Worldwide Beekeeping

Beekeeping => Beekeeping 101 => Topic started by: Yankee11 on May 03, 2014, 12:17:41 am

Title: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: Yankee11 on May 03, 2014, 12:17:41 am

Had a nuc that the  queen didn't get mated and it developed a laying worker. I had some mated queens in a queen castle.

I caged the queen onto the frame she was laying on. Put the 2 frames from queen castle into a nuc. I then took the nuc down and sat it in the same place as the laying worker nuc was. Then I took the laying worker nuc out about 100 feet in front of hives and dumped all bees on ground. I am hoping
all the bee fly back and go into the nuc with the caged queen in it. Then after 3 or 4 days release the queen.

Any reason why this wont work?

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: Perry on May 03, 2014, 08:22:29 am

It is probably what I would have done, and it should work, but with laying worker hives it is always a bit of a cr@pshoot.

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: LazyBkpr on May 03, 2014, 08:32:36 am

 :yah:   What Perry said.  :)

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: Yankee11 on May 03, 2014, 08:40:32 am

Ive read that when you dump them the laying workers don't know what hive to return to.

I had 6 nucs all lined up, my hope was that this scattered them a bit. I also but both frames from the queen castle in the nuc so the ones that make it back
into the correct nuc may not even know they are in the same nuc they left from.

How long should I keep the queen caged, i used a big square cage and she is on the comb. Couple days?

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: tefer2 on May 03, 2014, 08:49:07 am

I find that the laying workers seem to find their way back with the foragers.
What has worked for us is placing the worker hive on top of a queen rite hive.
Use a double screen between them and leave them for a week to ten days.
After a week pull the screen and combine them.
The open brood scent converts them back to normal workers. Give it a try.

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: Beeboy on May 03, 2014, 10:04:34 am

@tefer2 that is interesting and a great idea. I have never had a laying worker issue but I will definitely keep this one in the bag of beekeeping tricks.

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Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: tefer2 on May 03, 2014, 10:45:12 am

Has worked for us 99% of the time

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Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: brooksbeefarm on May 03, 2014, 11:08:18 am

Good idea tefer2, I'll give that a shot on the next laying worker hive i have (i hope never) that is worth saving. In most of my cases the laying worker hive has dwindled into mostly drones, drone brood, and not enough young workers left worth the trouble. Jack

Title: Re: Think this will work with laying worker nuc?
Post by: Yankee11 on May 05, 2014, 11:22:38 pm

Well it worked. I checked the nuc today and the queen was walking around on a frame. They had released her and not killed her.

I will keep the screen in mind and try it also.