Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => General Beekeeping => Topic started by: rober on May 19, 2022, 08:53:56 am

Title: virgin queen release
Post by: rober 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
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Zweefer on May 19, 2022, 09:49:40 am
how long have the hives been without a queen?
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Bakersdozen 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?
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Jen 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.
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: rober 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.
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: iddee on May 19, 2022, 04:36:26 pm
It is safe, until Murphy steps in. It's safer to cage them.
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: RAST 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.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPT7UWQ2fR0
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 19, 2022, 11:33:30 pm
Good to know!!!!!!!
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: rober on May 20, 2022, 08:47:55 am
in hindsight i should have i should have installed the queen cells before they hatched.
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 20, 2022, 11:29:56 am
Quote from: rober on May 20, 2022, 08:47:55 am
in hindsight i should have i should have installed the queen cells before they hatched.
Agree. 
A virgin queen still emits pheromones.
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Jen on May 20, 2022, 12:36:16 pm
Rober, I cannot tell you how many 'hindsights' I have had with beekeeping  :D
Title: Re: virgin queen release
Post by: Bakersdozen on May 21, 2022, 09:28:33 am
Quote from: Bakersdozen on May 20, 2022, 11:29:56 am
Quote from: rober on May 20, 2022, 08:47:55 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.