Deciding whether a hive needs to be requeened and finding the queen can be the most challenging parts of the process. Once those two things are out of the way, the rest is easy!
How to Requeen a Hive
1. Order a replacement queen. Once she arrives alive and well, move to step two.
2. Find and remove the old queen. I recommend removing her completely from the hive so her pheromones do not linger.
3. Wait a short period before installing the new queen.
The best practice is to wait at least 1 hour and no more than 24 hours before installing the new queen. Installing her immediately after removing the old queen is acceptable as well. Waiting longer than 24 hours can allow the bees to begin raising new queen cells.
4. Install the queen cage.
Make sure the bees have access to the candy plug in the cage (this is what they eat through to release the queen). Insert the cage between two frames of brood so the screened portion is easily accessible to the bees. Try to avoid crushing honey cells, which can spill honey and potentially drown the queen.
5. Close the hive and feed if needed.
If there is no honey flow, feed the hive one or two gallons of 1:1 sugar syrup while the bees accept the new queen. This mixture closely mimics a natural nectar flow and improves acceptance.
Smaller colonies generally accept new queens more easily. For very large hives (two deep boxes full of bees), it can help to cover the candy with tape for a day or two, then remove the tape and allow the bees to eat through the candy. Slowing them down slightly increases the odds of acceptance.
6. Check back in about seven days.
First check the cage to confirm the queen was released. Then quickly (two minutes max) look for eggs in empty cells in the heart of the brood nest (see Spotting Eggs & Larvae).
If you don’t see eggs but do see queen cells with larvae being raised, there is a good chance the queen was not accepted. Check again in three to five days. If there are still no eggs and you see capped queen cells, the hive likely rejected her. At that point you can remove the queen cells and try again or allow the bees to raise their own queen. If possible, trying again with a new queen within a few days is ideal.
Check out the video where I show how easy it is to find the queen and requeen in one visit!
Ensuring the Queen Is Accepted
Installing a queen is only half the battle—making sure she is accepted is critical. Disturbing the hive too soon can increase the chances the bees will reject her.
Always wait at least seven days before checking the hive after installing a new queen. Also remember that once she is released, it may take two to three days before she begins laying eggs. Early on, she may lay on only a single frame.
When checking the hive after seven days, keep the inspection brief—ideally one minute or less.
Signs the Queen Was Accepted
- The bees appear calm and behave normally.
- The queen cage is empty.
- Eggs are present in the hive.
- No queen cells are being raised (see Queen Cells vs. Queen Cups).
Signs the Queen Was Not Accepted
- The bees are running, buzzing loudly, or acting unusually aggressively. This behavior is due to the lack of queen pheromones keeping the hive calm and focused.
- The queen is still in the cage or dead in the cage. (If she is alive, poke a small hole through the candy with a toothpick to help the bees release her.)
- There are no eggs or larvae in the hive.
- Multiple fresh queen cells with larvae are being raised.
What if Your Queen Wasn’t Accepted?
This is frustrating but fairly common. If it happens, here is what to do:
1. Look very carefully for eggs. They can be easy to miss.
2. Consider the timing. It takes the bees only about 12 days to raise a new queen from a one-day-old larva (16 days from egg to emergence). If you removed the old queen about 13 days ago and see queen cells, the bees may already have virgin queens. In that case, it is usually best to let them finish the process.
Virgin queens typically go on a mating flight 5–7 days after hatching and begin laying 5–7 days after returning. Start watching for eggs about 14 days after she hatches, meaning it often takes 24–28 days before eggs appear.
3. If it has been less than 12 days since removing the old queen, you can inspect the hive, carefully remove any queen cells and introduce a new queen. If you cannot get a new queen quickly, it is best to let the bees finish raising their own. Because this process takes longer, you may need to add a frame of brood from a stronger hive to help maintain the colony’s strength.
Can I Have Different Breed Queens in the Same Location?
Yes! Whether you introduce a different breed of queen to a hive or keep different breeds in the same yard, the bees do not care. They do not distinguish among breeds, so feel free to choose whichever queen suits you best.
TBS GOLDEN CORDOVAN
Super gentle for backyard beekeepers! Good honey producers - Great comb builders
TBS ITALIAN CARNIOLAN
Gentle - Great honey producers - Excellent comb builders - Less disease prone - Tough bees!