Requeening

[Roola]

I'm looking to requeen a swarm I caught a few months back. They arrived with a good number of bees but the queen was very small and laid a small amount of brood in a patchy formation before disappearing and emergency cells were made. The newly hatched queen is now laying but only sparingly and is also small and bees have created what look like about 4 supercedure cells on middle of frames, each has been charged with an egg. I'm reluctant to let them bring on yet another queen based on these genetics as likely it will be another small poor queen... I'm therefore looking to requeen them. I'm reluctant to unite as there are a viable number of bees to really bring this colony along with a good laying queen. I'm therefore looking to introduce a new queen... My question is, If i'm using an introduction cage (i'd look to break off plastic flap but then cover hole with electrical tape which is easy to peel off when i'm ready) can I kill the old queen there and then and then insert new caged queen straight away, as long as I ensure she is released on my terms when the tape is pulled away. Thanks

 

[Erichalfbee]

I did one this morning.
Kill queen in a small colony, inspect of colonies looking for source of swarm, which took an hour, add new queen in cage. Tab off on Sunday

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

can I kill the old queen there and then and then insert new caged queen straight away, as long as I ensure she is released on my terms when the tape is pulled away. Thanks

You could - can't see anythibg really wrong with that but I would prefer to leave Q- for an hour or two before puttiing the new queen in then remove tab/tape a couple of days later

 

[Bosleeu]

Agree, kill the old Queen, then put the introduction cage in, but leave the tape in place for now. I normally check for queencells for 6 days then remove the cap/tape so that she can be released. Give them a light feed. Check a week later for eggs.

You may see a few supercedure cells for the first week or so. Many say this is because the queen's feromone levels in the colony are low shortly after being released.
Others may disagree but I normally destroy these as long as I see the queen and some eggs . It normally stops as soon as she has laid up a few frames and are well established.

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[Roola]

cheers all