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Author Topic: Requeening the first time  (Read 2853 times)

Offline KONASDAD

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Requeening the first time
« on: March 13, 2007, 11:55:55 am »
I have two hives . One is very strong, the other not so. I want to take a nuc from my strong hive to aid in swarm prevention. I want to add some new foundation(probably small cell) to this hive and replace these b/c I think they are too contaminated from the commercial beek I purchased hive from. In my weak hive I want to replace queen. My question is, I have never found the queen in my weak hive. When do I remove the queen before I install another(days/hrs etc)? And what do I put in my nuc (frames of brood, honey etc.)and how many days before i get queen do I do these manipulations for the nuc?
Lastly, I want to keep a queen and preserve her. Suggestions on how to do this. Thanx in advance.
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Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Requeening the first time
« Reply #1 on: March 14, 2007, 08:34:22 am »
>I have never found the queen in my weak hive
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenspotting.htm

>When do I remove the queen before I install another(days/hrs etc)?

Ideal is overnight.  Not more than 24 hours on the outside.  Not less than 2 hours on the inside.  But overnight is what I have the best luck with.

> And what do I put in my nuc (frames of brood, honey etc.)

You can start a nuc with anywhere from one frame of brood and one frame of honey to three frames of brood and two frames of honey.  The latter will build MUCH more quickly.

>and how many days before i get queen do I do these manipulations for the nuc?

If you are buying a queen to install, it's the same principle.  Overnight will give them time to realize they are queenless.

>Lastly, I want to keep a queen and preserve her. Suggestions on how to do this.

A two frame nuc is nice.  A five frame nuc will do.  A cage with the queen and a few bees in a box with a screen and some candy that you water every day will work for quite a while if you put new bees in every week or so.  A cage with candy and attendents will for for a week or so.
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
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"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

Offline KONASDAD

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Re: Requeening the first time
« Reply #2 on: March 14, 2007, 10:46:18 am »
As usaul Mb thanx. My queen preservation question was misunderstood. I want to preserve her forever. As a momento of my first queen. Perhaps to sit on my office desk so i have soemthing to look at other than my work files.
"The more complex the Mind, the Greater the need for the simplicity of Play".

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: Requeening the first time
« Reply #3 on: March 14, 2007, 09:45:13 pm »
Clear epoxy?
My website:  bushfarms.com/bees.htm en espanol: bushfarms.com/es_bees.htm  auf deutsche: bushfarms.com/de_bees.htm  em portugues:  bushfarms.com/pt_bees.htm
My book:  ThePracticalBeekeeper.com
-------------------
"Everything works if you let it."--James "Big Boy" Medlin

 

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