I read in Rearing Queen Honey Bees by Morse that swarms were good to raise queens. I have a new swarm (probably 4 lbs) and was wondering if I could remove the queen and then add a cell bar (approx. 10 cells), feed them and add a pollen frame to have them start and finish the queen cells. Then split that colony with ripe cells. Any thoughts?
I am bumping this because I would like to know also
Mick
>I have a new swarm (probably 4 lbs) and was wondering if I could remove the queen and then add a cell bar (approx. 10 cells), feed them and add a pollen frame to have them start and finish the queen cells. Then split that colony with ripe cells. Any thoughts?
Why lose the genetics of the swarm? They were obviously successful. Are they feral? From your hive?
Swarms do tend to be younger bees who would have been nurse bees but are unemployed now.