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Author Topic: Banking queens for Winter  (Read 5395 times)

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Offline Blair Sampson

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Banking queens for Winter
« on: August 17, 2020, 03:05:13 pm »
 I'm a beekeeper in Nova Scotia. I have 10 new queens which just started laying this last weekend. I plan on attempting to over-winter theses queens by group banking together (3 hole cages) in a strong colony. I'm looking for any type info and tips. A few specific question I have are:
1/ do these queens get banked in a queenless colony?
2/ when should they be banked...… Sept,Oct, Nov?
3/ screens(1/4") on the cage can injure their feet. I may use window screening. Is it possible to use too tight screening where they can't be care for properly?
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Offline iddee

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Re: Banking queens for Winter
« Reply #1 on: August 17, 2020, 05:13:06 pm »
I can't answer your question. Maybe a PM to Perry.

I can say I hope you meant 1/8 in. screen. The queen can go through 1/4 in. easily.
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Offline Zweefer

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Re: Banking queens for Winter
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2020, 09:46:30 am »
I have a few thoughts...
1. My queen banks are always in a queenless hive. I don’t think it would work otherwise.
2.  I am sure overwintering is possible given enough bees, but I would be concerned here in WI with the bees being able to get to the stores and still be able to feed the queens as winter progressed.  I would assume you would run into the same issue up there? What is the plan for emergency feeding if needed?
3. As far as when, anytime, but if you are concerned About injuries etc I’d wait until as late as possible to install them, and then still be able to go in and check on them one or two times after that (more temp and weather dependent in your area rather than calendar date I’m afraid)
4. I have seen screen used in the past, so assuming that should be fine?

As iddee suggested, check with Perry- he is probably the best one on this topic due to location and expertise with queen inspecting...

Good luck!

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Keeping of bees is like the direction of sunbeams.
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