Ted Wout wrote:
 
>I bought a new buckfast queen from
> Weaver's in Navasota, TX, a more local and very reputable supplier.
> Before putting the wooden queen cage in the hive I released all of the
> attendants.  I found the old queen, pinched her and left her in the
> bottom of the hive.  I set the queen cage in the hive, candy end up,
> and left the hive alone for several days.  When I went back to check on
> her the queen was dead.  The bees had eaten away the candy and killed
> her for some reason.  I was out $14.  Does this just happen sometimes?
> Is there a better way?
 
Ted -
 
This does happen as last spring I recieved two Buckfast queens from Weaver also and
both of mine ended up in the fetal position on the ground in front of the hive which as
you know doesn't make for a productive hive. Is there a better way? I think so. I would
not use Buckfast queens anymore but start with a package if I wanted Buckfast.
Obviously there are many things that factor into queen replacement but I've never had
this kind of extreme rejection before. Personally I think there is something legitimately
affecting some of the queens that are being breed. If there was only just an isolated
case here and there, that would be one thing but we're hearing more and more of these
queen stories. Maybe I'm all wet. Maybe someone else can explain it all.
 
-Barry
 
--
Barry Birkey
West Chicago, Illinois  USA
[log in to unmask]
http://www.birkey.com