We’ve got two swarms we are growing in nucs. One is about 3 weeks hived, and the other was hived about a week ago. Both of the current queens are doing their jobs and laying eggs. The oldest hive is already becoming a little aggressive. The youngest hasn’t got too bad, yet.
We want to put new queens in them next week. We are also heading out of town Thursday, and won’t be back until late Saturday.
The plan is to come home by way of Seguin and pick up new queens from Gretchen Bee Ranch. We know the queens won’t be Africanized, and we can feel good about selling the nucs.
My question is, would it be safe to kill the current queens on Tuesday and requeen on Sunday? Or Saturday?
Or kill the queens on Wednesday? And re queen either Saturday afternoon or Sunday?
Or should we just wait and kill the queens Saturday when we get back, and requeen on Sunday?
Basically, I don’t know how long it is safe to leave the young colonies queenless.
Decisions, decisions ...
Thanks for any insights you can give.
