Should I buy a new queen or pinch the old bag and let them make a new one?

[kedgel]

I've never re-queened before so I'm not sure what's best.  One of my hives is a trapout about a year old.  The queen was made from the frame of brood I put in the trap hive, so I know she's not old.  They are still starting to get aggressive.  I had one nail me 20' from the hive.  I really want to preserve their genetics, as they are very hygenic.  I've never seen another hive so intolerant of shbs.  I used a nucleus of what was left of a queenless hive that the shbs had decimated.  The trapped-out bees completely cleaned out the shb larvae and turned the hive into a thriving colony.  To date I have only seen ONE shb in the hive, and that was after I added another deep with too many frames for them to cover.  I've read that to keep the bees gentle, one should re-queen every year.  Should I pinch the old one and let them make a new one, or should I buy one and take my chances?  (I can get local queens from a guy in my beek assn.)

Kelly

[AllenF]

Spent the money and get a good queen fast. 

[wd]

It is said that migratory beeks here in Ca. requeen a minimum of twice a year to minimize the possible spread of ahb but I haven't done that personally.

I think it is a matter of what you decide.

[fermentedhiker]

I'd make a small nuc with the existing queen(so you'll have her in case something goes wrong) and give them a shot at making their own.  If you want to preserve their genetics that is.  That way if they fail to make a new queen you can put the old one back until you can get one from a local queen breeder.  Once the colony is up and running with the new queen(either their own or a purchased one) you can pinch the queen or perhaps sell her to another beek who is willing to put up with their over-defensive nature in exchange for their hygienic traits.

[AllenF]

There really is no reason to put up with a hot temper hive.   She will most likely though a mean spirit daughter from her genetics.  Also, you don't want to lose a month of brood for them to requeen themselves.

[troutstalker2]

 Do a Marie Antoinette treatment on her royal meanness and get a better tempered queen. You don't want to have those genetic traits. I have had hot hives before and its just not any fun.

[JP]

If this hive has shown itself to be consistently aggressive, I would requeen with a queen from a gentler colony.

The sooner you get a new one in, the sooner the resolve will begin. Allowing a mean queenright hive to become queenlees while they are making a new queen just adds time to the entire issue and they may become even more aggressive while making a new queen.

Nip it in the bud as quickly as you can.


...JP