Queen Bee Introduction

This is the proper procedure for the introduction of queen bees that I recommend for the highest possibility of success based on effective beekeeping techniques! Here’s how I do it with my queen bees. First, ensure that there are NO queens or queen cells in the colony for at least 24 hours minimum! This step eliminates the queen pheromone from the old queen or a cell hatching, which could lead to the virgin killing the new queen. Second, open the colony and insert 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. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES 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 will almost certainly guarantee death or maiming of the new queen! The purpose of the candy is to act as a feed and TIME RELEASE mechanism so the bees and queen can interact and exchange scents/pheromones, ensuring they all smell the same and she is accepted. ANY speeding up of the introduction process causes less time for scent exchange and interaction, leading the bees to see the queen as a foreign intruder and ultimately 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 will cause the alarm/attack/sting pheromone to be released, and the bees may turn on the queen, potentially 'balling' her and causing her harm or death! 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 that may be present, allowing the frames to be spaced properly again. It is much easier to remove burr combs and brace combs than to reintroduce a new queen due to impatience and the desire to check on her. Also, I DO NOT recommend the use of 'Push In' cages as many times I have read and heard from fellow beekeepers, as well as witnessed myself, that the bees chew the wax/combs under the cage edges rapidly, which can lead to the new queen being killed or crippled, resulting in her death shortly after. Remember, patience is essential when executing the queen bee introduction procedure! Rushing the introduction process usually never works! I hope this helps all beekeepers who read it, as well as my customers, to 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