When is it too late to get a new queen?

[Brian Gould]

2 of my 4 hives seem to be very quiet.  I think the queens must of died or got lost in the transfer from their nucs.  Is it too late to purchase new queens? We 

Brian W. Gould

(608)335-1288

[Jeff Steinhauer]

Hello Brian,

Sometimes queens can be hard to find, even if they're marked.  Look for signs that they are still there; eggs & larva.  If not, you can either purchase a new queen, or take a frame of eggs from a queen right hive and place it the queenless hives, and let them raise their own.  Or if one of your other hives are making queen cells, take a couple of those frames and place it into the queenless hives.

Best wishes,
Jeff S.

[Joseph Bessetti]

If the bees have nearly all left, per your statement they are very quiet, then there is little point in getting queens.

I would get in there and look.  

A nuc is a minimal colony size already.  A weak nuc at this time of year might still build up for winter.  It really depends on how much effort you want to put into them.  I usually question the effort when you start taking resources from other hives to save them.  Giving them a frame of brood to raise a queen might be a learning opportunity, but probably isn't a good choice.  I would make a strong split from another hive instead if you want to increase your number of colonies.

Joe

Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Smartphone

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[Brian Gould]

H

Brian W. Gould

(608)335-1288

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Sent: Tuesday, June 22, 2021 10:41:50 AM
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Subject: RE: [madbees] When is it too late to get a new queen?

 

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