Queen introduction - excitement or aggression

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Next time I'm going to make up the nuc first and leave queenless for a day at least

I wouldn't - I always pop the new queen in as soon as the old one goes.

 

[Erichalfbee]

I wouldn't - I always pop the new queen in as soon as the old one goes.

I do the same.
If you use brood that’s been over a QX for a week it doesn’t matter how long you wait. Top broods of a Demaree are great for making nucs up

 

[Parsonage Bees]

I wouldn't - I always pop the new queen in as soon as the old one goes.

I'll just put this one down to experience. Not meant to be.
Just annoying that this is the first mated queen I've produced from a graft and we fail at the last step.
. . .. . Ben

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I'll just put this one down to experience. Not meant to be.
Just annoying that this is the first mated queen I've produced from a graft and we fail at the last step.
. . .. . Ben

It's been a strange year, I had a 100% success rate with queen intros (both full colonies and nucs) until this year, but as I also, for some daft reason changed my system a wee bit this season it may have been that that scuppered my clean run.

 

[Repwoc]

but as I also, for some daft reason changed my system a wee bit this season it may have been that that scuppered my clean run.

What did you do differently, JBM?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

What did you do differently, JBM?

Left the candy cap on too long basically - in the past I've never left it on for more than 24 hours unless the colony is still exceptionally agressive towards her, this year, for various reasons (listening to a lot of chatter being one, time was another) I decided to try something different and it was four or five days before the candy was uncovered.

 

[Swn58]

Went to check on my new queen today. She was left in her cage with her attendants last Thursday. As you can see, she is fine and walking amongst her new subjects!

 

[Madge]

... Make sure it is drawn comb and not just foundation otherwise the colony will eat into the cage within a few hours! ...

Do I understand you correctly: are you using only drawn comb with a push-in cage? I thought the idea was to use a comb with emerging brood (with space for her to start laying) - or doesn’t that matter?

 

[Hebeegeebee]

I've never tried the dipping in honey trick. Usually introduced queens in cages are mostly ignored - I have never seen the behaviour shown in the video. Thanks for sharing it - and the outcome.

 

[Swarm]

In my limited experience orange bees will accept most queens. Black bees are more picky and aggressive bees difficult

Orange in my area spells a decline in temperament and a stubborn refusal to accept different genetics, I've given up wasting beautiful black queens on them. Crush and unite and save decent queens for bees from better stock.