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Post by rbz on May 13, 2016 0:39:57 GMT -7
...other than making sure the hive doesn't have a virgin running around messing up your plans What method do you like to use? I like the plastic cages that it snug in the bees space between the top bars. To keep the bees from eating the candy...duct tape the end. After day five I crack the hive and check how the bees are interacting with the queen. If they are obviously biting trying to get to her...its a no go for removal of the tape, otherwise I just remove the tape and close it up. I'm happy with the rate, but I'm now at a number of hives where I don't have the luxury of time to individually check each hive.
So...what's the best method where one can be reasonably certain queen introduction will be successful?
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Post by HarryVanderpool on May 14, 2016 17:47:29 GMT -7
...other than making sure the hive doesn't have a virgin running around messing up your plans So...what's the best method where one can be reasonably certain queen introduction will be successful? You hit on something that is very important. And it seems like every year, late in the season there is a hive or two that has a new queen introduced, yet when you go back and queen check, there is an old beat-up sputtering queen.!!!! Same with "laying worker" hives. Almost all of them actually have a failing / failed queen. I found one the other day with no wings! Anyway, when ever I find a "queenless" hive, I slam on the brakes and look and look and look again for a screwy queen before wasting $28.00. Or wait; $56.00 after you get it right the 2nd time. Also, we always place the queen cage between frames of mixed brood with young nurse bees. (except in packages) That means often taking a couple of frames from another hive, bees and all and placing them dead center in the hive and then placing the queen cage in between for a candy release. I have burned up over 300 queens so far this year and just getting started. Looking like a good year anyway! |
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Post by rbz on May 15, 2016 20:39:28 GMT -7
Beat-up wingless queen? poor girl. Yup...anything that resembles an actual queen in the hive is a death sentance. Huh..between two frames of mixed brood? Thanks for the tip
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