Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum
BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS => Topic started by: CoolBees on October 23, 2019, 04:30:53 pm
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When should I replace a failing Queen?
... I had a queen that was failing. Spotty brood patterns during the summer, and worse into August. Hive was strong at that time with 3 x 8 frame med boxes full of bees and stores.
I thought I'd let nature take its course - assuming that the bees knew best, and would replace her. They didn't.
Last Sundays inspection showed that Wax moths had invaded and mostly taken over. No queen. No brood. About 4 frames of bees left. Pretty much a mess inside.
I know there are probably several trains of thought on this, so im interested in all thoughts/comments?
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""When should I replace a failing Queen?""
YESTERDAY.
By the time you realize she is failing, you are already late.
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>When should I replace a failing Queen?
Anytime I am certain the queen is failing I would replace her. Just take into account conditions and time of year etc. A good queen can't raise brood, it takes workers to do that. She can only lay eggs and maintain morale with her pheromones, but she needs help. Sometimes it takes a bit for her to get started. But if you have a queen who used to do well who is now laying spotty brood and/or her hive is on a down turn and that can't be explained by conditions (dearth, time or year etc.) then I would requeen.
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When should I replace a failing Queen?
... I had a queen that was failing. Spotty brood patterns during the summer, and worse into August. Hive was strong at that time with 3 x 8 frame med boxes full of bees and stores.
I thought I'd let nature take its course - assuming that the bees knew best, and would replace her. They didn't.
Last Sundays inspection showed that Wax moths had invaded and mostly taken over. No queen. No brood. About 4 frames of bees left. Pretty much a mess inside.
I know there are probably several trains of thought on this, so im interested in all thoughts/comments?
Good post Alan,
Phillip
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Thank you Gentlemen for the answers. Very clear.
This queen came with a swarm in the spring, so she was older. She did great in the spring, but by early summer showed signs of degrading.
I will approach this differently next time. I is still learnin'. :grin:
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I like them to notice and take care of it. Usually by the time I notice they are taking care of it, but sometimes the bees don't have the instinct to sense a failing queen.