storing queen cage temp

chickenwing654 · August 01, 2015, 05:37:30 AM

Hi,

I have two hives now, one in MA and one in ME. I am going to requeen my MA hive this weekend. I was thinking about buying two queens this weekend (one for this hive in MA, and one for my hive in Maine for next weekend). I did a walkaway split up in Maine last time I was there. The bee suppliers in Maine are not local to me so I would like to bring a queen with me (just in case they didn't make queen cells).

Is there a way to store a queen in a queen cage temp down here in (MA) before letting her be released a week later in Maine. I was thinking of having one queen cage installed without the cork, then one with the cork still intact in the same hive. Would that work temporary until next weekend? Or would it be better getting one queen this weekend, and another next weekend? If they did make queen cells in my split, what should I do with the queen cells and my queen I am bringing up?

thanks
David

chux · August 01, 2015, 08:22:49 AM

I'm not sure about the temp question, but I will be interested to hear other comments. My concern would be for the length of time you are planning on keeping the queen in the cage. Are you getting her straight from a hive today? Has she already been in a queen cage a few days? If you leave her in a cage for another week, will that affect her laying ability? I think that queens which aren't laying will have a change in pheremone output. I wonder if she will be accepted readily and begin to lay well. Hmmm.

sc-bee · August 01, 2015, 09:48:09 AM

No problem keeping the queen in a cage, not in the hive for a week. Just add a small drop of water to the outside of the cage every day. I keep mine in a relatively dark temperature controlled place, usually with the cage in the shipping package, box they came in.

As far as the walk away split, why did you make it if you are worrying about cells they started? That is what they are suppose to do. If a change of heart, I guess and just want to re-queen remove the queen cells and leave them queenless overnite if you can or as long up to overnite as possible and add caged queen/with sugar plug and remove cork and let them do a slow release.

As far as a direct release if no sugar plug, in particular if cells are started. I would not but other may? I am not in the habit of free releasing queens but I hear of others that do routinely. I just don't know the do's and don'ts of free release.

Michael Bush · August 01, 2015, 11:55:33 AM

I put them in a dark quiet closet. The basement would be my second choice. 70 F is hard to beat. 80 F is ok. 90 F is pushing your luck but if it's dark and quiet and you give them water and they might be ok.

chickenwing654 · August 01, 2015, 07:50:57 PM

Hi,

Thanks for your help. To clear up a few points, about my walkaway split. My only concern would be if they did build queen cells or not. I made them queenless, then two days later, I gave them freshly laid brood in a frame. Then I left from Maine and came down to MA.

They may have built queen cells to make their own queen, but I am not there to see that. I figured I would bring a queen when checking on them in case they didn't make any queen cells on there own. So you don't recommend putting the queen (in queen cage) in the hive? I figured they would tend to her until she emerged (or in her case not emerging).

I got the queens from my local bee supplier.

If the bees have in fact created queen cells, would it be beneficial in putting on a queen excluder letting the cells hatch out. Maybe try a two queen colony with my extra queen?

GSF · August 01, 2015, 07:54:20 PM

If the virgin queen is trapped in the upper super then she'll be no good - no mating flight. I can't answer about the two queen colony but I'd think it goes against nature as a rule of thumb. Thumbs get broken though.

sc-bee · August 01, 2015, 08:14:40 PM

How long has it been for the walk away split. I ask because if a queen has emerged 15-16 days but may not be mated or laying, it may be hard for you to determine if a queen is present. Adding a queen to the hive may create a two queen situation where you will lose one. If you get there and a queen has emerged do you have a nuc? Pull a frame or two of bees and brood (minus queen) and enough feed frames to get her through and let her release to the nuc for keeping until you can sort it out.

chickenwing654 · August 01, 2015, 08:24:51 PM

Hi,

I did my walkaway split last weekend. Going back up next weekend. So it will be 14 days between my visits. I know I would be sacrificing a queen but I would be assured I did have one present in the end.

I have no local supplier that I know about in Maine, so it would be hard to put a queen in if no cells are now present. I hope I am explaining this right.

Thanks
David

biggraham610 · August 02, 2015, 12:52:14 AM

The only problem I see is that you may be sacrificing the mated queen. Virgins don't always make it back. I'm like an earlier poster. I think if I had a nuc, I would set it up for her and after the post mating flight inspection, sort it out then. If they were queenless and you gave them young brood, I feel certain you will find cells. Cells to eggs is where you may get a hiccup. G

biggraham610 · August 02, 2015, 12:54:44 AM

The only problem I see is that you may be sacrificing the mated queen. Virgins don't always make it back. I'm like an earlier poster. I think if I had a nuc, I would set it up for her and after the post mating flight inspection, sort it out then. If they were queenless and you gave them young brood, I feel certain you will find cells. Cells to eggs is where you may get a hiccup. G

Oh, but back to your question, I have stored them in a dark spot in the house, 72 deg. for a week with no ill effects. Gave them and the attendants a drop of honey daily and the corner of a wet sponge. They were laying a day after release. G

capt44 · August 02, 2015, 08:13:47 AM

I have an incubator that can keep queens 14 days.
I keep the temperature at 93 degrees F and a humidity at 72% give or take 1% continuously.
They feed themselves I just give them the food and water.
Here is a picture.

KeyLargoBees · August 03, 2015, 09:31:28 AM

isn't it a little late to be doing splits in Maine and expect them to overwinter well?

Eric Bosworth · August 06, 2015, 10:33:57 AM

Quote from: KeyLargoBees on August 03, 2015, 09:31:28 AM
isn't it a little late to be doing splits in Maine and expect them to overwinter well?

Who is in Maine? And I would ask when the goldenrod blooms there. It might not be for nucs if they are in the beginning/middle of a good flow. But I do have to say it is probably pushing it.

Dallasbeek · August 06, 2015, 01:00:13 PM

Quote from: Eric Bosworth on August 06, 2015, 10:33:57 AM
Quote from: KeyLargoBees on August 03, 2015, 09:31:28 AM
isn't it a little late to be doing splits in Maine and expect them to overwinter well?
Who is in Maine? And I would ask when the goldenrod blooms there. It might not be for nucs if they are in the beginning/middle of a good flow. But I do have to say it is probably pushing it.

I just returned from southern Vermont. Saw some goldenrod blooming there this week.... but Maine? Who knows?