You mean the method I use?
Queen introduction
- Thread starter Tindog
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You mean the method I use?
I think we have all used that 'give a gentle shake' in spring when donating some brood and young bees to a struggling colony. Also when preparing mini-nucs for queen rearing
Just trying to fine tune my queen in a cage introduction- as you can see I'm still not completely happy.
How long to make the hive queenless before putting in the Q in travel cage (closed)?
Does your method vary with small nucs and full size colonies.
In small 3/6 frame nucs : At present I find putting the travel cage in within 30 mins is working at present then inspect 3 days later- remove any QC and check behaviour of workers to queen and release if calm and watch her walk in- last 15 nucs all accepted none showed aggression.
In a strong nuc or full size hive: 1 queen in travel cage put in within 30 min of being queenless was killed in cage; So I've opted to leave them queenless for longer before Q in cage introduciton. To fit in with my weekly inspection visits I leave them a week- remove all emergency queens cells and put Q in travel cage in. May them inspect again in 3-4 days or leave them another week. Push in cage option is something I gaining more experience with on full size hives and may replace the travel cage.
How long to make the hive queenless before putting in the Q in travel cage (closed)?
Does your method vary with small nucs and full size colonies.
In small 3/6 frame nucs : At present I find putting the travel cage in within 30 mins is working at present then inspect 3 days later- remove any QC and check behaviour of workers to queen and release if calm and watch her walk in- last 15 nucs all accepted none showed aggression.
In a strong nuc or full size hive: 1 queen in travel cage put in within 30 min of being queenless was killed in cage; So I've opted to leave them queenless for longer before Q in cage introduciton. To fit in with my weekly inspection visits I leave them a week- remove all emergency queens cells and put Q in travel cage in. May them inspect again in 3-4 days or leave them another week. Push in cage option is something I gaining more experience with on full size hives and may replace the travel cage.
Finman
Queen Bee
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Best lenght as queenless is 5 days. Then hive has capped its own emergency cells and accept very well a new Queen.
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