Queen marking

[craneman54]

Where would I go to find out the different colors for each year?

If a list is posted somewhere, I presume it is updated and changed each year for the years color.

[flyboy]

http://beeinformed.org/?attachment_id=2670

[flyboy]

This year is green and next year is blue.

[craneman54]

Thanks that's simple enough. :laugh:

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesqueenrearing.htm#colors

[rober]

here's the best prices I've found. 1/2 the price of most bee supply houses.
http://www.durablesupply.com/pospainmar.html

[flyboy]

I got a small bottle of paint at the dollar store.

[craneman54]

Thanks

I have plenty of time to get what I need. I am just now building my hive boxes for next spring.
I just wanted to find out the color chart so I will have it when I get some bees.

[rookie2531]

I wouldn't recommend marking your first queens. If you buy packages, they will most likely replace her anyway. I would also make sure I had plenty laying queens before I tried to mark one. Its not too hard to find her when it is a small colony anyway. That is just an opinion of this rook. But whatever you decide, it is great fun and a great experience, so good luck.

[GSF]

This is from the "from what I've read" category. I've never marked a queen but I'm considering it after what a guy in our bee club told me.

First make sure your pen is moist. Mark a couple of things first then mark her. That will prevent her from being washed in the first ink that jets out of the pen. Practice marking drones. Dab her lightly.

I'm considering marking my queens after what a guy in our club told us. He said on two occasions he went into his hives to do what ever. On one occasion something caught the corner of his eye. It was the color on a queen as she crawled out of the super and down to the ground. The next event was pretty much the same thing except a different queen and he didn't see her until she was crawling away from the super.

[sc-bee]

Hobby Lobby, wally world all sell enamel paint pens. I hear Elmers makes a good one. I bought the hobby lobby brand. Some use enamel testor model paint. I think the Posco's sold by bee supply are enamel paint pens. If not I am sure I am about to be informed :)

[craneman54]

 I will be staring with just 3 hives. Am hoping to catch a couple of swarms come spring so I don't have to BUY bees.
Anyway,I want to mark any queens I get so I can see them easier. I will never have more than a few hives as my body just wont hold up to that kind of work. Also I want to mark them just so if I get more bees then I can handle I can maybe sell some,and I would want the queen marked.

Thanks for the help and the info. :th_thumbsupup:

[Michael Bush]

Mark drones with next year's color.  If you haven't successfully marked 100 drones in a row, you are not ready to do queens yet...

[pgayle]

Mnemonic, can't remember where I got it:
1  Why
2  You
3  Raise
4  Good
5  Bees

so, 2014 is Green
etc