I have Italian bees right now. I want a new queen because the current one isn't laying well. My question is could I introduce a new breed once I get my current queen out of the hive?
Yes you can.
I have done it many times, just make sure the colony is queenless a minimum of 12 hours before you try to put the new queen in. I always rub the old queen out on top of the brood frames and leave her there.
This way they know she has expired straight away.
I'm thinking of sunkist cordovan from russel apiaries
I have heard good reports on the sunkist queens, but I have yet to try them.