BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER > REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS
When to replace a failing Queen?
CoolBees:
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?
iddee:
""When should I replace a failing Queen?""
YESTERDAY.
By the time you realize she is failing, you are already late.
Michael Bush:
>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.
Ben Framed:
--- Quote from: CoolBees on October 23, 2019, 04:30:53 pm ---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?
--- End quote ---
Good post Alan,
Phillip
CoolBees:
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:
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version