Humane de-queening

Zinc · May 22, 2009, 05:24:46 PM

I have to re-queen my first hive this weekend. And when I mean my first hive, I mean the first queen I ever had.

It's her time to go - her laying is down to pretty much non-existant and she needs to be replaced. That being said, she's the heart of the hive, and I've grown attached to her as the face of the hive. If I want the hive to continue, she needs to be replaced.

Some may say - she's just a bug, crush her and move on - but I'm pretty sure the majority of the people here feel differently. : )

Does anyone have any methods, customs or other things that you do to make it emotionally easier for you to replace your queens? Is there anyway to ease her into retirement?

-Zn

Kathyp · May 22, 2009, 05:28:21 PM

drop her into a small jar of alcohol. not only will it kill her pretty much instantly, you can use the liquid as a swarm lure.

WOB419 · May 22, 2009, 11:10:41 PM

KathyP, please explain that swarm lure comment. Dead queen in a small jar of alchohol will attract a swarm?

dragonfly · May 22, 2009, 11:19:02 PM

To me, whatever is quickest in taking away neurological function is the most humane.

If someone were going to kill you, and you got to choose the method, what would it be?

Kathyp · May 22, 2009, 11:59:04 PM

i think M Bush has it on his page. you take a few drops of the alcohol and put it in your swarm trap. the alcohol dries and leaves behind the queen attractant. this is from memory, so do a search and make sure i got it right.

QuoteIf someone were going to kill you, and you got to choose the method, what would it be?

to be dropped in a jar of alcohol! :evil:

Natalie · May 23, 2009, 12:15:16 AM

I just saw this the other day.

1 Small vial/jar.
2. 5 mls of rubbing alcohol
3. Add dead queens that you would kill to introduce a new queen.
4 one tight fitting cap.
5 A Q tip to dip into the juice

iddee · May 23, 2009, 12:39:54 AM

>>>>If someone were going to kill you, and you got to choose the method, what would it be?<<<<

I would hand them an acorn and tell them to cut the oak down and let it fall on me when it is big enough.

Natalie · May 23, 2009, 11:19:40 AM

Now that is well thought out. :-D

dragonfly · May 23, 2009, 01:21:31 PM

Quote from: kathyp on May 22, 2009, 11:59:04 PM

QuoteIf someone were going to kill you, and you got to choose the method, what would it be?

to be dropped in a jar of alcohol! :evil:

:-D
My choice- shoot me in the head, no warning. Of course, finding a tiny little gun to shoot a queen bee in the head is the difficult part. ;)

Bee Happy · May 23, 2009, 03:10:30 PM

would a split into a small observation hive be feasible? she can manage a couple frames and dodder away laying an occasional egg here and there until the hive replaces her (with HER genetics)?

Kathyp · May 23, 2009, 03:37:07 PM

there is no harm in trying it. observation hives are great for learning. you can observe her and see what's going on. if you have room to give a frame of eggs and larvae, they will have something to keep them going until you see what she's up to.

WOB419 · May 24, 2009, 12:53:09 PM

Natalie,

5 ml...5 ml...I got no ml's around here, I think I will just call that a teaspoon. ;)

Michael Bush · May 24, 2009, 11:23:20 PM

I would take the frame with the queen and a frame of honey and put them in a nuc. That way if the introduction goes badly you have a spare queen. Meanwhile you have a nuc. She may be able to keep up well in a nuc.

Highlandsfreedom · May 25, 2009, 12:25:08 AM

Quote from: iddee on May 23, 2009, 12:39:54 AM
>>>>If someone were going to kill you, and you got to choose the method, what would it be?<<<<

I would hand them an acorn and tell them to cut the oak down and let it fall on me when it is big enough.

I like that!!!! Is it ok to use it?

Highlandsfreedom · May 25, 2009, 12:29:11 AM

I think I will do the alcohol method and then I will pin her up in my daughters bug collection as the first queen ever!! Her name is Ruby.

SlickMick · May 25, 2009, 06:50:49 AM

Give the Old Girl a reprieve and let her live out her life cycle in a nursing home.
Put her in a nuc with some brood from her colony and honey and when she kicks the bucket you will at least have her genes in any replacement queen that comes from her demise.

Mick