Queen longevity

[ralittlefield]

I have heard it said, and frequently repeated, that queens are not lasting as long as they used to.  Some folks advise requeening every year.  I wonder if any of you long timers are finding that to be the case.   Anyone care to comment? 

[Steel Tiger]

 I think there are too many factors that have to be considered before anyone can give anything other than an educated guess. Location would be the biggest factor. Do you live in an area where a lot of pesticides are used? In an area where any other harmful substance are used? In an area where deceases or pest can thrive?
This is one of the questions that if you asked 10 different people, you could end up with 10 different responses.

As far as requeening...I would thing if you have a healthy hive and a good laying queen, you would want to keep her as long as you can. Let the bees decide when it's time for a new queen and let them make their own. I'm not opposed to requeening if needed, but to requeen "just because"...I , myself, couldn't do it.

[Georgia Boy]

Seems like I saw a videos of Don's and he's had the same queen who is still going strong after 3 years. Other than that can't say.

David

[Finski]

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I change queens every year
reason is that 1 y old queen is most productive and it is not so earger to swarm as 2-y old.
That older I do not keep. There is no reason.

[Michael Bush]

> I wonder if any of you long timers are finding that to be the case.

Commercial queens on contaminated combs, according to Nancy Ostiguy's presentation at the Kansas Honey Producer's Association in 2004, are beig superseded three times a year, and she suspects it's due to the contamination in the combs.

Most of my queens are three years old.  Some are four.

[Finski]

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During swarming time  beekeeprs ust destroy tens of queen cells and virgins.
No problem todo that..

My neighbour had one year 50 cats when he was not able to kill puppies.

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[Nature Coast Beek]

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My neighbour had one year 50 cats when he was not able to kill puppies.

:lau:  :lau:  :lau:
Oh, man....Finski, you're what keeps me coming back for more....