Beekeeping > Beekeeping 101
What’s the longest you have kept a queen?
Green bee:
So I was wondering , what’s the longest you guys have kept a queen. I have one queen I’ve had a year now . she’s marked so I know she’s the same queen. She’s a Wayne’s queen and a awesome laying queen. I’ve been lucky enough to get three queens from her for splits. The hive she’s in is my go to hive you might say for resources for other week hives. That being said if she’s still there and strong this upcoming fall should I leave her for the winter or go ahead and replace her before winter. I am kinda of attached to her lol I hate to see her go.
iddee:
I never replace a queen by age. I only replace them by their performance. As long as they perform well, they stay. 3 years isn't unusual.
tecumseh:
I tend to follow Iddees method but will add 'poor disposition' to the list. I would guess 2 years plus is a good number if the queen gets properly mated < higher probabilities for this in the spring of the year than in the later part of the year. I have had customer's who have told me they have had queens I sold them (I use to paint those pink) six seasons, but no telling what the average might be.
LazyBkpr:
--- Quote from: iddee on June 11, 2019, 05:42:57 am ---I never replace a queen by age. I only replace them by their performance. As long as they perform well, they stay. 3 years isn't unusual.
--- End quote ---
6 years. Testers red dot on her that I had to refresh twice as it was getting worn off... I found her laying eggs, with her daughter on another frame. They worked together in that hive, and it was a PITA to keep up with them.. then one day she was gone... silently vanished... i didn't find her body, So, I don't know if she finally just flew away.....
Jen:
Oh My Gosh! The answers here had me dabbing my eyes, sniff :D I love queens! All Queens! I'm the queen saver/rescuer.
Personally I have gotten 3 seasons out of one queen that I remember. Mostly I get two full seasons out of my queens, but even that, I will not kill her. I know it's her because, like LazyBkpr, I give her a new pink hat each year.
I never kill a queen that is doing her job, whether she's a laying machine, or a laid back queen. I let the bees decide when she has to go. I will give her a frame of brood and eggs as incentive, it works ;)
However, over my 10ish years of beekeeping, I have killed two queens to get rid of mean bee genetics. About 6 years ago or so, one hive was So Mean! that I sucked up that entire colony into our shop vac, and walked away not regretting it a bit!
Follow your heart Green bee :)
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
Go to full version