Queen Bee Introduction

This is the recommended queen bee introduction procedure for the highest chance of success based on effective beekeeping techniques! Here’s how I introduce my queen bees. First, make sure that there are NO queens or queen cells in the colony for at least 24 hours minimum! This step helps eliminate the old queen's pheromones or any hatching cells that could lead to the virgin bee killing the new queen. Second, open the colony and place the queen cage in the center of the brood chamber frames at about a 5-degree angle (candy end downward) just below the frame top bars, with the screen parallel to the bottom board face. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU POKE A HOLE IN THE CANDY OR REMOVE THE CORK FROM THE OTHER END AND REPLACE IT WITH A MARSHMALLOW, ETC., OR RELEASE DIRECTLY!!! Doing so almost certainly guarantees the death or maiming of the new queen! The candy serves as both feed and a TIME RELEASE mechanism, allowing the bees and queen to interact and exchange scents/pheromones, ensuring they all recognize her and that she is accepted. Any attempt to speed up the introduction process reduces the time available for scent exchange and interaction, causing the bees to perceive the queen as a foreign intruder and potentially kill her! Step 3: After placing the queen cage properly between the frames, close the colony and DO NOT DISTURB THEM FOR 7 to 10 DAYS!!! Disturbing the colony may trigger the alarm/attack/sting pheromones, potentially causing the bees to turn on the queen, risking her being 'balled' and harmed or killed! After the 7 to 10 day period, she should be out and laying eggs. At this point, it is safe to remove the cage and any burr comb present, allowing for proper spacing of the frames again. It is much easier to manage burr combs and brace combs than to reintroduce a new queen due to impatience and the urge to check on her. Additionally, I DO NOT recommend using 'Push In' cages, as I have frequently seen, along with feedback from fellow beekeepers, that bees often chew the wax/combs beneath the cage edges rapidly, leading to the new queen being killed or crippled shortly after. Remember, patience is crucial when executing the queen bee introduction procedure! Rushing the process typically results in failure! I hope this helps fellow beekeepers and my customers achieve successful queen introductions consistently! HOWEVER, I DO NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION or ACCEPTANCE OF THE QUEEN, AS IT IS IN THE BEES' CONTROL ONLY! Thank you, Michael