

There's six frames to a box so a double would be twelve, but they're half langstroth size frames so twelve would make the same area as six, (I hope that clears that up!) and yes, I sometimes overwinter them as double brood (or triple)but more usually as singles.

 

[SDM]

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!)

It's just my opinion, but winter bees that have put their energy into raising drones, or who's queens have failed aren't worth saving usually. So I am not comfortable selling them to folk desperate to save their one hive. I requeen each colony every year ( except breeders) so see virtually no winter failures.

 

[Walrus]

There's six frames to a box so a double would be twelve, but they're half langstroth size frames so twelve would make the same area as six, (I hope that clears that up!) and yes, I sometimes overwinter them as double brood (or triple)but more usually as singles.

Thanks - I found this which goes into it in some detail, as you know 'cos you're in it (this place is a gold mine of info) https://beekeepingforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=32461

 

[Walrus]

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.

Thanks SDM. Yeah, for me, assuming they survived winter, the issue would be what to do with these queens as they ramp up laying in spring. But maybe that's a nice problem to have (insurance against losses, make increase, sell). With a mini plus system I could stick an extra box on them as they grow, so it's possibly easier to manage than the queen castle.

 

[iann41]

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!

I was thinking on the same lines as you but using an Abelo poly national divided into three by correx sheet. Three frames per nucleus.

 

[SDM]

Thanks SDM. Yeah, for me, assuming they survived winter, the issue would be what to do with these queens as they ramp up laying in spring. But maybe that's a nice problem to have (insurance against losses, make increase, sell). With a mini plus system I could stick an extra box on them as they grow, so it's possibly easier to manage than the queen castle.

I'll winter about 15 double kielers and 5 apideas, those that make it will simply restock mating nucs for next year. No doubt I'll find a use for them after that. There's bound to be the odd queen not keeping up with the rest.

 

[Newbeeneil]

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.....

Details of bifold frames on Cushman. http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/bifoldfr.html

 

[For want of a better word]

I'll winter about 15 double kielers and 5 apideas, those that make it will simply restock mating nucs for next year. No doubt I'll find a use for them after that. There's bound to be the odd queen not keeping up with the rest.

Do you give the double Keilers extra insulation?
I managed to get four through last winter placed together under a spare polly roof... sheltered spot and no really cold weather tho!

 

[SDM]

Do you give the double Keilers extra insulation?
o!

Yes , just individual bits of 50mm celotex .
We don't get cold winters here really, even the beast from the east didn't put snow on the ground. Frosts are a rarity .