Spring Queen Introduction - How do you do it?

[Beeswax Bob]

If you were to introduce an imported queen in the spring, how would you go about it?

Would you worry about over-wintered old bees?

I was thinking along the lines of splitting the hive into two nucs. One with the old queen and flying bees, and the other with brood and new bees. The new queen being introduced to the new bees. And then unite the two back together after a couple of weeks, once the new queen has been accepted (or not). Or even allow the two to carry on to form increase? But old queen is preserved as a standby at least.

Am I worrying too much about the prescence of old bees? Maybe there won't be too many left at this time of year?

Would love to hear about how you would do it.

Cheers,

Bob

[dlmarti]

This is my first spring with the bees.

The old bees that overwintered appear to be dying off pretty fast, and being replaced even quicker.
Which is a good thing, because those old bees were a little testy  :)

I doubt I have many of the old bees left, and I've only had about a week of decent flying weather so far.

[Robo]

Use a double screen board.  Regardless of the time of the year,  why dispose of your old queen before you prove the new queen is good?

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/queen-introduction/

[Beeswax Bob]

Hi Robo,

Sorry, I don't know what a double screen board is?

Thanks,

Bob

[Robo]

Check out the link.

http://robo.bushkillfarms.com/beekeeping/queen-introduction/

It explains how to use them and shows drawings that you can build from. 

Or you can purchase them from Betterbee.

http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=302

[Scadsobees]

Hi Robo,

Sorry, I don't know what a double screen board is?

Thanks,

Bob

Basically it can be any board to seperate the two hives but with holes in it, holes covered with screen on both sides so they can't sting through.  You want the unique smells of the hives to mix so the bees of both hives are familiar with both.

Mostly split the bees between hives, they both need the different types.  The old hive still needs nurse bees, and most of the forager bees will return to the hive in the old position.  The nurse bees in the new hive can quickly take over any foraging necessary.

If you don't want another hive, kill the old queen before finally combining to eliminate the chance that the old queen would kill the new queen.

Rick

[Michael Bush]

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#requeening

A push in cage would be my first choice:

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfaqs.htm#pushincage