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Thread: putting new V queens in apideas

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    Default putting new V queens in apideas

    Of my 5 apideas, 3 now have laying queens and 2 have absconded.

    I have 4 virgins about to hatch and replace the mated queens.

    Whats the best method.....spray all the bees again and pop Vs in as per first round ?

    The rainbow minis have been a bit of a faff with lots of comb in the feeder and foundation strips falling off the frames. Apideas and mini lyson all great.

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    Get your round 2 queens in as cells rather than virgins to improve acceptance. Some people protect the cells, others don't bother in mini nucs. Once your virgins are out you can try them but they would be best quietly slipped into thoroughly queenless stock (with no opportunity to make their own).

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    You can get no better discussion of this topic on t'internet than right here :

    http://www.sbai.org.uk/sbai_forum/sh...-into-mini-nuc

    The consensus was that cells are easiest but some have good success with virgins (caged, in colonies that really know they're queenless, or just put straight in).

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    Quote Originally Posted by greengumbo View Post
    Of my 5 apideas, 3 now have laying queens and 2 have absconded.

    I have 4 virgins about to hatch and replace the mated queens.

    Whats the best method.....spray all the bees again and pop Vs in as per first round ?

    The rainbow minis have been a bit of a faff with lots of comb in the feeder and foundation strips falling off the frames. Apideas and mini lyson all great.
    Foundation strips? I cut to size, pour molten wax of the plastic section with the cell engraving and press the foundation onto that.. Does not fall off.

    But the bees love comb in the feeder - I think I'll fill them to the top of the feeder where the QE is to discourage that..

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    Quote Originally Posted by madasafish View Post
    Foundation strips? I cut to size, pour molten wax of the plastic section with the cell engraving and press the foundation onto that.. Does not fall off.

    But the bees love comb in the feeder - I think I'll fill them to the top of the feeder where the QE is to discourage that..
    Cheers - I admit the original set up was a rush job so my strips were not fixed properly. That will learn me.

    I cant put the ripe cells in in time unfortunately so they will have to be caged virgins.

    Do I have to remove the brood prior and replace with new frames ?

    Fun this ! Just wait until its all Amm

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    Quote Originally Posted by greengumbo View Post
    Cheers - I admit the original set up was a rush job so my strips were not fixed properly. That will learn me.

    I cant put the ripe cells in in time unfortunately so they will have to be caged virgins.

    Do I have to remove the brood prior and replace with new frames ?

    Fun this ! Just wait until its all Amm
    I don't nor does our Association Apiary..

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    Quote Originally Posted by gavin View Post
    You can get no better discussion of this topic on t'internet than right here :

    http://www.sbai.org.uk/sbai_forum/sh...-into-mini-nuc

    The consensus was that cells are easiest but some have good success with virgins (caged, in colonies that really know they're queenless, or just put straight in).
    Excellent discussion - thanks Gavin.

    Some really good information in you guys brains. You should write a wee pamphlet !

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    Quote Originally Posted by greengumbo View Post
    Excellent discussion - thanks Gavin.

    Some really good information in you guys brains. You should write a wee pamphlet !
    Schh
    I will write a best selling ebook and charge £1 per download... no acknowledgements of others' inputs - of course :-)

  9. #9

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    Quote Originally Posted by greengumbo View Post
    Cheers - I admit the original set up was a rush job so my strips were not fixed properly. That will learn me.

    I cant put the ripe cells in in time unfortunately so they will have to be caged virgins.

    Do I have to remove the brood prior and replace with new frames ?

    Fun this ! Just wait until its all Amm
    wait till evening
    wet the virgin with water slightly sweetened with sugar
    (that stops her running about )
    put her in the entrance of the mininuc without disturbing bees
    cross fingers


    Sent from my LIFETAB_S1034X using Tapatalk

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    Quote Originally Posted by The Drone Ranger View Post
    wait till evening
    wet the virgin with water slightly sweetened with sugar
    (that stops her running about )
    put her in the entrance of the mininuc without disturbing bees
    cross fingers


    Sent from my LIFETAB_S1034X using Tapatalk
    Cheers DR. Worked a treat for one apidea. The other one I knocked and disturbed so she got attacked at the entrance. I grabbed her, stuck her in a cage and popped in that way. Let her out a few days later.

    When I checked yesterday both apideas have the virgins running about. I will leave them to get on with it

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