Ontario-Finger Lakes Beekeepers Association

Any one here raising queens this summer?

I have a queen I ordered from Drapers and didn't end up needing. She is marked, caged & banked in my hive. Looking for a good home. Paid $30 from Drapers. Call me at 585-721-3616. Dan

Is there any reason I can't:

Take out 5 or 6 frames with food, eggs and workers, place them in a new empty hive and let them make a new queen?

OR

Remover the queen with 5 or 6 frames with food, eggs and workers, then place her in the new empty hive and let the old hive make a new queen?

Bump

Rickie

You can make a queen by taking out 2 frames of brood from a strong hive and put the brood in a 5 frame nuc. Let the bees make the queen. Wait till the weather gets a little better. June is the best month to do it. After 30 days you should have a queen laying eggs in the nuc. By July you should have a new hive.

I was thinking of doing this is the next week or so because swarming seems to be happening now. I'm not seeing any signs of swarming with my hive. It's two deeps and a shallow. I think they have room but I don't want to take any chances.