About the hopelessly queenless start for nuclei before you introduce the new queen. I make 300-350 nucs between June 15 and July 15. These will build through the summer and overwinter here in Vermont. I make the nucs with one frame of feed, one of open brood, one of sealed brood, and one of pollen/nectar. Enough bees to cover the combs. I move them to a nuc yard and give a caged queen on the spot...with the cork out of the candy end. The queens are raised in my apiaries not long before they are given. My acceptance is very high...4 or 5 queens rejected in the 300-350 nucs. I find it's absolutely not necessary to allow the nuc to become hopelessly queenless for good queen acceptance. In fact, doing so is more work and leaves the acceptance open to issues. Just how I do it.
I think your comment is in relation to my question. Thank you for taking the time to answer. My queen introduction varies from acceptable to downright terrible. I have been using the hopelessly queen-less option. Your take on it is interesting and I will give it a try thank you.
I have a hive thsts failing. Was strong i think it swarmed at least once and possibly left with a drone laying queen. Theres a queen cell in there now but its not looking great, looks a bit flat. Should i buy a queen or is it too fsr gone or late in the season?
About the hopelessly queenless start for nuclei before you introduce the new queen. I make 300-350 nucs between June 15 and July 15. These will build through the summer and overwinter here in Vermont. I make the nucs with one frame of feed, one of open brood, one of sealed brood, and one of pollen/nectar. Enough bees to cover the combs. I move them to a nuc yard and give a caged queen on the spot...with the cork out of the candy end. The queens are raised in my apiaries not long before they are given. My acceptance is very high...4 or 5 queens rejected in the 300-350 nucs. I find it's absolutely not necessary to allow the nuc to become hopelessly queenless for good queen acceptance. In fact, doing so is more work and leaves the acceptance open to issues. Just how I do it.
I think your comment is in relation to my question. Thank you for taking the time to answer. My queen introduction varies from acceptable to downright terrible. I have been using the hopelessly queen-less option. Your take on it is interesting and I will give it a try thank you.
The expert has spoken. Thanks Michael. Really appreciate your comment. 😊
C. Wynne Jones ardderchog!
I have a hive thsts failing. Was strong i think it swarmed at least once and possibly left with a drone laying queen. Theres a queen cell in there now but its not looking great, looks a bit flat. Should i buy a queen or is it too fsr gone or late in the season?
put in a frame of eggs from a good colony.
Only have one hive 😂
You need 2-3 minimum
Looks like I'm starting afresh next year 😂