Introducing queen cell

[bee-nuts]

As you may know I got hit by a bear.  Of the three colonies which I moved to a fenced yard, I am queen right in two.  The one that was banged up bad, I introduced a queen in cage that I had left for insurance.  I checked in on the three last thursday and two were queen-right.  One im guessing got killed or injured.  I think I have a queen cell I can introduce to it.  If I still dont find any eggs/queen in there how do I introduce a cell.  Do I need to protect it with something.  The best I could do is try to make a screen cage around it or something. 

Any Ideas.  I going to head over there when I wake up around noon today (central standard time) so if you see this by then and got some good advise I would appreciate it a bunch.

Thanks
bee-nuts

[fish_stix]

bee-nuts; we use the JZ BZ queen cell protectors but you could also make a protector out of hardware cloth. Just needs to be a cone shaped cage large enough to not damage the cell. Or you can try just gently sticking the cell into a brood frame. I would make a depression with a finger and then pull some adjacent wax around the base of the cell to hold it. If queenless chances are the bees will accept and not destroy the cell. Before plastic equipment became available that was the normal way to install cells.

[Jim 134]

Please remember that a cell queen will not be accepted if the colony has:

An existing queen ( mate or unmate or injured )

Do I need to protect it with something.  

 IF YOU HAVE NO QUEEN AT ALL

 You do not need to protector the cell.
 After you put the cell in a hive
 Do not disturb the colony for two weeks.



   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  

[Jim 134]

This will help give you a time line

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesmath.htm

http://www.thebeeyard.org/?p=324


  BEE HAPPY Jim 134

[bee-nuts]

Thanks Guys!  I am heading over there.  I will post back when I get home from work tonight.

[bee-nuts]

Well it appears I was wrong.  She is back to work and laying very well.  Unfortunately I was more than right about queen cells.  Will they ever stop swarming?  Man, I waited for a couple weeks for eggs after a swarm and when I find them I found another queen cell with larva.  Today I see they have a few more in addition to the previous one which is capped.  Uhh, hope I dont see the swarm, LOL  I dont have the time or resources to move the queen, make splits, or the boxes to hive a swarm.  They switched me from weekends to second shift so there goes all my spare time.  Should count my blessings while I'm ahead, right!!

Thanks again for help.  Im sure advice will come in handy some day.

[Jim 134]

         bee-nuts ........
 
May bee you need to read "Swarming It Control & Prevention" By "L.E. Snellgrove"

You can get it Betterbee        
         http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=462

   The book will tell you how use Double Screen Board "Snellgrove Board"

         http://www.betterbee.com/products.asp?dept=302
            


                   BEE HAPPY Jim 134  

[bee-nuts]

To be honest, I am a bit exhausted right now.  I threw my back out and am just now getting back to normal.  Im trying to take it easy for a bit.  I usually have a hard time taking it easy till Im stuck on the floor.  Ill donate a swarm or two to the feral population if I have to right now.  That said, I have read about the double screen board and it sounds like a good Idea.  Some day Ill get around to playing with it,  Some day I hopefully will have all the gadgets and toys I need, ready for when the time comes that I can use them.  Like extra boxes, bottom boards, and telescoping covers, inner covers, frames with foundation, nuc boxes, gas, money, fences, fencers, double screen boards, ...............   I do have extra honey supers, lol