Some of what rrussell6870, said, about climate and such. Here in Tucson, Arizona, as long as I feed a little syrup and some pollen substitute, as necessary - it keeps the bees working like it is Spring. So, as long as I have drones and nice sunny days (which we almost always have in abundance), and the bees have incoming nectar (sugar syrup) and pollen or pollen substitute, I can keep raising queens.
I had been wondering if it were possible, and the 2009/2010 season was the first time I tried it. It worked just fine, so I plan to continue the practice.
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