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Author Topic: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?  (Read 971 times)

Offline BurleyBee

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Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« on: September 12, 2022, 06:04:03 pm »
I have a few Nucs that had Queen cells that did not return a queen.  I was wondering can I introduce a mated queen to these Nucs without issue?  At this point the brood that was in them has hatched out.  I could of course give them a frame of brood from another colony, but if not needed, would just be one less thing. 
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Offline TheHoneyPump

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Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #1 on: September 13, 2022, 02:15:28 am »
It is best to intro with a frame of mixed brood all ages.  It does not have to be a big patch of brood and could be only on one side of the frame. Brood definitely helps acceptance go faster and smoother.
When the lid goes back on, the bees will spend the next 3 days undoing most of what the beekeeper just did to them.

Offline BurleyBee

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #2 on: September 13, 2022, 06:28:48 am »
I figured that was the case.  Thank you for response.
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2022, 07:00:41 am »
A candy release is likely to work with caged queens.  If you have a laying queen who had not been caged (is laying right now) you can just put the frame with the queen on it in and they will almost always accept her.
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Offline BurleyBee

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2022, 08:18:21 am »
They?re caged with candy. 

I?ve had terrible results raising late summer queens.  Rain rain and a little more rain.  Ordered some  NW Carni queens from Strachen Apiaries to try out.
« Last Edit: September 13, 2022, 09:25:01 am by BurleyBee »
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Online Michael Bush

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #5 on: September 13, 2022, 01:16:01 pm »
I've had poor luck with queens this year and everyone around here says the same.  I don't know what the causes are.  I can't point to any particular thing.
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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Offline Oldbeavo

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #6 on: September 15, 2022, 06:46:58 pm »
As there is no brood, just check that a laying worker has not started before you put your queen in. Check for new eggs.

Offline BurleyBee

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2022, 10:22:35 pm »
Dropped a frame of brood in 5 queenless hives.  Had a really good experience with Strachan Apiaries out of Yuba City, CA.  Good customer service and all queens arrived alive.  I?ve had problems with that in the past.  I try not to buy queens and typically keep in local, but wanted to play with some New World Carniolans for fun.

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Offline beesnweeds

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #8 on: September 15, 2022, 11:12:16 pm »
Before I started raising queens, I would get a few Strachan NWC.  Excellent queens.
Everyone loves a worker.... until its laying.

Offline BurleyBee

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #9 on: September 16, 2022, 07:42:07 pm »
From everything I?ve read, they seem legit.  We shall see.
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Offline TheHoneyPump

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #10 on: September 16, 2022, 08:06:52 pm »

And they are off! Hopefully those NWC better meet your needs than they did for mine.
It will boil down to what your expectations are for colony performance in the various traits. If the colony matches your needs and wants, they are excellent.  If they are lacking in performing at things that are important to you, you may find them to be merely mediocre.

When the lid goes back on, the bees will spend the next 3 days undoing most of what the beekeeper just did to them.

Offline BurleyBee

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Re: Introducing Queens in broodless colonies?
« Reply #11 on: September 16, 2022, 08:20:49 pm »
My expectations aren?t too high.  I just had some queenless hives I wanted to try to bring along.  My area beeks were done with queens so I thought why not.  Hope they do well.
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