Kill a 1 year old Queen?

[newbee101]

It was suggested that I requeen my hives to prevent swarming. I got two Russians from fatbeeman. I found 1 of my overwintered Queens in the super laying a good pattern. I could not bring myself to killing her. I placed her and all the brood from the super into a shallow and made her a hive. The new Russian is laying eggs already in the old hive. The other Russian Queen went into a split. I can not see destoying what appears to be a great laying, healthy Queen. I reduced the photos as much as possible.

[Kathyp]

i sure wouldn't.  why change what is working.  there is debate about yearly requeening and i think most people have come to believe that it is not necessary.  every other, maybe and probably more important for a commercial beekeeper, than a hobbyist.  for us, we can go according to how our hive looks and what our finances allow.  i'd guess that my hive will requeen before i get around to it.  at least i hope so!  it will save me the money  :-)

[JP]

Totally agree with Kathyp.

[Mklangelo]

Totally agree with Kathyp.

Yep.  I was advised to requeen and just decided to let the ladies do their thing. 

[doak]

Notice how gentle the bees are this year. Do not compare her bees with these new russian queens bees.
"Rember" when next year rolls around. If she is still laying a good pattern. This may not change for 3 or 4 years. What does change from year to year is the Queen Pheromone becomes weaker, This is one of the main reason for "agressive Bees". I am not taking about how they  act when you are taking what honey you will take. Sure that will make anything mad. In the spring the first inspections you should be able to make with out the borher of waring gloves, that is with a gentle Itailan colony.
I know, it does seem  rediculous to kill a year old queen.
doak

[Michael Bush]

My best queens are all three years old right now...

This one was seven years old:
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesbetterqueens.htm#Queen%20Alice

[Brian D. Bray]

I personally prefer 2nd and 3rd year queens,  I'll requeen sooner if necessary on the performance of the queen.  Often the bees supercede the queen before I'm ready so I let them do it.  I usually have no problems with supercedure or self raised queens until the 3rd or 4th generations.  I don't buy queens very often and then only 1 or 2 per year as I keep less than 6 hives.

[DayValleyDahlias]

What a beautiful Queen she is...I wouldn't kill he either..I don't  know much, but I agree with you hahahahaha~*~