View Full Version : Stupid Newbie question
Hobie
06-22-2006, 06:36 AM
I was just thinking (which is often dangerous...LOL!)... if you have an aggressive colony, is it possible to get rid of the old queen by "forcing" a swarm? If you remove supers and make the hive too crowded, will the colony swarm, taking the aggressive queen with it, and leave you with a new queen?
Okay, let me have it!
power napper
06-22-2006, 07:27 AM
I would say that it is feasible to accomplish that. However, I myself would not do it. It would be better in my opinion to eliminate the "aggressive queen" instead of sending a colony out on its own. Lets say that the aggressive colony took up residence in your neighbors chimney--then all those drones from the aggressive hive are in your neighborhood for mating of virgins--get the point! I would remedy the problem while it is manageable--just my opinion.
Sundance
06-22-2006, 08:05 AM
By forcing a swarm you still
have her genetics in the your
hive. It is better to kill the
queen and re-queen with new,
gentle stock.
Are you sure that you are not stirring up the hive by the way you open it up for inspection? I thought I had some African bees because they came after me and even followed me from the hive, but then a "beeman" showed me how I was moving the supers wrong, not using the smoker correctly (not enough smoke and not waiting after smoking), smoke the top of each story as you open it etc. the same bees are now are friendly as can be. Also, I started using natural garden stuff for smoker fuel instead of the store bought stuff. A month ago I thought I might have to destroy my hives or requeen them, but now that I open the hives correctly they are gentle as can be.
Michael Bush
06-22-2006, 10:05 AM
>I was just thinking (which is often dangerous...LOL!)... if you have an aggressive colony, is it possible to get rid of the old queen by "forcing" a swarm?
So the mean bees can move down the street into a tree where no one can requeen them? And they won't make you any honey?
> If you remove supers and make the hive too crowded, will the colony swarm, taking the aggressive queen with it, and leave you with a new queen?
With the same genetics.
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesrequeeninghot.htm