Finding the Queen 2

Finding the Queen

Method 2 - Walking The Plank

For this manipulation you will need -

1. Additional empty Brood Box

2. Additional Queen Excluder

3. Board to form a ramp to the hive entrance

4. White sheet to cover the ramp

Throughout this method, the floor (and stand) is not moved from its original location.

STEP 1

Remove the Roof, Crown Board, any Supers and the Queen Excluder from the hive.

STEP 2

Remove the brood box from the floor and place to one side.

STEP 3

Place a Queen Excluder onto the floor and then place an empty Brood Box on top of the Queen Excluder.

STEP 4

Place a board in front of the hive forming a ramp up to the hive entrance. Cover the ramp with a white sheet onto which the bees will be gently shaken or brushed.

STEP 5

Remove a frame of bees from the original brood box and gently shake or brush the bees onto the sheet.

STEP 6

Place the empty frame into the new brood box.

STEP 7

Repeat Step 6 for each frame in the original brood box. When all empty frames have been returned to the new brood box, replace the Roof, Crown Board, Super and Queen Excluder onto the new brood box. Leave the colony to to enter the new brood box.

Note: Ensure any bees remaining in the original brood box are brushed onto the sheet. The original brood box can now be removed for cleaning.

STEP 8

After about 1 hour, or when the colony has entered the hive, remove the Roof, Crown Board, Super, Queen Excluder and Brood Box.

STEP 9

The queen will be located on the underside of the Queen Excluder or on the Floor of the hive.

STEP 10

Having located the queen, the hive can now be re-assembled.

Events

Finding the Queen

Method 2 - Walking The Plank