Virgin Queen decision

[Loubylou]

Hi folks, a beekeeping friend has given me a virgin Q as she is requeening with a bought in mated Q. She is caged and feeding herself at the moment. I couldn't bear to kill her and not sure what to do with her. Is it too late to make up a nuc from one of my good hives and pop her in. Or should I just let her go like my other beekeeping half says?

 

[Finman]

.
A strange question, because you have 11 hives. You surey know the answer.
It seems that you do not have there mating weathers.

.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hi folks, a beekeeping friend has given me a virgin Q as she is requeening with a bought in mated Q. She is caged and feeding herself at the moment. I couldn't bear to kill her and not sure what to do with her. Is it too late to make up a nuc from one of my good hives and pop her in. Or should I just let her go like my other beekeeping half says?

you may like to risk the outside (very) chance of her mating now and building up some kind of a colony for winter but IMHO there's only one option - a fencepost decoration.
And what does your OH mean by 'letting her go' ? far more humane and sensible just to kill her.

 

[snelgrove]

you may like to risk the outside (very) chance of her mating now and building up some kind of a colony for winter but IMHO there's only one option - a fencepost decoration.
And what does your OH mean by 'letting her go' ? far more humane and sensible just to kill her.

I wouldn't break up a good colony at this time of the year. Colonies should be more or less settled for winter. Very few drones flying here

 

[Finman]

I wouldn't break up a good colony at this time of the year. Colonies should be more or less settled for winter. Very few drones flying here

Very simple. Queens do not mate at temp of 16C.

 

[snelgrove]

Very simple. Queens do not mate at temp of 16C.

20 c forcast this week we're OP is from. Alot warmer in sunshine.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Naughty of your friend to leave you with the decision. Giver her back?

 

[Loubylou]

Thank you all.....decision made, action taken....she is no more. Advice taken.....very little chance of success and don't want to deplete other hives and kinder to dispatch rather than let fly to die slowly. However, still feeling like a murderous b*****d

 

[snelgrove]

Thank you all.....decision made, action taken....she is no more. Advice taken.....very little chance of success and don't want to deplete other hives and kinder to dispatch rather than let fly to die slowly. However, still feeling like a murderous b*****d

Killing queens part of beekeeping I am afraid.

 

[Millet]

Killing queens part of beekeeping I am afraid.

I have killed a lot of things over the years for various reasons with the biggest being a fare few sheep with the intestines hanging out during lambing season, however the thought of killing a Queen bee plays on my mind .

 

[Fatbee]

And the bees have no issue in dispatching a queen either if it's warranted

 

[snelgrove]

I have killed a lot of things over the years for various reasons with the biggest being a fare few sheep with the intestines hanging out during lambing season, however the thought of killing a Queen bee plays on my mind .

When I was younger and my course at Houghall college durham we visted an abotoir in Sunderland. Changes your perception on killing God's creatures. Then again I love a nice sirloin

 

[Finman]

20 c forcast this week we're OP is from. Alot warmer in sunshine.

And to morrow but not after that. Be realistic. And all that when some one cannot squeeze one unnecessary queen.

 

[therustler]

You are not Beekeepers. You are honey producers.

 

[mbc]

You are not Beekeepers. You are honey producers.

If you're basing that on dispatching a queen then its you who have no concept of beekeeping.

 

[Swarm]

I'd like to think we would all think twice before taking any life.

 

[mbc]

I'd like to think we would all think twice before taking any life.

Of an individual cell of a superorganism? squish em without hesitation if it seems for the best imho.

 

[TryingToLetThemBee]

What's going on on the other side of the story? Why's this person throwing off VQs and what sort of trouble are they in?

 

[Millet]

Love Yee.

 

[Gilberdyke John]

I'd like to think we would all think twice before taking any life.

I refer you to the old adage "some people are only alive because it's illegal to kill them"
It's the second thought which saves them.