I ask a lot of questions that I feel like I should know the answer to. I see this word on here a lot and honestly don't feel that I understand it's meaning, so here's another "lame duck" question. What does "queenright" mean. And how does it apply to beekeeping.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesterms.htm#queenright
A queen has to be laying for a colony to be called queenright? :?
There's the source of the confusion. :) You could interpret it to mean they have some kind of queen, but IMO, yes. IMO the bees aren't really satisfied until they have a laying queen who is laying workers. I would say a hive with a virgin queen is not quite queenright nor is a hive with a drone laying queen.
No confusion here... :-D
I have many hives that are queenright in July and August that stop eggs production. And I also do not see eggs in the early winter.
I understand the whole laying worker and virgin queen angle. Of course both those situation would not be "queenright". I was not even thinking about virgins or drone layers.
I'm just suggesting that a laying queen is NOT a prerequisite for a hive to be queenright. a hive many times through the year will have a queen, yet she will not be laying. And yes, the bees will be quite satisfied, and it can be called queenright.
Your definition includes that she be a "laying queen". Not really true at all.
Long story short.
Queen right is when the bees are satisfied with the Queen they have and don't want or would not accept anything else, another queen/Queen cell, unless this one was removed for 24+hours.
There is a short time, at times, she is not laying, in dead of winter. and when she has just hatched out. At these times if the bees are pleased with her, the colony is (Queen right).
any and every thing else is hear say or rumor, don't believe me? ask the bees. :roll: :)doak
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesterms.htm#queenright
Is this one better?
That page makes a good book mark.
doak :)
Quote from: Michael Bush on March 28, 2009, 11:08:35 AM
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesterms.htm#queenright
Is this one better?
I think so.
I wouldn't want some anal retentive beekeeper to pick on such things once you publish your book... :-D
You know I can't help myself sometimes without someone smacking me behind the head sometimes... ;)