Mrs Baggins
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Re-queened colonies get down to it!This is all just an idea at the moment, but I have (hopefully) secured a lovely young mated queen from a very good source.
I am nervous about introducing her myself and I have come up with the idea of asking my supplier (he's a top man but I feel it's a lot to ask) to do the introduction for me and to include other new bee-keepers (or anyone who is interested) in my local group to come and observe the procedure.
I could do a nice lunch for everyone and get a nice bottle of vino for the guy who does the dirty.
I've not asked him (just thought of it) but it all depends on whether he's available / prepared to do it. Fingers crossed, eh??
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yummersetter
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Don't be afraid to ask - being shown how to do things by more experienced people is far and away the best way to learn, and most people are happy to repay their own debt to others by showing you, if they have the time.
We still value the helpfulness of our local experts and ask them for advice after twelve years of beekeeping.
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Tavascarow
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Not a difficult operation but daunting in the extreme.
Finding the current queen is the hardest bit.
You could form a three frame nuc with young bees & after a couple of days just let the new queen in the entrance, or cage her as soon as the nuc is formed & release her a couple of days later.
Any queen cells they might start will be torn down after the new queen takes up residence but check a week later & cut out any just in case.
Then if all's well cull the old queen & unite the two by the newspaper method.
Personally I would cull her maj & leave them queenless for 48 hrs then introduce the new queen in a cage, after 2 days without a queen they should accept her with ease when you release her a couple of days after but the first method does give you the security of not having to kill one queen before the other has been accepted.
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Mrs Baggins
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Thx Yummersetter - I will grit my teeth and ask the question. He can only say no and if he does, we'll do it ourselves.
Tav - The guy who is giving me the queen suggests the butler cage method of introduction. Another guy I called from my group said the nuc /newspaper method. Either way finding the old queen is the hardest bit. Got to keep my cool when I do that.
The method that most appeals to me at the moment is to leave them queenless and introduce the new queen in a butler cage on the brood.
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Ginkotree
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We have been hosting fourtnightly practicle beekeeping sessions here for new beekeepers and the experienced to set up the hive togather. It has been an amazing experience having hands on lessons for all to share.
We all went to the hive and found the queen, we shall be going through the years with this as a hive to learn from and everyone will be involved in extracting the honey at the end of the season.
Beginners and experienced keepers alike have found all the sharing of ideas and teachings very helpful.
If you were to ask for help you could end up with a good thing started.tea and coffee, someone always brings a cake and voluntary contributions to keep the tea fund going...easy.... 
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hedgehogpie
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Have you re-queened your ladies yet Mrs B? If not, I'd be very interested in popping along to watch the procedure. I'm still waiting on my bee-suit but I maybe able to borrow one if needed.
We still need to set a day for that woodland stroll too, the other half's still on crutches but he's getting more mobile & independent by the day so I think I can safely leave him to his own devices for a bit now!
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Mrs Baggins
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Oh Hedgehogpie... these are not the bees to demonstrate with I'm afraid! They are extremely aggressive and quite proficient at stinging right thru good beesuits and leather gauntlets. I am going to kill their queen and leave them queenless too for a couple of hours - so they will only get nastier!  It is very unpleasant examining them tbh.
I can show you my nicer colony which is raising its own queen OR I can get you along to observe a re-queening with someone much more experienced than I as soon as I hear of one - with a hive of bee that won't try to sting you to death. Is that any good?
So glad to hear your OH is dong better now. That sounded like a really nasty. I'll call you soon about that stroll! 
ETA: Today is the day I should find out if my would-be queen is laying nicely and if I can have her. I hope it's all a go 'cos the bees have been dive-bombing us when we go to get water for the chickens. Such pleasant little gits they are...
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hedgehogpie
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 No problem! I hope your ladies soon settle down for you.
We spent the afternoon at the association apiary looking at the hives so I've been helping a bit with queen marking and generally getting the feel of things. The ones in one of the WBC's did get a little lively on me but not too bad - what I was amazed by was just how noisy even a small group in a mini nuc can be when being examined!
Still absolutely love every minute of it though.
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Mrs Baggins
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Isn't it wonderful hedgehogpie? Every frame is different! I think I have found a new hobby that fits for sure!
I have just got word that I got my new queen! Just got to organise collection then will re-queen asap when I get her home. Really pleased!
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hedgehogpie
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Great news, I really hope it proceeds to plan & does the trick for you.
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Ginkotree
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That sounds really exciting, I hope having her will calm the hive for you, so pleased that this has not put you off.
A couple that belong to our group got really stung the other day...it seems that once one has stung it sets the others off so best to get the sting out as quick as you can as it carries on pumping even after it has disembodied.
my mentors advice was to really wash the suit to take the smell off it as they might be triggered again if the scent is still on the siut.
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Mrs Baggins
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Yeah our suits were covered in stings, we had to wash them and our gauntlets. I have had to wash mine again since and my gloves are a bit stiff now. 
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beean
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After you remove the sting itself, you should then use your smoker to smoke the area where thye sting you, even if the sting was into your suit and not into your skin. The pheremone they give off when they sting basically tells others "thing to attack is here!" so you get loads more in the same area, if you smoke it well then it masks the pheremone.
It does make a big difference! Though the sting still causes very bad language.... 
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Mrs Baggins
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Hi Beean and welcome to downsizer!
My queen is ready! She is laying nice pattern worker brood and waiting to be installed in her new home. Just one problem The weather. It's been chucking it down ever since I got confirmation she is ready.
BIG SMELLY MAN PANTS! What rotten luck, eh?
I just want to get on with it. Please send nice calm sunny weather vibes to West Kent for me. If it works - I'll dance at your wedding.
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goosey
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Welcome Beean. That's a good point about smoking the area after being stung, I'll bet I'd forget, in all the excitement of removing the sting, and the pain!!!
Hi Mrs. B I hope the sun came out in Kent yesterday for you. I sent sunny vibes, but I don't have a good track record when influencing weather.
Will she be installed today? Good luck! (Don't worry about the dancing tho )
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Mrs Baggins
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Thx Goosey... you must have developed the knack 'cos the sun came out and the good news is....
MY NEW QUEEN IS ALL TUCKED UP IN HER HIVE!
I was as lucky as a lucky thing on a very lucky day though.. the guy who supplied me with her offered to come and put her in for me. I gladly accepted and it took him about 10 mins!
I knew he knew his bees, but my goodness...my head is bursting with all the info he passed on. He is amazing. I am delighted that it is all done and I have to keep in touch with him to let him know how she is getting on.
One nasty queen squashed and thrown into the bushes. Goodbye you old cowbag. You will not be missed! LOL.
I know you can' see me... but I am doing a dance right now...
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goosey
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| Mrs Baggins wrote: |
I know you can' see me... but I am doing a dance right now... |
I'm very pleased it went so well -yeah hang on to that Bee Yodah he sounds great.
Can you rummage around and find that nasty Queen? Some guys in my club put the squished ones in the freezer, and roll them out for the phemerones if they're trying to attract a swarm etc.
Dunno much myself, but you never know...
Good luck with the new one,
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Mrs Baggins
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Aw ewww to rolling out old queens! That is actually quite minging. Who would want to roll out a bit of pastry in their house??
Hope to hang on to that bee yoda indeed. He's a good bloke and he got on with MrB like a house on fire! Ta for the lucky vibes Goosey, I'll let you know how I get on with her!
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goosey
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| Mrs Baggins wrote: | | Aw ewww to rolling out old queens! That is actually quite minging. Who would want to roll out a bit of pastry in their house?? : |
It's a bit like fried grasshoppers, and goes nicely with chocolate ants
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Tavascarow
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| goosey wrote: |
It's a bit like fried grasshoppers, and goes nicely with chocolate ants |
I prefer them smoked.
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goosey
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O yes, of course!
For a beekeeper, smoked would be best!
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Mrs Baggins
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Okay. Note to self: Never accept a home-made sausage roll from either of you guys!
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Mrs Baggins
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We carried out our hive inspections on Friday (lovely weather and then that very night... HUGE thunderstorm! So glad we did it when we did!)
Sooo... we went thu our re-queened hive. Absolutely tons of good pattern brood in there, so my lovely new queen has been accepted into the fold! Hooray!
Was well pleased with that. I positively skipped up to the other hive which was split from my first hive and left with two nice fat queen cells to develop. One queen cell ripped down, one re-sealed with a queen's head in it. LOADS OF LOVELY NEW BROOD!
RAPTURE! I'VE GOT TWO HIVES! Both green queens too. I have been buzzing (no pun intended) about it ever since! SOOOO chuffed!
ANd as if that is not all - I GOT TO TASTE SOME HONEY!
Is there no end to their kindness? It was absolutely delicious and we think that it is probably hawthorn honey going by all the activity on the hawthorn trees here. It was Mr B's first ever taste of honey straight from the comb and the comb. He loved it. We are sooo hooked on beeking. LOL.
Just got to get them thru the winter now! 
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Jamanda
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Glad it's all worked out well. I take it they were nice and friendly this time.
Have you still got may blossom out then?
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Mrs Baggins
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...friendlier! We have loads of blossom still out at the mo. I'm really chuffed with my bees!
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Mrs Baggins
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We have just collected our first honey! EIGHT whole frames of gorgeous looking, fully-laden frames! What a buzz! Now all we have to do is work out how to extract it and jar it! I'm so looking fwrd to it all! This is a BRILLIANT hobby! Really interesting and you get a lovely garden and HONEY for all your hard work!
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