This is a nice way to slow down the release of the queen without having to go back into the hive. I have heard of beekeepers doing a similar thing but sticking a dollop of quite firm fondant where the tab was instead of tape. Having more or less 100% Welsh black bees I envy you the calm Buckfast bees you have. I have tried introducing BS Buckfast queens to get the calmer genes but as you mention, the Welsh bees are not happy to accept them and it can become a very expensive and still fruitless operation.
I tried this method and after 10 days, most of the bees didn't get through the masking tape to release the queens. IMHO, don't buy your masking tape from Wickes, it's too strong 🤣 BTW. Andy saying that about the plastic was very refreshing and something we all should remember, well done. 👍
Great video Andy looks like he's fitting in a treat what an experience for him and good for you remembering us we dont need to be getting stung to keep bees
Great video, love Andy’s presentation as well. We are trying putting in sideways this year. We had hoped not to buy any 👸🏼 this year but quite a few losses and only a modest success at growing our own early in the season.
Just introduced Queen Carni B on Saturday to a 5 frame nuc made up with three frames of brood from three colonies. Popped her in the nuc after removing all the emergency queencells where I could observe their reaction, with tabs in place. Went round the rest of the three hives and then returned to do a final check. it's was clear they were very interested in her and as our weather is not going to be hood for the next week I popped the tabs and leaving them to it. Short video on my channel to show the reaction before I placed her between two frames.
What is the benefit of the masking tape Griff? Is it just so you don’t have to go back and pop the tabs, meaning it gives you more time elsewhere. Or do you think it makes the expectance of the queen much better. Many thanks 🙏
Heya! Also heard Laurence about this but what does it do? A slower release ? Higher chance of acceptance? Never heard the reason for it... Thanks! Greetings from The Netherlands!
I have no problem with acceptance just running the queen into a queenless hive straight away. I would only do this on a small 6 frame nuc mind you and using f1 Buckfast and Carnica queens
I do artificial insemination and these queens are much harder to introduce to bees so I have lots of experience introducing Queens. First, I like to put the introduction cage in with the attendance that come with the queen if the bees are aggressive to the queen the attendance will keep her happy and feed her. After three or four days and then take the cage out and take out the attendant bees and I put back in young emerged bees that are walking about on the frame that are from the colony that you’re introducing the queen to they won’t attack the Queen because of there young This then makes the hive much happier about the cage being in the hive because the bees in the cage belong to the colony you’re introducing the queen to they have the right smell. Leave for another three or four days and then you can break the tabs off, but I always hand release, if it’s a valuable queen that I then put them in pushing cage with emerging brood after 3/4 days, just remove the cage this method never fails, but a lot of work for you and me on a large scale. just changing the attendance in the cage with the young bees from the colony that you’re introducing the queen to will help.
