Spare Queen

I've got a spare mated 2014 queen happily siting on a little brood in an apidia with a few of her sisters. She came from a nasty colony (hence her removal) but might do to get someone through the winter if they are queenless now. I'm in Thanet and she's free to a good home as they say.

rockdoc said:

I've got a spare mated 2014 queen happily siting on a little brood in an apidia with a few of her sisters. She came from a nasty colony (hence her removal) but might do to get someone through the winter if they are queenless now. I'm in Thanet and she's free to a good home as they say.

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How would one know they have a Queen less hive if one can't look in the hive to see if there's a queen present

irishguy said:

How would one know they have a Queen less hive if one can't look in the hive to see if there's a queen present

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You don't

irishguy said:

How would one know they have a Queen less hive if one can't look in the hive to see if there's a queen present

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Are you away from home then?

Simple offer, whats the problem? I thought I might be doing someone a favour!

rockdoc said:

Simple offer, whats the problem? I thought I might be doing someone a favour!

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It is a kind offer, I hate killing any queen, and at least you are honest.

I think most people have their bees tucked in by now so won't know if their colonies are queenless, or would combine to form stronger colonies. Why not try and add a story to the Apidea or make up a small nuke? You never know and have nothing to loose.

rockdoc said:

Simple offer, whats the problem? I thought I might be doing someone a favour!

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Had I known last week, there would have been a home for her in Canterbury.
And it would have been a most welcome favour.

A beginner had been given "a swarm without a queen".
A crazy 'gift' IMHO. Doubly so at the end of October.
From what I can make out, they may have been more of a cut-out - according to one version, from a postbox.

Anyway, I think its sorted now and I believe merged with a (previously smallish) nuc.

Of course it is a kind offer - I'd have been over right away if I'd been local!

When you hear about people with a small amount of colonies losing queens, or having badly mated queens drone laying in the Autumn, it seems such a shame that only a month or two earlier others were squishing good older queens.

Pity people don't retain them and offer to others if they are good. Personally I think the offer was very kind.

Fritillary said:

Of course it is a kind offer - I'd have been over right away if I'd been local!

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Can be sent by post?

Thanks guys for your comments. I did originally hang on to her in case any in our local assoc had come a cropper at this time of year. Her offspring are particularly nasty, although not originally. However, since July they have been consistent and really nasty. So if she is for the freezer its no bad thing as I'll be glad to see her genes out of my apiary! I'll hang on for a little while longer and then do the deed, although at the rate the temps are going Winter will be short (20 degrees here today).

You have a private message RD.

Verry kind offer and will no doubht be of use to somebody,well done

irishguy said:

How would one know they have a Queen less hive if one can't look in the hive to see if there's a queen present

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Easy in sub tropical London

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29851285