Queen Bee Introduction Procedure

• This is the proper procedure for introducing a new Queen Bee that I recommend for the highest possibility of success! It is how I do it here with my Queen Bees.
  First, Make sure that there are NO queens or queen cells in the colony for at least 24 hours minimum!  This is to eliminate the queen pheromone from the old queen or a cell hatching and 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.  Screen parallel with 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 WITH A MARSHMALLOW, ETC., OR RELEASE DIRECTLY!!! IT WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY GUARANTEE DEATH OR MAIMING OF THE NEW QUEEN!!!  The purpose of the candy is a feed and TIME RELEASE mechanism so the bees and queen can interact and exchange scents/pheromones so they all smell the same and she is accepted. ANY speeding up the introduction process, causes lest time for scent exchange and interaction , the bees see the queen as a foreign intruder and will kill her!. Step 3: after placing queen cage between frames properly, 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 and "ball" her and maim or kill her! After the 7 to 10 day period she should be out and laying eggs. It is then safe to remove the cage and any other burr comb that may be there, so the frames can be spaced properly again. It is much easier to remove burr combs and brace combs than again have to introduce a new Queen, just because of impatience and wanting to check her and watch etc.  Also, I DO NOT recommend ever, the use of "Push In" cages as many time I have read, and heard from fellow beekeepers and saw with my own eyes, the bees chew the wax/ comb under the cage edges rapidly and then kill the new queen or cripple her and then she dies shortly later.  Remember,...  Patience is necessary to  have when introducing queen  bees! Rushing the introduction process usually never works!   I hope this helps all beekeepers who read it and my customers as well to have successful queen introductions always! HOWEVER, I DO NOT GUARANTEE SUCCESSFUL INTRODUCTION or ACCEPTANCE OF THE QUEEN AS IT IS IN THE BEES CONTROL ONLY!
   

Thank you Michael / Donna