Beekeeping | Is It Possible To Overwinter Banked Queens?

[@beek]

I would be shocked if this works! But, my approach is to do what is easiest and most simple and if it works, I save a ton of time. If not, I can just keep improving upon the idea. Leave me your suggestions on what we can do as a squad of fellow beekeepers to come up with a way to overwinter multiple banked queens!

[@davidbyler1393]

If this does work for one queen, what would keep you from putting some vertical dividers in the queen isolation frame, add a queen to each one then put on the other side of Queen excluder material and Bank maybe five or six Queens on one frame, possibly even put a couple frames of these in a strong Hive.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Should work fine people over winter dozens very similar

[@rickb5416]

Thinking about this a bit, would it be easier to use 1/8 hardware cloth on one side of the frame you are overwintering the queen on? It would be easier DIY, but then would only allow bees to enter through 1 side where you would still use the excluder material. Will follow this one closely, keep us posted David!

[@LaFontaineHoneyBees]

This is called Chmara’s Queen isolator bunch Europe and Russia practice this I’m thinking to make one for my hives and isolate queens they been laying eggs and it’s Mid October it works by the way

[@jasonseaward8506]

I'm excited to see if this works. I feel like it might. I was wondering if we could use those queen isolation cages to do something similar

[@antonymcdonagh3280]

And these videos ,trying something new is the reason I follow his way of keeping bees David is an innovator to the fullest extent

[@martprice7726]

You mentioned virgin Queens I once forgot to let two virgin Queens out of the introduction cages I went in the Nucs Expecting them to be laying to my shock I hadn’t let them out. They’ve been in the cages for 2 1/2 months and it was late October not very warm I felt so sorry for them because it was my fault. I let them out of their cages and left them alone went back in 3 weeks later one was laying drones as expected, but to my surprise the other one was laying worker brood After 2 1/2 months in a cage, she still mated and it was November here in uk.

[@LaFontaineHoneyBees]

Wow, that’s one of the hell of a story

[@mikerevendale4810]

I've successfully kept queens, with a handful of workers, from failing colonies in mason jars over winter. If a colony gets too small in winter to maintain a cluster the only option is to bring them indoors. Queens are remarkably resilient; they just need to be fed and kept warm.

[@LaFontaineHoneyBees]

David you are on the right track Russians and Ukrainians practice this for years !!!Not in America I already checked. This mostly for bees survival in the warm winters so bees come out strong colonies and not weak from feeding remaining brood that emerged in warm winter.For mite brake and for better honey flow. Some times bees will kill queens if there is too many in the hive. It they are active .There is a 2 kinds one is beekeeper in Russia his name is Melenin he developed isolation Queen cage (took him 30 years ) for the winter isolation from September ,October to Late February Queens do survive if you do it the right way it has to be done mostly in one brood box colonies and have this cage with thicker wood half inch with queen excluder small plastic plate about 10 inches long and 2 inches short if make bigger sometimes bees will build queen cell inside, place in the middle of the hive close to the entrance in the middle of the frame .I will try to make another one called Chmara isolation cage in Germany they practice and sell it also, it will be in my 2 brood boxes hive have to open it and see if bees make cells in one month we have warm winters it’s too late for me to change to one brood box that’s why I’m going for Chamra’s cage. It be double the side to cover 2 boxes and supper .Doing this can save bees in Oregon and Washington states we are loosing bees in the winter I talked to a beekeeper he is interested and we will have a meeting next year !!!

[@AHandMadeFilm]

Thanks David, great idea. It looks like it should work just fine, and if it does maybe even a couple more queens would fit in there.

[@LaFontaineHoneyBees]

You can add small shims inside and make a squares maybe 2 x 2 and you can put as many queens there as you can make sure you have enough bees and food

[@HandWiredAmps]

I've thought about this too, as many have, I'm sure. How to save the queens. I've thought of moving them to a heated area, so cluster issolation wouldn't be an issue. But with increased activity comes other obstacles. We'll be watching! Long lived the queens.

[@pamelamann9293]

Very interesting - looking forward to the result!

[@beek]

Fingers crossed!

[@jayglosser2014]

David GREAT Weather here in Orangeville NY, bees are being bees. Good experiment for queen future 👍

[@James-l1g2g]

This is something I have been researching myself

[@beek]

It would be profound to figure out a way to do this.

[@James-l1g2g]

@beek i agree. I was trying to figure out a way to store the banked queens on the top of the hive so that the winter cluster could keep them warm without the queen killing them and they could still get fed. Your experiment was far simpler than what I was working out, lol

[@charlesmaurer6214]

The issue I see is keeping the other queen from getting to her. The cage and excluder has her trapped and will prevent the other bees from balling her but can a queen get her stinger in if not her body. I think you could bank 3-5 queens in such a frame and double with another divider. I do think an excluder is needed on that box though. Second issue I see is temp regulation in the winter as the hive tends to ball up inside the hive and shifts towards the top as it gets colder. I think you are onto a good idea that might save time in the spring with splits or nucs by salvaging queens while combining hives and starting splits sooner.

[@TheUrbanBeekeepers]

What a cool experiment!

[@brianbennett4374]

What if you made the cage and drill a hole threw the top of the frame and just drop queen into hole 🕳️. Good video 😊. See ya Thursday at Livestream 😊

[@ahmedbounce3053]

They'll kill each other

[@JoshC00796]

Loved this video. I have two queens I raised, that I would like to use in the spring to replace old queens. Those queens are currently in two nucs, one is a double deep and one a single deep. I was just going to try to overwinter the queens in those two nucs. But this makes me wonder if it may be better to try to overwinter as is, or like you did, or try putting in a double deep with Q excluder between the 2 deeps. I have 4 other healthy hives currently. I am willing to experiment with this, but not sure what to do…

[@Ezk336]

1st. Great info. Someone else who writes in the shower.

[@beek]

Boom!

[@AtomicNucs]

IMO, having the hive insulated as much as possible so they don't cluster over winter is key for a larger number if queens together and thus not eating threw stores is key and no just a cluster area also I have a different idea to try for this but I need to get a 3D printer. I want to try for like 50 queens together and then all being able to lay some if they want and workers have access to the eggs. I believe it's possible to get multiple queens over wintered and come out just as healthy in spring as any other over wintered queen, IMO, it's a matter of "thinking outside the hive box". Comes back to the thinking of The best part is no part or the best process is no process.

[@patrickstevenson17]

Very creative video. That's one of my concerns is if I combine hives in the fall, what do I do with my extra queens.

[@tfcig2019]

I just aquired a new box w/the frames, as seen @3:08. What and/or how many other types of boxes would I need to start a beehive? Thanks for vid!

[@beek]

That's a great question and please ask this question on our livestream tonight. The livestream starts at 7pm tonight. Hope you'll join us. Here's the link: kzbin.infopF8btEC3r10

[@bryanvyse3333]

Qestion, there was capped brood, so already a queen. Will they not kill her?

[@RonKness]

Hi David. How does this caged queen get fed? It looks like attendants would not be able to reach her to feed her.

[@SushikiIIer]

have you done a video on the resource colony method? like where people use 2x 5frame nucs under a shared 10 frame box & excluder to just give the queen's less laying opportunity. Always seemed like a good way to extend the life expectancy of queens. I always wondered if you could do like 4x 2frame nucs and push the concept furthur.

[@melkel2010]

I've also fantasized about this. Since I lose my colonies at some point every year at the wrong time due to queen loss. The Aerial yellow jacket pressure is just too much, and trapping isn't enough. Queenless bees might make it through the winter, and I let them because they continue to protect the combs until I can get more bees, but it's a lousy start up in spring waiting until March. The maple has already passed, the alder has already passed, the pussy willow has already passed, it's almost a dearth waiting for flowers to come in. Our bees find the best start at middle February. I don't know if a banked queen really would help a colony in that shape, queenless from November through February... If it works, next how to apply it. I'm comforted to see I'm not the only one who has such rotten luck getting a staple gun to work on hive equipment. I'm sick of buying new ones. Sorry girls, it's going to have to nails for everything. Short nails though.

[@johnbrogan6583]

i hope this works

[@grantsimpson9211]

If you are leaving the queen in a cage why do you need the home made excluder?

[@aaronparis4714]

I don’t think it won’t work but I hope it does if so let me know please

[@DougMcHone]

Did you need the empty frame? Would suspending her directly between active frames do the same thing?

[@beek]

I appreciate the input, thank you. My reasoning (could be wrong) was that an empty frame might allow for a larger portion of the cluster around the banked queens and not divided by frames. But what do I know. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@DougMcHone]

@@beek I'm excited to see how it goes. Looking forward to meeting you in Iowa!

[@davidupton5252]

Just a question on your experiment can you guarantee they will attend to her and feed her?

[@beek]

Absolutely not! That's why it's called an experiment. In fact, I don't expect it to work under the first set of parameters, but I want to start as simple as possible and if it fails I can change and improve. But if it works right off the bat, the easy way, then I can save myself a ton of adjustments and more work.

[@tonyc2863]

That is kind of my question; how do the bees get close enough to the queen, physically, to feed her?

[@richardwalterbee]

I question what the results will bee. BUTT, I must say, I had to chuckle at your creative '3am-shower-tittles' way of telling the story. HOWEVER, I know one thing for sure…. a 'sweetheart-of-a-deal' awaits you in Hollywood !!!! Dick Booth aka: 'Richard Walterbee'. c2024inkRWBEE

[@jimwaldele9084]

i would guess she will die, i think when cold comes and clustering begins they will abandon her for the colony queen,,my thoughts,

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Pretty funny you deleted my comment.. guess you want people to think you know something about banking queens over winter. I don't normally watch comment I'll go back in that

[@beek]

I don't recall deleting your comment. Sometimes they are automatically deleted if there are links, profanity, derogatory, spammy etc.