Queen mating flights

[Winker]

How long does it take in a perfect world (weather being good) for a queen to go on her first mating flight from the time she hatches from the cell.

I know it can take up to four weeks for her to start laying, does that mean she just mooches around the hive for the first three weeks and then gets out for the mating flight. Or does she go out for mating flights soon after she hatches…weather permitting.

 

[mbc]

theoretically they can be mated and laying within a week of hatching - none of mine have ever done that whatever the weather - my virgins often like to wait untill I've nearly given up hope before mating and beggining to lay

 

[whizzwheels]

Was wondering how long it takes myself. I have two hives that the queen emerged from three weeks ago, when I checked last week no sign of eggs or the queen.
I know the weather has been bad for the first two weeks of her life, but now thinking has she bugger off!! As I check one of the hives yesterday and still no sign.
Going to put a test frame in from my hive with a good laying queen into the other two hives to see if they try to make queen cells.

 

[oliver90owner]

Or does she go out for mating flights soon after she hatches…weather permitting.

As soon as she has matured.

She will normally start laying a few days after mating. She doesn't mate and then wait three weeks before laying.

3 real requirements:
A mature queen.
Good mating weather
Drones
Been no problem with drones, but the weather..... (see my post on the 15th April)....

RAB