Queen introduction
Contrary to what you may have heard, it is not difficult to introduce a Russian queen.
We recommend that no matter your method of introduction, that the queen remain caged in the hive for 3-5 days and no longer.
First remove the old queen and immediately place the queen cage with the candy end still covered between frames where there is brood and bees.
Here are two different methods of introduction that we recommend.
1 - Either you go back into the hive and remove the candy cover on the second or third day so that the bees may release the queen now that they have access to the candy.
2 -Or go back into the hive on the fourth or fifth day and open the cage and permit the queen to walk out onto the top bars and enter the hive. We do not recommend releasing her at the hive entrance.
Finally if the caged queen is dead when you go back into the hive to release her; it is almost certain that there is another (second) queen in the hive. In that case; you need to remove the second queen and repeat the above procedure.
Contrary to what you may have heard, it is not difficult to introduce a Russian queen.
We recommend that no matter your method of introduction, that the queen remain caged in the hive for 3-5 days and no longer.
First remove the old queen and immediately place the queen cage with the candy end still covered between frames where there is brood and bees.
Here are two different methods of introduction that we recommend.
1 - Either you go back into the hive and remove the candy cover on the second or third day so that the bees may release the queen now that they have access to the candy.
2 -Or go back into the hive on the fourth or fifth day and open the cage and permit the queen to walk out onto the top bars and enter the hive. We do not recommend releasing her at the hive entrance.
Finally if the caged queen is dead when you go back into the hive to release her; it is almost certain that there is another (second) queen in the hive. In that case; you need to remove the second queen and repeat the above procedure.