Author Topic: virgin queen release  (Read 1284 times)

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Offline rober

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virgin queen release
« on: May 19, 2022, 08:53:56 am »
can virgin queens be direct released into hives or should they be put into release cages. hives were checked for queen cells. i posted this under queen rearing but need a quick response. 5 of 6 hatched this morning

Offline Zweefer

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #1 on: May 19, 2022, 09:49:40 am »
how long have the hives been without a queen?
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2022, 10:10:45 am »

I would use a cage.  You never know, the colony may have different plans and need to be coaxed into the virgin.  A frame with eggs and larvae may help too.  Is there still brood present?

Offline Jen

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #3 on: May 19, 2022, 12:54:49 pm »
Agree ~ Ive seen too many queens mauled and suffocated to take the risk of any queen no matter the circumstances.
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Offline rober

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #4 on: May 19, 2022, 02:40:41 pm »
i read that because of a lack of pheromones it was possible. i marked & caged them to be safe.

Offline iddee

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #5 on: May 19, 2022, 04:36:26 pm »
It is safe, until Murphy steps in. It's safer to cage them.
“Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.”
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Offline RAST

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #6 on: May 19, 2022, 09:20:11 pm »
I have a friend that sprays the bees and virgin with water with some vanilla extract in it and just lets them loose. I just happened to watch a video last night of an Englishman name Noel just letting them go in the hives.
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Offline LazyBkpr

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #7 on: May 19, 2022, 11:33:30 pm »
Good to know!!!!!!!
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Offline rober

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #8 on: May 20, 2022, 08:47:55 am »
in hindsight i should have i should have installed the queen cells before they hatched.

Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #9 on: May 20, 2022, 11:29:56 am »
in hindsight i should have i should have installed the queen cells before they hatched.
Agree. 
A virgin queen still emits pheromones.

Offline Jen

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #10 on: May 20, 2022, 12:36:16 pm »
Rober, I cannot tell you how many 'hindsights' I have had with beekeeping  :D
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Offline Bakersdozen

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Re: virgin queen release
« Reply #11 on: May 21, 2022, 09:28:33 am »
in hindsight i should have i should have installed the queen cells before they hatched.
Agree. 
A virgin queen still emits pheromones.

A local guy, that rears queens using the Doolittle method, says he will put 2 queen cells per split.  3 queen cells if he has them to spare.