Virgin queens. Whats the best simple method to get them mated.

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Luvthesun

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What is the best method for keeping newly caged Virgin Queens alive, in preparation for mating?

What is the fastest methods for keeping them alive to get mated?

Backstory:
I just caught and individually caged, 7 virgin queens from a colony, just as they were hatching. I found all of the opened queen cells and tore out

None of theses remaining QC's casings had been torn, chewed.

These VQ's are being kept in a dark place, ~75-82°F, with a few attendants.
They have access to honey, sugar cake and water.
Some attendants are tending to the queen, some ignore them.
 
Bank them in their cages, in a hive or hives, up in the supers will do, the bees will tend to them. Then I would make up some mating nucs and pop them into these with the tabs snapped off.
Okay. Are you saying put the queen cages in the top box of a established hive?
I thought the colony's bees would kill them?

I need to research the best way to make a mating nuk.
How long will they be fertile?
 
What is the best method for keeping newly caged Virgin Queens alive, in preparation for mating?

What is the fastest methods for keeping them alive to get mated?

Backstory:
I just caught and individually caged, 7 virgin queens from a colony, just as they were hatching. I found all of the opened queen cells and tore out

None of theses remaining QC's casings had been torn, chewed.

These VQ's are being kept in a dark place, ~75-82°F, with a few attendants.
They have access to honey, sugar cake and water.
Some attendants are tending to the queen, some ignore them.
I light a few candles, and play some Barry White just near the hive. Works every time.
 
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