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Author Topic: split.. leave queenless how long ?  (Read 2847 times)

Offline malabarchillin

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split.. leave queenless how long ?
« on: March 13, 2008, 05:00:46 pm »
Tomorrow a bought queen is due to arrive.
QUESTION is how long should I let the split remain queenless before
introducing bought queen ?  hours ? overnight ?
If it is too long and they start queen cells will THEY tear them down ?
If I do not find the original queen is the queenless roar REALLY obvious
as to which box of the split has no queen.
Thanks
Mike

Offline Kirk-o

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Re: split.. leave queenless how long ?
« Reply #1 on: March 13, 2008, 05:29:29 pm »
I asked that question once and I think at least 2 hours but I do my splits 24 hrs before the queen comes seems to work fine.
kirko
"It's not about Honey it's not about Money It's about SURVIVAL" Charles Martin Simmon

Offline pdmattox

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Re: split.. leave queenless how long ?
« Reply #2 on: March 13, 2008, 05:38:59 pm »
I have made some nucs this year that as soon as I made them I put the queen cage in them. I had a 100% take on 23 nucs this way. Placement of the queen cage is very important though. I place the screened part up against the comb so the feed here throug the side slits. you can wait over night if you want but anything longer than 24 hours and they will start queen raising.

Offline malabarchillin

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Re: split.. leave queenless how long ?
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2008, 07:59:16 pm »
I am doing a 50/50 split from a 10 frame deep. Temps are 80s days and 60s at night.
Is it worth while to put them in a 5 frame nuc or just put them in a 10 frame deep along with 5 frames of foundation ?   I assume that shortly a good flow will begin. What signs would I look for to know when the nuc should be put in a 10 frame deep ?
Thanks
Mike

PS. I think this was more of a 'split' question than a requeen question.  :)

Offline Michael Bush

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Re: split.. leave queenless how long ?
« Reply #4 on: March 13, 2008, 09:11:00 pm »
My preference is to remove the queen one afternoon and put the new one in the next morning.  Overnight works well.  In an outyard, I'll settle for two hours.  Take the queens out (split etc.).  Have lunch.  Start putting queens in.
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