Caring for Caged Queens

Nancy Bradbury, Apiary Assistant, explains tips involved in caring for queens prior to introduction to colonies.
Frequently asked questions: hbrc.ca/faq/
A descriptive transcript is available here: www.uoguelph.ca/oac/system/fi...
For more videos, check out the University of Guelph's Honey Bee Research Centre You Tube channel at this link:
/ @uoghoneybeeresearchce...
Filmed and Edited by Alex Guoth.
We would like to thank Québec beekeepers Marie-Hélène Majeau and Susan Kennerknecht for translating our videos into French. We are very grateful for their help with this project. (To view translation, click on settings then subtitles)
Nous aimerions remercier deux apicultrices du Québec, Marie-Hélène Majeau et Susan Kennerknecht pour la traduction de ces vidéos en français. Nous leur en sommes très reconnaissants. (Pour accéder à la traduction française, sélectionnez paramètres et ensuite sous-titres)

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Thank you to everyone for watching and supporting our videos! If you have any questions about our videos, please check out our list of FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS on our website, which can be found at honeybee.uoguelph.ca/videos/frequently-asked-questions/

[@brianmarv]

Hello. Can one come to the university to learn bee queening and colony multiplication?

[@andyzumwalt3632]

I'm glad you are posting videos again

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Thanks James!

[@framcesmoore]

Another great video I love them

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi Frances Thanks on behalf of Nancy!

[@carldaniels3659]

I think the positioning of the cage is extremely important between the frames. placing the cage in a North South or slightly diagonal position with the hole facing upwards. reason being is that if any attendants die they don't fall with gravity and block the exit hole trapping the queen in the cage. as always, a good video and well presented.

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Thanks Carl We all seem to have different ideas about exactly how to place the cage. And all with good reasons. You could see our video 'requeening 'to see how we place ours. Thanks for your support!

[@g8ors99]

I didn’t know to give them water. Thanks for the info. Y’all make great videos!

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Our pleasure David. Thanks!

[@HeartPumper]

Haha there's an article in German beekeeper's periodic, titled: " Canada, the land of honey" :) > Thank you for new uploads & greetings from the old continent!! :D

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

You are welcome mirogster. Hello in Germany! We do get lots of honey here especially in the western provinces.

[@alfredobonillacastaneda1541]

Great video. How do we order queens from you?.We are located in niagara, ON.

[@noahriding5780]

Do people actually test how long it takes to chew through the candy? Or are they just repeating what they were told?

[@andreiszentkiralyi7264]

Awesome , I’m planing to buy a few of your queens this spring , and i was wondering when they will be available and also how i can contact you . Im from Kitchener. Thanks

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi Andrei Please email [e-mail]

[@bestarlylamu3061]

How many times a queen can be feed inside a cage? How long a queen can live without food? Does the workers bee feed their queen inside the cage if the cage holes are big enough? Please reply..Thank You.

[@Jack-es9xq]

How long can a queen with attendants live in a cage? Assuming there's a split coming from another hive in a week and she'll have a new hive then. Is two weeks too long if the cage is being watered? thanks

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi Jack It's best to introduce her quick. They don't last more than a few days.

[@WilliamMcNett]

Thanks, you answered a few questions I had last year when those Russians showed up ☺

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

You are welcome as always William. Thanks for your encouraging feedback.

[@pauldow1648]

Did you say remove cork put queen and attendants in hive and then check to see in one week ?

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

That's correct Paul. You could also see our video ' requeening'

[@glidercoach]

I just bought a house on 2.5 acres of land and yesterday I found a 55 gallon drum I suspect has a bee colony. How do I approach this? Surely I need a proper replacement hive to transfer the bees first, but how do I possibly fing the quern in a 55 gallon drum? I'm not sure if there arw bee professionals in my small italian village.

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

The best thing to do is find someone who keeps bees to help you. Maybe you can learn from them about how it all works.

[@darnbunny1]

Please let me know if your Buckfast queens are available for shipping to California. TY.

[@ytgmbutler]

can’t import into US.

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi There We don't raise enough queens to get into exporting. A collaborator, Ferguson Apiaries in Hensall Ontario does export some Buckfast stock into the US

[@darnbunny1]

@@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre Thank you.

[@kimspacek8880]

We have ordered from Ferguson’s and have had great success. Current boarder issues ought to be resolved in time for spring. Ferguson’s queens are simply awesome.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

So we can't get no more Ontario buckfast here in Michigan ? I've had great results with them

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Ferguson Apiaries do sell Buckfast into the US.

[@hootervillehoneybees8664]

Boarder is shut down both ways

[@kimspacek8880]

Ryan Nim

[@kimspacek8880]

The border situation ought to be resolved in plenty of time for spring ...

[@henrysimmelink4748]

How long can the queen stay in that cage?

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi Henry A week at most but the sooner you introduce her the better.

[@peshpeshabdulla]

you are so pretty in this age Im wondering how Gourgous you were at your 20s

[@tomsasleussink8075]

Don,t you put the queen in an empty hive?

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

No, we add to her a colony. Please see our 'requeening' video for more information

[@muratgokirmak8398]

Young bees loves new queen but old bees don't like new queen. Build new hives from young bees %99 percentage successfully except new queen..

[@UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre]

Hi Murat You are right. For valuable queen introduction we split a hive and move the split to a new spot in the same apiary. That way the old bees go back to the original hive and the split has only young bees. We then introduce the caged queen to the split to join the young bees.