Beemaster's International Beekeeping Forum

BEEKEEPING LEARNING CENTER => REQUEENING & RAISING NEW QUEENS => Topic started by: Chick on October 20, 2009, 11:43:36 AM

Title: Need new queen now
Post by: Chick on October 20, 2009, 11:43:36 AM
I need a young bred queen now. I was given a hive that is really weak, and don't think they will survive the winter. Any information on where I can get one?
Title: Re: Need new queen now
Post by: tlozo on October 20, 2009, 05:18:35 PM
/www.beekeepingstarterkit.com/page/1042646

Is a list of bee suppliers. I know Olivarez in California is shipping queens but the shipping (about $35-) is expensive.
Title: Re: Need new queen now
Post by: Chick on October 21, 2009, 03:17:23 PM
Yeah, the $35 is prohibitive!
Title: Re: Need new queen now
Post by: Sparky on October 21, 2009, 07:49:14 PM
Are you sure you want to requeen this late and not do a combine with another hive?
Title: Re: Need new queen now
Post by: Highlandsfreedom on October 22, 2009, 01:22:34 AM
I agree I would do a combine and get the split next year.  But I could be wrong... :-D
Title: Re: Need new queen now
Post by: Robo on October 22, 2009, 08:44:31 AM
Are you sure it is the queen that is the problem?  Even good queens need a minimal amount or workers to support her and be productive.  If there are not enough resources and nurse bees to take care of the amount of brood she must lay to make the hive grow,  they will just putter along.   Sometimes just adding a frame of capped brood give a slow hive the kick it needs to start growing.

My opinion is combining is just giving up.  Your hive numbers go down by one and the bees you add to the other provide minimal difference (unless of course you are combining 2 weak hives).