Replacing Queen

[BeeMade]

I have what could be a comprehensive question regarding replacing a lame queen. Just checked my hive and discovered that the existing queen is not laying (no new eggs anywhere and plenty of drone cells). So, I attempted to find her (not marked) and when I finally found her on the last frame in the brood box, she flew before I could get my tool on her (obviously to exterminate). Since I could not get her and knowing that she would likely be back in the hive and knowing that she's not laying, can I introduce a new fertile queen in a cage with hopes that the hive will accept her and either kill or run off the old queen.

Note: there were no queen cups in the box anywhere so it doesn't appear that they are planning to replace her.

Yes, I know its a long shot and very risky but .... I had to ask.

Thanks

 

[The Poot in Somerset]

I've heard of many ways to exterminate a queen, but to do it with your tool is a new one on me. Must be an American thing. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[enrico]

I've heard of many ways to exterminate a queen, but to do it with your tool is a new one on me. Must be an American thing. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[Ian123]

Slapping your tool onto a frame of stinging insects is quite frankly asking for trouble.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Slapping your tool onto a frame of stinging insects is quite frankly asking for trouble.

If you could take away the pain but leave the swelling I think you might have some uptake!!!!!

 

[thedozzer]

I have what could be a comprehensive question regarding replacing a lame queen. Just checked my hive and discovered that the existing queen is not laying (no new eggs anywhere and plenty of drone cells). So, I attempted to find her (not marked) and when I finally found her on the last frame in the brood box, she flew before I could get my tool on her (obviously to exterminate). Since I could not get her and knowing that she would likely be back in the hive and knowing that she's not laying, can I introduce a new fertile queen in a cage with hopes that the hive will accept her and either kill or run off the old queen.

Note: there were no queen cups in the box anywhere so it doesn't appear that they are planning to replace her.

Yes, I know its a long shot and very risky but .... I had to ask.

Thanks

As the more experienced beekeepers are distracted by double entendres' i shall have a novices attempt at answering.

Take 2 frames of stores and 2 brood frames, make up a Nuc with them and make sure that the queen is not transferred, use a push in queen introduction cage, place queen and put that in the original hives place. leave for a few days, then have a look and see how if they have accepted her.
If so remove cage and let them build up new brood until strong enough for a full hive.
Move old hive with duff queen, and any DLW to another site/area, and you can deal with it once all the flyers have gone.

 

[BeeMade]

As the more experienced beekeepers are distracted by double entendres' i shall have a novices attempt at answering.

I agree ... didn't know I was posting in front of a preschool class but, guess some have to get their jollies off somehow.

 

[BeeMade]

Take 2 frames of stores and 2 brood frames, make up a Nuc with them and make sure that the queen is not transferred, use a push in queen introduction cage, place queen and put that in the original hives place. leave for a few days, then have a look and see how if they have accepted her.
If so remove cage and let them build up new brood until strong enough for a full hive.
Move old hive with duff queen, and any DLW to another site/area, and you can deal with it once all the flyers have gone.

I appreciate your advice and it sounds like it would work; this technique will be implemented on Thursday as its supposed to rain all day tomorrow. I'll let you know what the results are.

As a side-note, I would not "slap" my tool against a hive of bees (as a couple of people here assumed I would) without first covering myself with motor oil and Raid to protect myself. However, I was planning on pinning the queen down to crush her, simply because she is too fast for me to catch. Hope this cleared up some misconceptions of the aforementioned juveniles.

Again Dozzer, thanks for the help!

 

[Erichalfbee]

*****

 

[enrico]

Sorry for smiling!!!!
Remember that the drones are the last to emerge so it may just be her last eggs left.
I would have another look for the queen in the hope that you can get her this time and then I would add a frame of eggs from another hive if you have one. You do not say how many hives you have. If you DO think that you have laying workers then Dozzers answer is preferable.
E

 

[BeeMade]

Sorry for smiling!!!!
Remember that the drones are the last to emerge so it may just be her last eggs left.
I would have another look for the queen in the hope that you can get her this time and then I would add a frame of eggs from another hive if you have one. You do not say how many hives you have. If you DO think that you have laying workers then Dozzers answer is preferable.
E

Thanks.

I've had two hives (including the one in question) since November and both boxes are made up of medium supers (one medium in the bad queen box) and I'm not sure if there are enough frames in the other box to share with the hive in question. So implementing Dozzers' recommendation, I will rejoin the two boxes once I take out the existing queen so the hive will be strong enough to survive because I don't believe they would make it on their own being permanently split.

Any additional thoughts?