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----------------- Original message (ID=6D171ECA) (67 lines)
-------------------
Date: Wed, 04 Apr 2001 18:16:15 -0800
From: Tom Elliott <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Starting 2 Queens

Steve,

I have run 2 queen colonies from packages several times.  I have never
tried the vertical separation method, but it does not sound good to me.
You will have insufficient brood space and unless you begin the
separation with a screen you are asking for a one queen colony which has
only half a brood nest.  I always use one queen over the other in
separate boxes.  The boxes are separated by a bottom board until the
queen gets started, usually.  I have installed two queens separated by a
screen too small to pass bees.  Eventually when both queens are
established I replace the bottom board by a screen, or by a newspaper
and queen excluder.  I have never had a problem with this, and you do
get large colonies.

Tom


--
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

Tom Elliott
Chugiak,  Alaska
U.S.A.
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