Why do you put queens in a cage.

[jwchitwood]

I'm working on a presentation about caging queens.  I'm trying to put together a comprehensive list of reasons why one would put a queen in a cage.  For example, I put queens in a cage when I'm going to move a nuc. Or I put the current laying queen in a cage because I know I'm going to re-queen colonies. And I don't want to spend a bunch of time looking for queens on re-queening day.  I know I can't think of all the reasons. So I'm looking for a little help. What are the reasons you cage and queen and why?

[BeeMaster2]

I cage a queen when I am doing a cut out and I want to keep her in the hive for 3 days. Same with a swarm.

[TheHoneyPump]

I cage the queen for her safety when I am ripping and tearing up a hive to overhaul the nest, or major cleanups, or big hive cut downs, nuc-ing out, etc.  step 1 find the queen.  Step 2 put her into a roller cage and put her in my pocket.  Step 3 go fuzzy bear mode. Step 4 put all back together.  Step 5 release the queen back into the overhauled hive.  Walk away. 

[Bee North]

1. A brood break. I cage queens in full depth cages to prevent her from laying and reduce numbers as a form of swarm prevention, when I dont have the need for more splits...this is due to being in the tropics with little or no winter and constant build up.

2. I have caged queens in the full frame cages for short periods when a colony is about to swarm. The caging prevents the colony from swarming ( prior to virgins able to fly) giving me a little time to organize equipment etc.

[2Sox]

I cage a queen when I am doing a cut out and I want to keep her in the hive for 3 days. Same with a swarm.

Thanks, Jim.  This answered another question I have - about how long to cage a queen from a cutout of a colony that has newly settled-in.  After colonies absconded on me two times, I learned my lesson. When the comb is white and pristine and almost impossible to rubber band into the frames, they WILL abscond - IF I can?t find the queen or put a guard on the entrance.

I was about to leave the job site when I happened to find the queen walking around on the windowsill inside the house below the dormer ceiling we pulled the colony out of.  She is inside the hive now in a catcher.  Now I know to leave her in for three days.  Thanks, again!