I would be shocked if this works! But, my approach is to do what is easiest and most simple and if it works, I save a ton of time. If not, I can just keep improving upon the idea. Leave me your suggestions on what we can do as a squad of fellow beekeepers to come up with a way to overwinter multiple banked queens!
If this does work for one queen, what would keep you from putting some vertical dividers in the queen isolation frame, add a queen to each one then put on the other side of Queen excluder material and Bank maybe five or six Queens on one frame, possibly even put a couple frames of these in a strong Hive.
Thinking about this a bit, would it be easier to use 1/8 hardware cloth on one side of the frame you are overwintering the queen on? It would be easier DIY, but then would only allow bees to enter through 1 side where you would still use the excluder material. Will follow this one closely, keep us posted David!
This is called Chmara’s Queen isolator bunch Europe and Russia practice this I’m thinking to make one for my hives and isolate queens they been laying eggs and it’s Mid October it works by the way
I've successfully kept queens, with a handful of workers, from failing colonies in mason jars over winter. If a colony gets too small in winter to maintain a cluster the only option is to bring them indoors. Queens are remarkably resilient; they just need to be fed and kept warm.
You mentioned virgin Queens I once forgot to let two virgin Queens out of the introduction cages I went in the Nucs Expecting them to be laying to my shock I hadn’t let them out. They’ve been in the cages for 2 1/2 months and it was late October not very warm I felt so sorry for them because it was my fault. I let them out of their cages and left them alone went back in 3 weeks later one was laying drones as expected, but to my surprise the other one was laying worker brood After 2 1/2 months in a cage, she still mated and it was November here in uk.
I've thought about this too, as many have, I'm sure. How to save the queens. I've thought of moving them to a heated area, so cluster issolation wouldn't be an issue. But with increased activity comes other obstacles. We'll be watching! Long lived the queens.
Loved this video. I have two queens I raised, that I would like to use in the spring to replace old queens. Those queens are currently in two nucs, one is a double deep and one a single deep. I was just going to try to overwinter the queens in those two nucs. But this makes me wonder if it may be better to try to overwinter as is, or like you did, or try putting in a double deep with Q excluder between the 2 deeps. I have 4 other healthy hives currently. I am willing to experiment with this, but not sure what to do…
The issue I see is keeping the other queen from getting to her. The cage and excluder has her trapped and will prevent the other bees from balling her but can a queen get her stinger in if not her body. I think you could bank 3-5 queens in such a frame and double with another divider. I do think an excluder is needed on that box though. Second issue I see is temp regulation in the winter as the hive tends to ball up inside the hive and shifts towards the top as it gets colder. I think you are onto a good idea that might save time in the spring with splits or nucs by salvaging queens while combining hives and starting splits sooner.
@beek i agree. I was trying to figure out a way to store the banked queens on the top of the hive so that the winter cluster could keep them warm without the queen killing them and they could still get fed. Your experiment was far simpler than what I was working out, lol
have you done a video on the resource colony method? like where people use 2x 5frame nucs under a shared 10 frame box & excluder to just give the queen's less laying opportunity. Always seemed like a good way to extend the life expectancy of queens. I always wondered if you could do like 4x 2frame nucs and push the concept furthur.
IMO, having the hive insulated as much as possible so they don't cluster over winter is key for a larger number if queens together and thus not eating threw stores is key and no just a cluster area also I have a different idea to try for this but I need to get a 3D printer. I want to try for like 50 queens together and then all being able to lay some if they want and workers have access to the eggs. I believe it's possible to get multiple queens over wintered and come out just as healthy in spring as any other over wintered queen, IMO, it's a matter of "thinking outside the hive box". Comes back to the thinking of The best part is no part or the best process is no process.
I appreciate the input, thank you. My reasoning (could be wrong) was that an empty frame might allow for a larger portion of the cluster around the banked queens and not divided by frames. But what do I know. 🤷🏻♂️
Absolutely not! That's why it's called an experiment. In fact, I don't expect it to work under the first set of parameters, but I want to start as simple as possible and if it fails I can change and improve. But if it works right off the bat, the easy way, then I can save myself a ton of adjustments and more work.
Pretty funny you deleted my comment.. guess you want people to think you know something about banking queens over winter. I don't normally watch comment I'll go back in that
I question what the results will bee. BUTT, I must say, I had to chuckle at your creative '3am-shower-tittles' way of telling the story. HOWEVER, I know one thing for sure…. a 'sweetheart-of-a-deal' awaits you in Hollywood !!!! Dick Booth aka: 'Richard Walterbee'. c2024inkRWBEE
I would be shocked if this works! But, my approach is to do what is easiest and most simple and if it works, I save a ton of time. If not, I can just keep improving upon the idea. Leave me your suggestions on what we can do as a squad of fellow beekeepers to come up with a way to overwinter multiple banked queens!
If this does work for one queen, what would keep you from putting some vertical dividers in the queen isolation frame, add a queen to each one then put on the other side of Queen excluder material and Bank maybe five or six Queens on one frame, possibly even put a couple frames of these in a strong Hive.
Should work fine people over winter dozens very similar
Thinking about this a bit, would it be easier to use 1/8 hardware cloth on one side of the frame you are overwintering the queen on? It would be easier DIY, but then would only allow bees to enter through 1 side where you would still use the excluder material. Will follow this one closely, keep us posted David!
This is called Chmara’s Queen isolator bunch Europe and Russia practice this I’m thinking to make one for my hives and isolate queens they been laying eggs and it’s Mid October it works by the way
I'm excited to see if this works. I feel like it might. I was wondering if we could use those queen isolation cages to do something similar
And these videos ,trying something new is the reason I follow his way of keeping bees David is an innovator to the fullest extent
I've successfully kept queens, with a handful of workers, from failing colonies in mason jars over winter. If a colony gets too small in winter to maintain a cluster the only option is to bring them indoors. Queens are remarkably resilient; they just need to be fed and kept warm.
Thanks David, great idea. It looks like it should work just fine, and if it does maybe even a couple more queens would fit in there.
You can add small shims inside and make a squares maybe 2 x 2 and you can put as many queens there as you can make sure you have enough bees and food
You mentioned virgin Queens I once forgot to let two virgin Queens out of the introduction cages I went in the Nucs Expecting them to be laying to my shock I hadn’t let them out. They’ve been in the cages for 2 1/2 months and it was late October not very warm I felt so sorry for them because it was my fault. I let them out of their cages and left them alone went back in 3 weeks later one was laying drones as expected, but to my surprise the other one was laying worker brood After 2 1/2 months in a cage, she still mated and it was November here in uk.
Wow, that’s one of the hell of a story
I've thought about this too, as many have, I'm sure. How to save the queens. I've thought of moving them to a heated area, so cluster issolation wouldn't be an issue. But with increased activity comes other obstacles. We'll be watching! Long lived the queens.
Loved this video. I have two queens I raised, that I would like to use in the spring to replace old queens. Those queens are currently in two nucs, one is a double deep and one a single deep. I was just going to try to overwinter the queens in those two nucs. But this makes me wonder if it may be better to try to overwinter as is, or like you did, or try putting in a double deep with Q excluder between the 2 deeps. I have 4 other healthy hives currently. I am willing to experiment with this, but not sure what to do…
The issue I see is keeping the other queen from getting to her. The cage and excluder has her trapped and will prevent the other bees from balling her but can a queen get her stinger in if not her body. I think you could bank 3-5 queens in such a frame and double with another divider. I do think an excluder is needed on that box though. Second issue I see is temp regulation in the winter as the hive tends to ball up inside the hive and shifts towards the top as it gets colder. I think you are onto a good idea that might save time in the spring with splits or nucs by salvaging queens while combining hives and starting splits sooner.
Very interesting - looking forward to the result!
Fingers crossed!
What a cool experiment!
David GREAT Weather here in Orangeville NY, bees are being bees. Good experiment for queen future 👍
This is something I have been researching myself
It would be profound to figure out a way to do this.
@beek i agree. I was trying to figure out a way to store the banked queens on the top of the hive so that the winter cluster could keep them warm without the queen killing them and they could still get fed. Your experiment was far simpler than what I was working out, lol
What if you made the cage and drill a hole threw the top of the frame and just drop queen into hole 🕳️. Good video 😊. See ya Thursday at Livestream 😊
Very creative video. That's one of my concerns is if I combine hives in the fall, what do I do with my extra queens.
This will work it’s called Chmara’S Queen isolator good to stop queens do what queens do 😂
have you done a video on the resource colony method? like where people use 2x 5frame nucs under a shared 10 frame box & excluder to just give the queen's less laying opportunity. Always seemed like a good way to extend the life expectancy of queens. I always wondered if you could do like 4x 2frame nucs and push the concept furthur.
Qestion, there was capped brood, so already a queen. Will they not kill her?
IMO, having the hive insulated as much as possible so they don't cluster over winter is key for a larger number if queens together and thus not eating threw stores is key and no just a cluster area also I have a different idea to try for this but I need to get a 3D printer.
I want to try for like 50 queens together and then all being able to lay some if they want and workers have access to the eggs.
I believe it's possible to get multiple queens over wintered and come out just as healthy in spring as any other over wintered queen, IMO, it's a matter of "thinking outside the hive box".
Comes back to the thinking of
The best part is no part or the best process is no process.
1st. Great info. Someone else who writes in the shower.
Boom!
If you are leaving the queen in a cage why do you need the home made excluder?
Did you need the empty frame? Would suspending her directly between active frames do the same thing?
I appreciate the input, thank you. My reasoning (could be wrong) was that an empty frame might allow for a larger portion of the cluster around the banked queens and not divided by frames. But what do I know. 🤷🏻♂️
@@beek I'm excited to see how it goes. Looking forward to meeting you in Iowa!
Just a question on your experiment can you guarantee they will attend to her and feed her?
Absolutely not! That's why it's called an experiment. In fact, I don't expect it to work under the first set of parameters, but I want to start as simple as possible and if it fails I can change and improve. But if it works right off the bat, the easy way, then I can save myself a ton of adjustments and more work.
That is kind of my question; how do the bees get close enough to the queen, physically, to feed her?
i hope this works
I don’t think it won’t work but I hope it does if so let me know please
Pretty funny you deleted my comment.. guess you want people to think you know something about banking queens over winter. I don't normally watch comment I'll go back in that
I don't recall deleting your comment. Sometimes they are automatically deleted if there are links, profanity, derogatory, spammy etc.
I question what the results will bee.
BUTT, I must say, I had to chuckle at your creative '3am-shower-tittles' way of telling the story.
HOWEVER, I know one thing for sure…. a 'sweetheart-of-a-deal' awaits you in Hollywood !!!!
Dick Booth aka: 'Richard Walterbee'. c2024inkRWBEE