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Date: | Sun, 7 Jan 2001 09:08:16 -0600 |
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Hello Dan & All,
I agree with Dan and have done similar as Dan says with success and
Dan's method is shown in the Midwestern video all but putting the queen
below the excluder.
dan hendricks wrote:
Start with a box of foundation (my choice) or drawn
frames. Top with a queen excluder. Add an empty
deep. Remove the natural comb from the wall in pieces
as large as you can handle. (Of course, they are
soft. A rectangle of 1/2" hardware cloth is a useful
tool.) Place these pieces of comb in the top box,
using the QE as a supporting rack.
You can do the above over any strong hive and I do if I can't find the
queen or by the worn look of her I determine she is a very old queen. I
also do if she is a strain I don't want. If the time of year is fall
and I knew a hive wouldn't make it thru the winter then I would do the
above without the queen.
When (if?) you find the queen, put her below the QE, preferably in a
cage for a couple of days.
I don't like the idea if nights are cool of putting a queen excluder
between a caged queen and bees trying to "maybe" keep sealed brood warm.
I would put her above caged for awhile if cool nights as the bees might
move away from her to to keep the brood warm above the excluder leave
her stranded below the excluder. If warm nights I would try as Dan said.
In three weeks all the brood will have hatched and the wall comb can
be placed outside for the bees to complete robbing.
Usually the comb is ready for the melter IF enough bees were brought
from the building. I would not place the comb outside for robbing as
the comb could contain foulbrood spores if from a feral colony and you
have other hives in the area. What small amount of honey left is not
worth the risk. Also if placed to close robbing could start if other
hives are present and your little hive would be gone. KEEP THE ENTRANCE
REDUCED IF IN THE AREA OF STRONG HIVES. Allways treat these building
swarms as if they were infested mites and other diseases no matter what
time of year it is. If the hive is in a area all by itself(hard to find
in our area) then I suppose putting the comb outside but not close to
the hive would work.
By then the colony in the lower box is going great guns.
Time of year is important to success. I personally I have not done the
method by putting the caged queen under the excluder but believe the
method would work in warm/hot weather.
Sincerely,
Bob Harrison
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