are superceeder queens not desirable

[claire]

Hello all, I'm a apiarist since July 2004 in Germany. I had two folk. One went under and the other survived but is weak...I am trying to create a new "Superceedure queen" because the one queen I have is lovely and sweet and I can stand around the hive all day without being stung.
A friend of mine says...Oh mistake..These types of new queens are weak. Always best to take new queens from swarming cells. Of course, this was the exact opposite from another mate of mine.
So ...was I wrong to do it..
Also, Ive got three capped ones at the moment. Shall I let nature take its course, and let the one which hatches kill the other two? Might two hatch? or should I try and select the one I think most fit?
Thanks

[claire]

And Ive got another quesiton...is it possible to save the other two queens..(Dont think so, cause I dont have a strong enough hive to support giving up another brood frame..Boo hoo.)

[Curry]

Are you sure your capped cells aren't swarm cells? Either way, supercedure or swarm, I think they both make good queens. The only questionable queens are "emergency" queens... where the bees make a queen out of an older larva- for whatever reason was necessary.

And you're right, you could have made splits with the other two queens (I do that when I can). But it looks as though you should let nature take its course if you can't make a split.

Beekeeping is much easier with 4 or more hives, just in case you have problems with a hive, or want to manipulate frames around.

[SilverFox]

Swarm cells are generialy located on the bottom of the frames, supercedure cells generialy in the center of the frame. Supercedure are useally created when the older queen is failing of the workers sense that something is wrong w/it. I may be wrong on this. I wouldn't worry about a supercedure cell, a new queen may very well carry on the trait you desire depending upon which drones she mates with.
There are ways to handle swarm cells, many on this site can direct you better than I.

[Dan Williamson]

My understanding is that supercedure queens are hard to beat in terms of quality. They are usually lavishly supplied with royal jelly and well taken care of. The bees are not typically working under the type of emergency situation that would result from a suddenly queenless hive. The can be more selective in chosing the larvae they need.

Dan

[Michael Bush]

I concur. The only queens that are questionable (and they still might do well or not) are emergency cells. Supercedures are usually very good queens as are swarm cells.

If you want to save some queens, build some two frame nucs and you can put a frame of brood and the queen and a frame of honey in the nuc and keep her indefinitely (assuming you check to make sure they don't swarm).