Queens: to clip or not? that is the question.

[dpearce4]

Having just read the what have you done in your apiary thread, I was surprised at the polar attitudes to queen clipping.

I would like to start a debate here as to why it is or isn't right to clip Her Majesty.

I DO NOT want a slanging match at each other just informed reasons as to why people prefer to or not.

Please respect each others views and if you want to change views remember that when you throw mud it tends to make people less inclined to listen to a good debate.

 

[REDWOOD]

Brother Adam clipped his queen and had alighting boards that reached the ground so attempted swarm queens could return to the hive, I can't see anything wrong in that.

 

[dpearce4]

I will say that I Clip my queens when possible, The reason I do mine is that I have 20+ colonies and due to the inconsistencies of the British weather I am concerned that if I miss the weekend due to poor weather the next week they may have swarmed.

I do not have a car week days so would not be able to inspect in the evening when I get home from work if I had time.

I do think it isn't compulsory to clip and wouldn't force anyone else to but its what I do.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I don't clip my queens (up until this year it would have been pointless with my method of beekeeping anyway) But don't see anything wrong with it and wouldn't look down my nose at those that do (or don't for that matter as long as they don't take a 'holier than thou' stance). People should also be mindful that it is not a method to stop swarming, just gives you a few more days breathing space between inspections.

 

[dpearce4]

I don't clip my queens (up until this year it would have been pointless with my method of beekeeping anyway) But don't see anything wrong with it and wouldn't look down my nose at those that do (or don't for that matter as long as they don't take a 'holier than thou' stance). People should also be mindful that it is not a method to stop swarming, just gives you a few more days breathing space between inspections.

Exactly the reason I do. I would have lost swarms this year if I didn't and on 1 that I hadn't as it was a new queen last year that was difficult to find this year I lost a large swarm from.

 

[pargyle]

I wouldn't ... I think it's an overrated practice and has only limited use for buying a bit of time if bees have swarmed but it's possible you could lose a clipped queen in the grass anyway. I'm not in favour of chopping bits off any living creatures but I'm not about to castigate those who do clip their queens. It doesn't suit my style of beekeeping but then I have had only one hive to worry about not lots of them .... as yet - ask me again when I've been at it for a few years !

 

[jd101k2000]

Is it OK not to have an opinion on everything?

I'm feeling very strongly that I haven't made up my mind on this. (Vehemently apathetic.)

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Is it OK not to have an opinion on everything?

I'm not sure

 

[Skyhook]

I've not clipped queens before as it seemed rather unkind, but having lost swarms I have started to clip this year. It seems a great benefit that even if I should miss a swarm, I will get them back minus the queen.

.

 

[Walrus]

I don't clip but probably would do if I had a lot of colonies. I don't have any moral problem with it at all.


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[ratcatcher]

my queens have always been clipped by my mentor, as he took me under his wing so to speak, I followed mostly on what he advised, and I can see the point of it, as my bees recently swarmed, the queen didn't make it away with the swarm, and within an hour they were all back at the hive.
however, due to a slight disability in my hand, I personally could never keep the scissors steady enough to do the deed myself, therefore any hives I get set up in our woodland, the queens will be left whole

 

[Jimmys Mum]

I have started to this year after being shown how to do so properly. Each to their own though.

 

[pargyle]

Is it OK not to have an opinion on everything?

Oh yes .... there wouldn't be a lot of point in debate if there weren't a few 'don't knows' sitting on the fence ....

 

[Newtobees]

I clip my queens due to keeping my bees in my back garden at present and on an allotment . I had a hive swarm just after an inspection a couple of weeks ago i noticed open queen cells reduced these to one and was just getting new brood box out of shed when they swarmed off to a neighbours tree 15 mins later they all came back lucky me found the queen walking in the grass by the hive demeree done and now reunited back together with the old queen as she was a late 2013 . Decided to remove the queen cell before it hatched due to the weather not being great hive now not showing any further signs of swarming fever.

 

[mbc]

Is it OK not to have an opinion on everything?

I'm feeling very strongly that I haven't made up my mind on this. (Vehemently apathetic.)

 

[mbc]

I'm a haphazard clipper, if i happen to spot her and shes a year old and not clipped, then I clip her, if she slips through the net I'm not that bothered.
I do think the whole thing of clipping is more than just a few days grace on inspections, I believe it changes the psychology of the queen into a reluctant swarmer who will actively destroy queen cells, this gives you (most/some of the time)a lot more than the "pure 'biology and maths' couple more days grace" in practice, and you are much more likely to get to them before they're gone and be able to do something about it. Saying that, the reason I'm not fussed if I miss a few is that swarming is such a phenomenon of nature, it would be a shame to stamp it out entirely (not that thats likely!)

 

[Nuc]

I did not clip in my first year and lost a swarm followed by a second cast swarm. mostly due to inexperience on my part. However unlike the books which say the swarm will land on a nearby gate post, mine always go as high up a tree as they can get.
Last year clipped my queens and although i did lose 1 in the grass, kept all my bees and ended up with more hives and surplus honey. And no need to get the ladders out.
Will be down at my hives tomorrow to clip as it made management easier and safer.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

Clip away (I don't). But please do not destroy feral nest sites.

 

[Pete D]

I haven't got around to it yet cos..........
been flat out, docking the tails of lambs, horses, pigs, the dog and the cat when I can catch it.
Before that I was tied up as the new ducklings needed pinioning, the rhino and elephant needed their tusks sawing off, then can you believe the badgers needed shooting, which I will try and do just after I have finished force feeding the geese.

All completely necessary for a wide range of reasons

I may get around to it after forcing my colonies to stay un-naturally big so I can rape them of all the honey they collect.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I haven't got around to it yet cos..........
been flat out, docking the tails of lambs, horses, pigs, the dog and the cat when I can catch it.
Before that I was tied up as the new ducklings needed pinioning, the rhino and elephant needed their tusks sawing off, then can you believe the badgers needed shooting, which I will try and do just after I have finished force feeding the geese.

All completely necessary for a wide range of reasons

I may get around to it after forcing my colonies to stay un-naturally big so I can rape them of all the honey they collect.

Foie gras mmmmm - only one thing better is a slice of badger ham washed down with decent scrumpy. Both make a nice enree to a nice crated veal cutlet.
Personally I prefer beating my badgers to death with a sharpened spade (I believe a bit of one to one combat is far more fair and balanced).