Everybody who has bees at some time will have to requeen a colony. You killed her when moving frames, she quit laying, a colony that swarmed didn’t make a queen, you stepped on her when she fell off the frame. It happens… and now you have to requeen that colony. If she’s gone it’s easier than if she’s there. If she’s there, you got to find and replace her. Right, find her first. Good luck with that.

Then, it’s where do you put that new queen in the colony and how long should she stay in that cage? Used to be, when the bees in that colony quit trying to kill her in that cage. Anymore, maybe not. Used to be, you’d get a queen in the wooden cage with candy, punch a hole in the candy and she’s out in 3 days, or less. Now, 7, maybe 10 days in that plastic cage and maybe she’ll be ok, but check twice. Maybe three times.

Not to add any stress to the exercise, but queens aren’t cheap. Even if you raise your own, you did invest time and energy to get her to age. On the other hand, if you just paid, $40+ for her… PLUS and applicable shipping… the pressure to get it right, piles on!

Listen today as Kim and Jim discuss the challenges of requeening and their personal approach to this task that every beekeeper ultimately has to face.

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This episode of Honey Bee Obscura is supported by the three generations of beekeepers at bees.com">Leibengood Family bees.com">Apiaries, providing Georgia certified, southern raised bee packages and queens to central Ohio each Spring!

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom

Honey Bee Obscura is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC

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