Queen rearing -- why?

[ShinySideUp]

I was thinking of trying my hand a queen rearing but I'm not in a position to sell them, I don't need them AFAIK, so why would I do it?

I know it seems an odd and noob-like question but I read about people queen rearing but I don't know what they do with them afterward.

 

[Millet]

I was thinking of trying my hand a queen rearing but I'm not in a position to sell them, I don't need them AFAIK, so why would I do it?

I know it seems an odd and noob-like question but I read about people queen rearing but I don't know what they do with them afterward.

Learn who to keep bees first..

 

[ShinySideUp]

Learn who to keep bees first..

I'm afraid I worded my question as hypothetical but a re-read tells me it didn't come across that way. I meant to say 'should I try my hand at queen-rearing...'

But the question still stands, what would I do with twenty (say) queens?

 

[madasafish]

I'm afraid I worded my question as hypothetical but a re-read tells me it didn't come across that way. I meant to say 'should I try my hand at queen-rearing...'

But the question still stands, what would I do with twenty (say) queens?

I can only speak from personal experience.
I raised 17 queens last year.
Requeened 6 hives.
Requened 4 nucs
Gave 2 away. Sold 1.
Overwintered the remaining 4 in mini nucs. 1 died,
This Spring, sold 2, gave 1 away.
And could do with 3 now ; instead I have to wait another 3-4 weeks...for mating and laying etc..

You will find queens available at a time of need are always welcome by someone.

And it's fun and satisfying - what more can you want from a hobby?

 

[For want of a better word]

Unless you go down the AI route or know what the local drone population dynamics are queen rearing can be very frustrating.

I flood my own area with bees ( drone) of my own choosing and encourage other beekeepers in the area by helping them to keep the same type of bee ( one most suited to the local conditions)... and running queen rearing courses.

I think Millet meant that you need a lot of bees to breed bees...

One trait for sure to not breed into them is the tendency to swarm as soon as Sirius is rising in conjunction with a full Moon!!

Yeghes da

 

[B+.]

I know it seems an odd and noob-like question but I read about people queen rearing but I don't know what they do with them afterward.

The queen is the heart of your colony. I've always found it fascinating that, with a little bit of work improving the qualities of the queen, you can fundamentally change the nature of your colony.
If you put the same work into developing the queens that supply the drones, you can exert even more influence on workers she produces.
At the very least, you can use these queens to requeen older queens. If you get really good at it, before long, people will be asking you for your queens.

 

[enrico]

and at £30 per queen it can be lucrative

 

[madasafish]

and at £30 per queen it can be lucrative

My sales of queens so far have repaid my initial investment..so now it will be mainly profit... or rather - a reduction in the cost of the hobby