Using A Queen Castle?

[Everbeezer]

I have been reading up and watching videos with regards to the use of a Queen Castle as part of the queen rearing process and new colony building. I am interested in finding out if any forum members have any experience of using this method and how successful their experiences were.

 

[Finman]

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I have used those 30 years. The losses of virgins were huge,about 50% because they peeped in their rooms. They called to fight and they went to search another peeper. Sometimes only one virgin was left.

Then I changed the system to solitary mating nucs, and losses stopped.

Warm system... Oh no, not at all. When I started to use polyurethane nuc box, the broodrearing of mating nuc was splended.


Jep. I learned that castle thing 50 y ago from my mentor.
Year was 1966.
.

 

[Everbeezer]

Thank you Finman for your reply. Although I have not seen any mention of Queen piping, I can see how it could be a problem with new Queens being in close proximity to each other.

 

[B+.]

Although I have not seen any mention of Queen piping, I can see how it could be a problem with new Queens being in close proximity to each other.

This old skep beekeeping video has a good example https://youtu.be/S8i-Rf6_caU?t=4m52s

 

[Finman]

This old skep beekeeping video has a good example https://youtu.be/S8i-Rf6_caU?t=4m52s

How?

 

[B+.]

How?

play the video up to about 5:15 and you will hear the virgins