Introducing a new queen is one of the trickiest jobs in beekeeping, and it comes up in our community group more than almost anything else. These tips come from members’ experience this year. They are not a rulebook, and different beekeepers do things differently.
Be sure the colony really is queenless
A new queen is unlikely to be accepted if there is already a queen, or a virgin queen, in the hive. Check first with a test frame (see how to tell if a colony is queenless). Remove every queen cell, and check again a week later, because the bees would rather raise their own queen and may kill the one you give them.
When she arrives
Open the package as soon as it arrives and take photos or a short video before you do anything else. If the queen or her attendants are in poor shape, you will have evidence for the seller. Check the seller’s policy before you order.
Give her time
Keep her in her cage, with the candy plug in place, in the colony for a few days so the bees get used to her scent. Members suggested three or four days. Some beekeepers also remove the attendant workers that travel with her before release. If the bees are clustering and biting at the cage, wait longer.
Then leave them alone
Once she is released, resist opening the hive every day. Look for eggs after a week or so. Even a mated queen from a good breeder is sometimes rejected, and it is rarely anyone’s fault. If it happens, a frame of eggs and young larvae from another colony gives the bees a chance to raise their own.
Want to learn more? Our members regularly share advice in the community group.